Critical Study Of Paumacariyam

SR No.: 022643
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: K R Chandra
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology and Ahimsa
Publication Year: 1970
Total Pages: 672
Language: English, Sanskrit
Classification: Book_English & Book_Devnagari
File Size: 18 MB

Page 414

SOCIAL CONDITIONS
385 (varakusumakundavannam), a lion the sun and the moon. Sumitrā (25. 4) on the occasion of conceiving the embryo of Laksmaņa, the eighth Vasudeva, saw in her dream four objects viz. Lakşmi holding lotuses in her hands, the moon, the sun and further found herself seated on the peak of a hill wherefrom she could observe the land stretching up to the sea. Kekasi (7. 78), the mother of Rāvana, the eighth Prativāsudeva saw in her dream-visions a lion entering her belly and the rising moon and the sun.
These accounts of the Paumacariyaṁ are corroborated by the evidences from other Jaina works. The Bhagavatī sūtra (16. 6.579) and the Nājādhammakahão (I. p. 9) mentions that the mothers of Tirthankaras or Cakravartins saw fourteen dreams out of the thirty great dreams (tīsāmahásuviņāpaṁ). The Nāyādhammakaho," the Kalpasūtra and the TSP3 agree with the names of the fourteen objects mentioued in the Paumacariyam as quoted above. But the Digambara tradition holds that sixteen dream-objects were seen by the mothers of the Tirthankaras. Two more objects in addition to the fourteen objects (except a flag for which the Digambara works mention a fish--jhasa) mentioned above are royal seat (semhāsanam) and a palace of the king of snakes (Phanindrabhavanam)".
It has been already stated above that the Paumacariyam (25. 4) mentions four objects in connection with the dream-visions of the mother of a Vasudeva. These objects are-Lakşmī, the moon, the sun and the sea. This number of four does not agree wilh the Bhagavattsūtra (16. 6. 579) and Nayādhammakahão (I. p. 9) which mention seven objects. Hemacandra' also mentions seven objects viz. an elephant, a lion, the sun, the moon, the fire, Śrī and the sea. As regards the Digambara tradition the Uttarapurāna attributes five objects, i. e. a rice-field and a lion in addition to those of the Paumacariyam except Lakşmi. Ravişeņa” refers to five objects viz. a lion being sprinkled by Lakşmi, the sea, the sun and a wheel decked with jewels. Puşpadanta mentions one object only, i. e. a lion while in the case of Tịprstha Vasudeva' two objects viz. the moon and the sun are mentioned.
1. I. p. 9. 2. Kalpa Su 4, & 32-47 or 4. 66-87 ? 3. Vol I, p. 100 & 148 of TSP. 4, AP, 12. 103f; See also MP, 3. 6, for Rşabha and 38. 12 for Ajita. 5. TSP, IV. p. 193. 6. Gunabhadra, 67. 151. 7. PCR, 25. 13. 8. MP. 69. 12. 9. Ibid. 50. 12, 9. & for Dviprstha-54. 8. 7.
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