Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 6

Author(s): L C Jain
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 275

ASCETIC POETRY IN PAUMCHARIYAM
Dr. MITHILESH KUMARI MISHRA*
Bimalsuri's Paumchariyam is a Purana Kavya which exactly deals with Balmiki's Ramayana from Jain point of view, as such, it naturally handles the matter of doctrinal interest duly emphasised by jain Munis Shri Mukti, Kevali Bhakti and Aagam. Pramanyas are the main topics of this Kavya. Interestingly, its supreme interest is in the development of Vairagya that leads the various characters in the story to the renunciation of worldly life and acceptance of jainism. No doubt. the liberation from worldly existence is one of the most vital aspects of its seven Adhikaras (chapters dealing with the Ramakatha). Here, the poet very earnestly describes the life of a Jina' which acts a ford for crossing the big ocean of Samsar, liberality munificence, austerities and the theory of Papa-Punya.
Due to Vairagya with the ascetic approaches the whole Ramakatha in Paumchariyam entirely differs from that of the Valmiki's Ramayana. Here, as a matter of fact, renunciation and quistude are the main points of view to be grasped. Bimalsuri represents Kaikeyi as a mother par excellence who is prepared to let her husband accept asceticism. Valin appoints Sugreeva to the throne and becomes a monk. This really acquits him of shameful charge of living with his younger brother's wife and Rama of charge of killing him treacherously. The villain of Ramayana is Ravana who has been described as a pious and devout Jain who always avoids Hinsa in Paumchariyam. Not only this. the violent monster of Ramayana, called Kumbhakaran, is the very pious moralist of this Jain Ramayana which, in natural course, everywhere expresses the sacred path of eight fold Jina Puja. The hero, Rama himself selects the same way of life, becomes a monk and thus attains MOKSHA in the last.
The ascetic quest and ultimate Vairagya play main role in Pauinchariyam which can be adjudged from a line of poems in the very beginning (Sutta Bihannau) :
'देह रागाइण्णं जीवं तडिविलसियं पिव अणिच्चं'
of
Bihar Rashtra Bhasha Parishad, Patna,