Jain Journal 1992 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 57

OCTOBER, 1992
brought into picture the name of Sumitra as the mother of Lakṣmaṇa.1 15 From this, it is evident that the author was not very much in acquaintance with the namavali reffered to by Gunabhadracârya.
The outstanding figure among the authors of the Jaina Rāmāyṇa who belonged to the School of Vimala Suri, was Nagacandra, popularly known as Abhinava Pampa. He was a Jaina poet who flourished in Mysore at the Court of Visnuvardhana, the great Hoysala ruler in about 1140 A.D. His independent composition was Ramacandra-carita-Purana which is also known by the name Pampa-Rāmāyaṇa.16
The following key differences may be noted in the namavali of Nagacandra's Pampa-Rāmāyaṇa17 and Camuṇḍarāya-Purānam.18
Camuṇḍarāya-Purāṇam
Mother of Rama is named Subala. Lakşmaņa was born to Sumitra. (Uttara-Purana of Gunabhadracarya refers Kaikeyi, as the mother of Lakṣmaṇa).
He fails to mention the name of the mothers of Bharata and
Śatrugna.
99
of
He omits the interposing Kaikeyi, the prime mover of the Ramayana story.19
Pampa-Rāmāyaṇa
Mother of Rama is named Aparajita, Lakṣmaṇa--Sumitra Bharata and Satrugna-Kaikeyi. (While in Kumudendu Rāmāyaṇa, the 4th wife of Dasaratha Suprabha is mentioned as the mother of Śatrugna).
There is a reference to the interposing of Kaikeyi.
Nagacandra endorses Ravana with super qualities. Ravana is depicted as an ardent follower of Right Faith, Right Conduct and Right Knowledge, a Jina Bhakta, having a fine Santisvara basadi in the
15 Devappa, Rāmavijaya Kāvya, ed. Keshavakshatta, T.
16 Nagacandra, Ramacandra Carite Puranam. p, 5, ed. Dr. R. C. Hirematta, Bharatiya Jnanapitha, 1975.
17 Ibid., p. 5.
18 Camunḍaraya Purāṇam, op. cit. pp. 263-264.
13 Ibid.