Studies in Jain Literature

Author(s): V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre

Page 86

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Vimalasūri purges the story of Rāma of its Brahmanical atmosphere and creates in its place Jain atmosphere.
STUDIES IN JAIN LITERATURE
He adopted or rather adapted the highly popular story of Rama with the thought that it would serve as an excellent means for reaching the people's heart and propagating Jain view of life, Jain doctrines and ideals of a householder and a monk, and more especially, their principle of ahimsa and karma.
Besides Paümacariya we have many other Jain versions. Some of them may be noticed here:
1. Vasudevahindi version of Sanghadāsa (not later than 609 A. D.). It is much closer to the Rāmāyaṇa of Valmiki. One of its most noteworthy features is that it describes Sītā as the daughter of Mandodari and Rāvana and provides a most striking parallel with the Greek story of Oedipus.
2. The Padmapurāna of Acarya Raviṣena (678 A. D.), a Digambara poet; his version is merely an extended recension, in Sanskrit, of Vimalasūri's Paümacariya.
3. Paümacariu of Svayambhu (middle of the 8th certury A. D.). It is in Apabhramsa. The author, according to his own statement, follows Acārya Raviṣena.
4. Cauppannamahāpurisacarīya of Sīlācārya (868 A. D.). The author mainly follows Paümacariya; he however adds two new episodes of the golden stag (kāñcanamṛga) and the slaying of Välin by Rama from the Valmiki Rāmāyaṇa because of their great popularity, perhaps.
5. Uttarapurāṇa of Gunabhadra (9th century A. D.). It is to be found in Parvan 68, and is in Sanskrit. Gunabhadra, although a Digambara Jain, does not follow Ravisena, his Digambara predecessor. His version is largely dependent on the Rāmāyaṇa of Valmiki. He speaks of Dasaratha's rule over Vārāṇasī and describes how Ravana, at the instigation of Nārada, was enamoured of
Sītā.
6. Brhatkathakośa of Hariṣena (931-32 A. D.). Though a Digambara Jain, he does not follow Raviṣeņa or Gunabhadra, his Digambara predecessors but presents just a brief abridgment of Valmiki's Rāmāyaṇa.
7. Mahāpurāna of Puspadanta (965 A. D.). Puspadanta follows the story of Rāma as given by Gunabhadra.
8. Kahavali of Bhadresvara (11th century A. D.): Bhadreśvara's version is based on the Paümacariya. He describes the episode of the picture of Rāvana drawn