Paumchariyam Part 1

Author(s): Vimalsuri, Punyavijay, Harman
Publisher: Prakrit Granth Parishad

Page 44

CHARACTERISATION IN PAUMACHARIYA
31 celebrated Vidyādhara hero named Rakşasa. The author gives also another explanation as to why the Vidyādbaras were called Rākşasas :
रक्खंति रक्खसा खल दीवा पुण्णण रक्खिया जेण ।
तेणं चिय खयराणं, रक्खसनामं कयं लोए ॥ V.257. The Vidyadharas of Kiskindhipura received the name of Vānaras because of their custom of wearing the pictures of monkeys as symbols or totems on their banners and crowns.
This conception of Vimalasari about the Rakşasas and the Vānaras is born of the growing spirit of rationalism of his age. The fanciful and highly exaggerated poetic descriptions of the Rākşasas and the Vanaras given in the popular Rāmāyaṇa stories were unacceptuble to Vimalasūri, a champion of rationalism. He, therefore, portrays the Raksasas and the Vanaras as Vidyadharas, possessed of supernatural powers and are thus, capable of the heroic exploits attributed to them. He gives a realistic interpretation of the epithet of Rāvana when he writes: Rāvana's mother hangs around his neck a wondrous necklace of Ratnas, in which his face is reflected nine times, hence his epithet of Dasamukha ""The man with ten faces" (VII. 95-96):
........"। सो जणणीऍ पिणद्धी कण्ठे बालस्स वरहारो॥ रयणकिरणेसु एत्तो, मुहाइ निययवयण सरिसाई। हारे दिवाइ फुड, तेण कयं दहमुहो नाम॥
17. CHARACTERISATION IN PAÜMACHARIYA Vālmīki's Rāmāyaṇa is generally regarded as one of the most beautiful and moving of all stories in literature. One of the very important factors contributing to its greatness and beauty is its unique characterization. The story of Rāma presented by Vimalasuri agrees only partly with Vālmīki's Rāmāyana and considerably differs from it on account of the many omissions, additions and modifications effected by him. These changes powerfully affect the characterization in Palmachariya. Consideration of space prevents us from undertaking here a review of the characters of the important men and women that have played a conspicuous part in the story. We rest content by pointing only to some of the more noteworthy aspects of the characterization in the Paümachariya. Vimalasuri's aim at elevating his characters is very obvious. According to the Valmiki-Ramayana, Kaikeyi is a selfish, greedy and intriguing woman. Rama kills Valin treacherously and is guilty of killing Sambūka. Rāvana is a tyrant, an oppressor of mankind, violently obstructing sacrifices, and he abducts women. Valin is a usurper, and unlawfully takes possession . 1. एवं तु महावंसे, वोलीणे मेहवाहणो जाओ।
रक्खससुबो महप्पा मणवेगाए समुप्पनो ॥ तस्स य नामेण इमो, रक्खसर्वसो जयम्मि विक्खाओ। V. 251-52. जं जस्स हवइ निययं नरस्स लोगम्मि लक्खणावयवं । तं तस्स होइ नाम; गुणेहि गुणपच्चयनिमित्तं ॥ खग्गेण खग्गधारी, धणुहेण धणुधरो, पडेण पडी। बासेण आसवारो, हत्यारोहो य हीणं ॥ इक्खूण य इक्खागो, जाओ धिज्जाहराण विजाए । तह वाणराण वंसो, वाणरचिंधेण निव्वडिओ। वाणरचिंधेण इमे, छत्ताइनिवेसिया कई जेण विजाहरा जणेणं, वुच्चंति ह पाणरा तेण ॥ VI. 86-90.