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A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM
The
According to the PCV the mother of Baladeva (Rama) Padma saw four objects viz. a flower, a lion, the sun and the moon. number of objects agree with the Bhagavati sutra1 and the Nayadhammakahão2, but the flower is not mentioned in those works. Hemacandra3 mentions an elephant in place of the flower. The Digambara author Ravişena agrees with the Paumacariyam as regards the number of the objects, but mentions an elephant in place of the flower. Puşpadanta refers to three objects only, viz. the sun and the moon wtih the birth of other Baladevas namely, Vijaya® and Acala".
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As regards the dream-visions of the mother of a Prativasudeva, the Paumacariyam has mentioned three objects, viz. a lion, the moon, and the sun. These objects also indicated that two more sons would be born, besides Rāvana." Hemacandra9 mentions a lion in the dream-vision of Mandodari. Ravişenalu agrees with the Paumacariyam while Puspadanta11 refers to Laksmi and the sun.
The above evidences prove that the Svetambara and the Digambara works differ as regards the number and the name of the objects of dream-visions. But it can be strongly maintained that the ancient people had their implicit faith in the dream-visions which were believed to be associated with the sixty-three illustrious persons of the Jaina mythology.
Besides the illustrious persons the birth of some other great persons was also indicated by some dreams. Thus it is said in the Paumacariyam that the birth of Kumbhakarna and Vibhiṣaṇa was indicated by the vision of the moon and the sun to Kekasi (7.78f). Sita's beholding of two Sarabhas in her dream indicated that she would give birth to two great handsom sons (92.2). That some dream was associated with the birth of a great person can be corroborated by the Bhagavatisūtra12
1. Bhag. Su, 16. 6. 579.
2. Naya, I. p. 9.
3. TSP, Vol. IV. p. 193.
4. 25. 3.
5. MP, 69, 12.
6. Ibid. 50. 12.9.
7. Ibid. 54. 8. 7.
8, 7.81.
9. TSP, IV.
10. PCR, 7.80.
11. MP, 70. 4: 6.
12. 16. 6. 579.
