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मार्च २००९
(A) Common Jain Elements in all Jain Versions of Ramakatha (1) Tradition of 63 Śalākapuruṣas:
All the authors of Jain Ramakathā claim that Ramakathā was handed down to them right from Lord Mahavira through succession. Jain tradition has created a format of 63 illustrated human heroes, of course in spiritual perspective. These are designations and all of them occur in each Avaṣarpini and Utsarpini of the time-wheel (Kālacakra). Rāma or Padma is the 8th Baladeva (Balabhadra or Balarama), Lakṣmaṇa is the 8th Vasudeva (or Narayaṇa) and Ravaṇa is the 8th Prati-Vasudeva of the present Avasarpiņi.' Hanuman is enumerated as among the 24 Kamadevas but not included in the 63 Śalākāpuruṣas in the Jaina Purāņa perennis. According to this format, all Jaina authors agree that Lakṣmaṇa killed Rāvana. Both of them were born as infernal beings immediately after their birth as human beings. After a long span of time, after having gone through many cycles of birth and death, they will attain Liberation. Padma and Hanuman had attained Nirvāṇa while Sitä had attained heaven.
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(2) Polygamy:
In the format of Salakāpuruṣas, Baladevas and Vasudevas necessarily possess thousands of wives. All Jain authors have depicted that Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa and Rāvaṇa possessed thousands of wives. In Valmiki Rāmāyaṇa, very few males are monogamists. The citations like रामस्य परमाः स्त्रियः (Vālmiki Rā. 2.8.12) may have inspired Jain authors to picturise Rāma as polygamist. "The vow of complete celibacy' is greatly honoured in Jain monachism but still Hanuman is Kāmadeva and householder, he possesses many wives.
(3) Vanaras and Rākṣasas :
The Jain authors have depicted Vānaras and Rākṣasas as Vidyadharas or Khecaras, a variety of sub-human beings possessing various lores like Akāśagamana etc. Vimalasūri has
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