Story Of Rama In Jain Literature

Author(s): V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Saraswati Pustak Bhandar

Page 33

Chapter II
PAÜMA-CARIYA OF VIMALA SŪRI
Paümacariya is the earliest Jain work dealing with the story of Rāma. It is written in Prakrit' and in the Aryā metre. The life of Padma - another name of Rāma is told here in 118 Cantos, of which the first 35 are cal'ed Uddesas and the rest Parvans.? As this epic forms the basis of many poems by later Jain poets we give here a detailed summary of its contents. CANTO I :
The poet opens his work with the customary benediction. He pays homage to Tirthankaras and other ver erable ones such as the Ganadharas etc. He then discloses his intention of describing the 'Life of Rāma' as handed down by tradition. He mentions the seven topics that constitute bis Purāņa. They are (1) Origin of the Universe, (2) Origin of the various dynasties, (3) Rāma's departure to the forest, (4) War between Rära and Rāvana, (5) Birth of Lava and Ankusa, (6) the various existences, and (7) Emancipation from the cycle of birth and death. Then he sets forth the synoptic contents." (Table of Contents ) CANTO II :
The country of Magadha, the city of Rajapura and the king Srenika are de: cribed at length. Then follow's a short description of Mahävira's life. Once Mahavira,
1 Modern scholars designate the Prakrit of the Pc as Jain Māhārāştri. 2 Why the poet uses two words for 'a canto' and not one consistently we cannot say. 3 The poet repeatedly stresses the point that the story he is telling, is handed down by tradi
tion right from Lord Mahavira. See e. g., the following verses: 1. 10, 29, 31, 33, 90; and see also Pc. 118, 102.
We will, later on, discuss the significance of this tradition. 4 The nature of and definition of Purana according to the Hindus and the Jains we discuss
under General Remarks. 5 Instead of reproducing these synoptic contents we give at the end of summary of each
canto the title in translation) which is eloqucnt of its contents. 6 This account does not speak of the transference of the foetus from the womb of Devananda,
a Brahmana lady to that of the qucen mother of the royal household. Nor does it mention whether Mahāvira was married. This significant fact would indicate that Vimal was a Digambara.
v. 65 of this canto tells us that Prthivi, Jala, Agni, Vayu, Vanaspati are Sthāvara (immobile). It is in accordance with the Digambara view. Accordirg to the Svetambaras Pịthivi, Jala, and Vanaspati alone are Sthāvara.
v. 30 speaks of Mahavira, when he obtains, 'Kevala-jñāna as free from 8 kinds of karmas'. This is very extraordinary! Normally, we are told, only 4 Ghati-Karmas are annihilated on this occasion.