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Story of Rāma in Jain Literature
Dharma as propounded by the Jinas and incidentally refuted the views of heretical schools.52
Hearing his sermon Rāma accepted the duties of Jain house-holder. Lakşmana, however, because of the Nidāna in his previous life did not accept the vows of a Jain householder. On the death of Dasaratha the two brothers, entrusting the kingdom of Ayodhyā to the care of Satrughna and Bharata, went to Vārāṇasi, and they ruled there. Vijayarama was born of Sitä and Rāma, and they had seven other sons. Of Lakşmaņa and his wife Prthivi was born Prthivi-candra and they had many other virtuous sons. They enjoyed the kingdom of the earth for a very long time. Once Lakşmaņa dreamt a dream wherein he saw the uprooting of a banyan tree by an elephant, the eclipsing of the sun by Rahu, and its sinking into Pätāla, and the falling down of the topmost portion of his palace. The significance of the dream was explained by the Purohita 53. "Lakşmaņa would suffer an incurable disease, the end of their enjoyment of pleasures was near and Rāma was going to practise penance". Rāma thereupon proclaimed the granting of freedom from fear, performed the Jinábhișeka and the worship of the Jina-idols; and gave away wealth as desired by the suppliants themselves. Then on Mägha-Purnimā Lakşmana died 54 on account of some incurable disease. He was then born in the fourth Naraka where he met his foe Rāvana. Rāma was overpowered with grief at Laksmana's death. He fell unconscious. On regaining consciousness he wept bitterly. Later on he put Prthivicandra on the throne and himself became an ascetic at the hands of Muni Sivagupta. Sugriva, Hanumat and Vibhişana followed Rāma in accepting Diksā. Sitä and Prthivi became nuns. In due course Rāma and Hanūmai attained liberation. Sugriva and Vibhisana and others became gods. Sītā and Prthivi too became gods. Laksmana in course of time would rise up from hell, practise penance and obtain Moksa. 56
Glorification of the virtues of Harişena, the Cakravartin, of Rāma, the Baladeva, of Laksmana, the Vasudeva and Ravana, the Prati-Vasudeva, who were born in the period of Muni Suvrata, the Tirthankara.
4. PUSPADANTA'S RAMAYANA : A CRITICAL STUDY: (1) GENERAL REMARKS :
As we have already pointed out in the foot-notes to the summary of the Ramayana of Puspadanta, his story of Rama is the same as found in the version of Guņabhadra. It 52. See footnote at the end of the chapter. 53.
The dream and its significance are identical with the corresponding account as given by Gunabhadra. Here our poet piles a number of Utpreksas. Two of them are very original and striking : The blazing fire of prowess was as it were extinguished, ..... 'the royal swan in the worldlake, as it were, vanished.' The poet moralises : "Don't follow in the foot-steps of Lakşmaņa but worship the Jina." • While writing these foot-notes I have made full use of Parab's Paper" "Some Bold and Most Striking Fancies of Puşpadanta."
55.
