Mahavira Jain Vidyalay Suvarna Mahotsav Granth Part 1

Author(s): Mahavir Jain Vidyalaya Mumbai
Publisher: Mahavir Jain Vidyalay

Page 587

126 : SHRI MAHAVIRA JAINA VIDYALAYA GOLDEN JUBILEE VOLUME
identified with the Nagendra-gaccha, which, according to the Kalpasūtra, was founded in A.D. 93. So Vimala could not have completed his work in A.D. 4 or even in A.D. 63. Besides, the Paümacariya contains references to dināra, lagna etc. which suggest a much later date. So Dr. Jacobi places Vimalasūri in the third century A.D. There is, however, no doubt that his work is the oldest Prakrit kavya now extant.
Vimalasūri has taken the life of Rāma as the subject for his kāvya. Paüma (Padma) was another name of Rāma. The oldest Sanskrit work that describes the life of Rāma is the Rāmāyana of Vālmiki. The Buddhist and Jaina writers who have dealt with the story of Rāma have introduced several changes into it. Vimalasūri also has omitted or altered several incidents or descriptions in the Rāmāyaṇa story which appeared to be fantastic and unbelieveable such as the killing of the Rākşasas by monkeys, the six-month long sleep of Kumbhakarņa, the ten-headed form of Rävaņa, or has given another explanation of them. He says, for instance, that the Vānaras who helped Rāma in the Battle of Lankā were not monkeys but Vidyādharas. Rāvana had only one face, but as it was reflected in the nine gems of his necklace he appeared to be ten-faced.
Though Vimalasüri has thus altered some incidents in the Rāmāyaṇa, his story of Rāma is by and large the same as in the Rāmāyana. He describes for instance that Dasaratha, being very old, decides to crown Padma (i, e. Rāma) as his successor. But his queen Kaikeyi reminds him of the boon he had given her and asks him to give the kingdom to her son Bharata. So Padma leaves for the forest, accompanied by Lakşmaņa and Sitā. Bharata does not like this, but at the bidding of Kaikeyi and Padma he agrees to administer the kingdom till the return of Rāma.
Vimalasūri has described some events in the life of Rāma as in the Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki, but has altered some others. He describes that in the course of their wandering, Rāma, Lakşmaņa and Sitā reached the place Vamsasthapura. Though they were pressed by the prince of the place to enter the town, they preferred to stay on the adjoining hill called Vasagiri. Vimalasūri thus describes the hill (40, 4) -
नाणाविहतरुछन्ने नाणाविहपक्खिकुलरबुग्गीए।
वरकुसुमगन्धपवणे निज्झरपवहन्तविमलजले ॥ (The hill was densely covered by trees of various kinds; birds of different kinds were singing sweetly there; it was wafted by breezes laden with the fragrance of excellent flowers; and streams of clear water were flowing therefrom.)