Critical Study Of Paumacariyam

Summary of "A Critical Study of Paumacariyam" by K. R. Chandra

This book, "A Critical Study of Paumacariyam" by Dr. K. R. Chandra, published by the Research Institute of Prakrit, Jainology & Ahimsa in 1970, is a comprehensive scholarly thesis that delves into the Jaina version of the Ramayana, the Paumacariyam, attributed to Vimalasuri. The study is divided into two parts: the first focusing on the narrative material and the second on the cultural aspects reflected in the epic.

Part I: Comparative and Critical Study of Narrative Material

This section meticulously analyzes the Paumacariyam (PCV) and compares it with other prominent versions of the Rama story, primarily the Valmiki Ramayana (VR) and the Ramacaritamanasa (TR) by Tulsidas.

Key areas of investigation include:

• Textual Criticism: Chapter I provides remarks on the printed text of the Paumacariyam, noting inconsistencies and suggesting corrections, acknowledging the limitations of not having access to all manuscripts.
• Narrative Summary: Chapter II offers a chapter-wise summary of the Paumacariyam, outlining the plot of the epic.
• Comparative Study of the Rama Story: Chapters III, IV, V, and VI form the core of this part, offering in-depth comparisons:
  • King Dasaratha and his family: It details the lineage of Dasaratha, his queens, the birth and naming of Rama and his brothers, and their education, comparing the PCV with VR and TR. The PCV presents a more naturalistic portrayal, deviating from the divine and mythological elements of the VR.
  • Birth of Sita and her Marriage: The study highlights significant differences, particularly the PCV's portrayal of Sita as the legitimate daughter of Janaka, contrasted with the VR's divine birth narrative. The PCV also offers a unique account of the events leading to the 'svayamvara' and the role of Narada and the bow.
  • Exile of Rama: The PCV posits a voluntary exile for Rama, driven by Bharata's unwillingness to usurp the throne, differing from the VR's portrayal of Kaikeyi's manipulation.
  • Rama's Journey and Sita's Abduction: The PCV details a journey with political engagements and rescues, while the VR focuses more on encounters with sages and the Raksasa threat. The abduction of Sita in the PCV is attributed to Ravana's supernatural powers and a flawed prophecy, differing from the VR's focus on the golden deer.
  • Friendship with Sugriva and Hanuman's Mission: The study notes differences in the portrayal of Sugriva's distress (in the PCV, due to a sham Sugriva; in the VR, due to Vali) and Hanuman's mission, including the details of his journey and interactions.
  • Killing of Ravana: The PCV attributes Ravana's defeat to the acquisition of the 'Bahurupa-vidya' and Lakṣmaṇa's use of Ravana's own disc, differing from the VR's emphasis on divine weapons and Rama's direct involvement. The PCV also features Visalya's medical aid for Lakshmana.
  • Abandonment of Sita: The PCV presents Rama's decision as influenced by public opinion and Kaikeyi's earlier familial worries, while the VR focuses on Kaikeyi's machinations. The PCV also details Sita's subsequent life and attainment of liberation.
  • Birth of Lava and Kusha and Sita's Ordeal: The PCV provides a detailed narrative of their birth, education, marriages, and a battle with Rama, culminating in Sita's fire ordeal and subsequent renunciation. The VR's account differs significantly, emphasizing a different process of proving Sita's purity.
  • Renouncing the World: The study examines the various motivations for renunciation among characters, noting differences in the portrayal of Lakṣmana's death and Rama's eventual asceticism.
• Intervening Stories: Chapter IV categorizes and summarizes the numerous side stories within the Paumacariyam, classifying them as informative (biographies of eminent persons, legendary kings, stories of genesis) and didactic (religious-cum-moral and general prudence). It meticulously traces the sources of many of these stories, highlighting the influence of other Jaina works like the Vasudevahindi, and also identifies the influence of Brahmanical and Buddhist traditions, and popular oral traditions.
• Origin and Genealogy of Various Vamsas: Chapter V compares the genealogical accounts of the Ikshvaku, Soma, Vidyadhara, Raksasa, Vānara, and Hari Vamsas in the PCV with Brahmanical and other Jaina traditions, noting significant deviations and unique Jaina elements.
• Sources, Contribution, and Influence: Chapter VI delves into Vimalasuri's stated sources, his unique contributions to the Rama narrative, and the widespread influence of the Paumacariyam tradition on subsequent Jaina and non-Jaina works, including the Ramacaritamanasa by Tulasidasa.

Part II: Cultural Study of Paumacariyam

This section analyzes the social, economic, political, and religious life depicted in the Paumacariyam.

• Social Conditions:

  • Social Evolution, Castes, and Stages of Life: It explores the Jaina concept of time cycles (Utsarpiņi and Avasarpiņi), the origin of Kulakaras, and the societal structure before and after the introduction of Kṛtayuga. It discusses the Jaina explanation for the origin of Brahmanas (Māhaņas) and the hierarchical structure of Varnas, noting deviations from Brahmanical traditions. The PCV's depiction of women's liberation and lack of purdah is highlighted.
  • Family and Relationship: This part examines the patriarchal structure of the family, the roles and responsibilities of parents, sons, daughters, elder brothers, and the importance of mutual affection. It also touches upon the position of the daughter-in-law and the prevalence of joint families.
  • Ceremonies of Birth, Childhood, and Marriage: It details the care of expectant mothers, the significance of male births, birth ceremonies, naming customs, and the process of marriage, including considerations for alliances, the types of marriages (svayamvara, Gandharva, Rakshasa), and the prevalence of polygamy.
  • Position of Women: The study analyzes the status of women in family (maiden, wife, mother, widow), society, politics, and religion. It notes their freedom of movement, varied professions (servants, artists, doctors), and equal opportunities in the religious sphere within Jainism. It critically evaluates the dependent status of women in certain social situations and their struggle for self-respect, contrasting it with male excesses.
  • Games and Amusements: It describes various forms of entertainment, including outdoor games like ball-play, water-sports, boxing, hunting, and princely sports like subduing elephants and horses. Indoor games like dice-playing and its vices are also discussed.
  • Manners, Customs, and Beliefs: This section covers social etiquette, forms of address, salutations, and significant customs like offering flowers for protection and performing death rites. It also explores beliefs in astrology, fatalism, prophecies, omens, dreams, and supernatural elements.
  • Supernatural Elements: It discusses the belief in supernatural beings (hellish and heavenly), their abodes, the auspicious and inauspicious dream-visions associated with illustrious Jaina figures, various supernatural occurrences, and the superhuman powers of monks and ordinary individuals.

• Education, Literature, Sciences, Arts, and Architecture:

  • Education and Literature: It details the teacher-student relationship, subjects of study, and the literary aspects of the Paumacariyam.
  • Sciences: It covers writing, astronomy, astrology, medical science, and knowledge of flora and fauna.
  • Arts: This section elaborates on clothing, ornaments, hairdressing, fragrances, music, dance, drama, drawing, painting, terracotta, sculpture, and architecture, including town planning and various building types.
  • Housing and Architecture: It provides an account of town planning, building types, royal palaces, and architectural terms.
  • Utensils and Articles of Furniture and Decoration.

• Economic, Political, and Religious Conditions:

  • Economic Conditions: It discusses agriculture, animal husbandry, professions, services, mineral products, forest yields, trade, and commerce.
  • Polity and Administration: This covers the state, king, administration, policies, law, justice, army, and warfare, including different types of rulers.
  • Philosophy and Religion: It delves into Jaina philosophy, ethics (monks' and householders' conduct), rituals (Jaina and Brahmanical), and popular worship.

• Geographical Places, Peoples, and Tribes: This chapter identifies geographical locations, peoples, and tribes mentioned in the text, including Jaina cosmology and various races like Vidyadharas, Raksasas, and Vanaras.

• Literary Evaluation: Chapter XI offers a critique of the language, grammar, and prosody of the Paumacariyam, concluding with a literary estimate of the work, highlighting its poetic merits, characterization, and use of figures of speech.

• Conclusion: Chapter XII summarizes the original contributions of Vimalasuri, his cultural impact, his influences, and the overall significance of the Paumacariyam in Jaina and Indian literature.

Overall Contribution and Influence:

Dr. Chandra's study emphasizes that Vimalasuri's Paumacariyam, while drawing from existing traditions, particularly the Valmiki Ramayana, significantly reinterprets the Rama story within a Jaina framework. It purges the narrative of excessive supernatural and Brahmanical elements, presenting a more realistic and rationalized account. The work's originality lies in establishing Sita's human parentage, introducing novel elements in character development (like elevating Kaikeyi and Hanumat), presenting a more humanized Ravana, and offering a distinct Jaina worldview. The study highlights the Paumacariyam's substantial influence on later Jaina works and even on Brahmanical literature, particularly Tulasidasa's Ramacaritamanasa, in shaping the popular narrative of Rama and influencing literary styles and thematic elements. The book underscores the Paumacariyam as a foundational work in Prakrit literature and a vital resource for understanding the cultural and religious milieu of ancient India through a Jaina lens.