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Prakrit and Apabhraṁśa Studies
that there might have been current some Samgraha-gāthās-traditional mnemonic verses-possibly stringing together the names of chief characters and cryptic references to main incidents of the Rama-story. Vimala's work seems to be the first full-fledged literary composition on this theme. The Jain canonical literature, though conversant with several episodes of the Kṛṣṇa-carita, lacks any explicit reference to any character or incident of the Rāmācarita. The general outline and pattern of the narrative in VPc., with chief landmarks and their sequence, are basically the same as we find in VR. Rama's parentage, birth, marriage with Sita and exile to the forest along with Lakṣmaṇa and Sita; Sita's abduction by Ravana; Hanumat's messengership; Rama's alliance with Sugrīva; invasion of Lanka; Ravana's defeat and death; scandal about Sita and her rejection; birth of Lava and Kusa; Sita's ordeal these are basic also in VPc. But the divergences too between VPC and VR are far-reaching and quite numerous. One can compile a huge catalogue of them. But such a catalogue by itself would fail to convey the full significance of the divergences. The additions, omissions and alterations affected by Vimala (or any of his predecessor) in his source-narrative can be understood only if we relate them to the aims and objectives that motivated his effort. The concern of the Jain tradition was to prepare and provide for its followers a version of the quite popular and important Rāmanarrative, which would be acceptable as truly and authentically Jainistic. To achieve this end the overall frame, orientation and atmosphere of the Rama-story of the Vedic-Brahmanic tradition was to be altered and replaced.
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In its earlier form the Rama-story may have been just a heroic legend, but in VR as preserved to us. it is already linked up with the Avatara doctrine. The Rama of the Bala and Uttara Kandas is an incarnation of Visņu. Moreover there is a substan
2. Only Samaväyänga, the fourth anga of the Jain Canon, mentions at Sūtra 54, in a general way 24 Tirthankaras, 12 Cakrarvartins, 9 Baladevanas and 9 Vasudevas.
