Jain Version of Ramayana

Author(s): Nalini Joshi
Publisher: ZZ_Anusandhan

Page 9

मार्च २००९
98
(2) Birth of Sita :
Paumacariya mcntions that king Janka's wife Videhā gave birth to a twin, Sitâ and Bhāmandala. A Vidyādhara abducted Bhāmandala. In course of time he was infatuated with Şitā. After knowing the reality, he became a monk.26 According to Uttarapurāņa, Sitā was an offspring of Răvaņa and Mandodari. A fortune-teller declares the female child as unlucky and Rāvaņa abadones Sitā. Mārica keeps her in a box and buries underground at Mithilā, with ample wealth in the box. Some farmers find her and handover the child to Janaka and Vasudha.27 (3) Svayamvara of Sitä :
In Paumacariya, Janaka seeks help of Padma and Lakşmaņa against Mlecchas. He decides to give Sitā to Padma, a valiant warrior. Afterwards he arranges the Svayamvara. 28 We do not find reference of Rāvaņa in this context. In Uttarapurāņa the episode of Svayamvara is totally dropped. (4) Kaikeyi and Her Demands :
In Paumacariya, Daśaratha declares his decision of renunciation and decision of the consecration of Padma. Bharata decides to follow the path of Liberation. Kaikeyi demands her boon which was kept previously with Dasaratha. She wants her son to be a king for cngaging him in worldly life. Padma spontaneously declares his decision to go in forest. The span of fourteen years is not mentioned.29
The account of Kaikeyi's demands is totally dropped in Uttarapurāņa. Dasaratha sends Rāma and Laksmana to Vārānasi. Rāma became and king and Lakşmaņa, a crowned prince.
However, It is very surprising that in Vasudevahindi, (6th Century A.D.) Samghadāsagani follows Valmiki in this whole account of fourteen-year' forest-wanderings of Rama.
In Dasaratha Jātaka, Kaikeyi demands royal throne for