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

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A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM
a realistic form but he had some authentic traditional backing for the
same.
Thereafter, it has been brought out that on account of the Rāma story having its merely 'nāmāvali' form in the old literature of the Jainas and on account of its oral tradition, its details differed with various preceptors. Therefore, we find that there are two main Jaina traditions of Rama story, one of the Paumacariyam and the other of the Vasudevahindi and the Uttarapurana. The latter two currents of the other tradition.
As regards the intervening stories of Paumacariyam we find that some stories, especially concerning the great personages of the Jaina mythology, have their sources in the canonical literature and the Jaina tradition. Some have their sources in the Valmiki Rāmāyaṇa, Mahābharata and the Puranas while some are based on popular sources and some are most probably invented by the author himself.
The author's special contribution is that he has preserved a historical element in the fact that Sita had a brother. There is semihistorical material about the Rākṣasas and the Vanaras as some aboriginal races. The superstitious aspect of Rama story which was a later growth, has not been given place by him. He has advocated in the cultural field, racial tolerance and respect for other races, specially for a hero of a different race. There is also a message for free mixing of different races. Under various circumstances the characters have been elevated. Finally Vimalasūri has given the first Jaina and Prākṛta Rāma epic to the Indian literature by including tens of stories in his Rama narrative.
The Paumacariyam has been a source for many subsequent Jaina works such as Padmacaritam of Raviṣena, Paumacariu of Svayambhu, Ramakatha in the TSP of Hemacandra, Ramapurana of Bh. Somasena and many others. One thing specially noted during our studies is that various Jaina authors freely consulted works of their predecessors without having any sectarian prejudice.
The Paumacariyam has influenced non-Jaina Ramakatha works also. Generally Brahmanical works are noteworthy. They are Puranas, sectarian Rāmāyaṇas as well as ornate Sanskrit works. Besides, the Ramayanas composed in even modern Indian languages have been influenced. Its impact is also seen on the works composed outside India i.e. South Asia and Western Europe.
The greatest influence of the tradition of Paumacariyam is seen on the Ananda Rāmāyaṇa, Tulasi's works on Rama-story; Seri-Rama (of Malaya), Padmapurana, Adhyatma Rāmāyaṇa and Ramakiyen (of Shyam).