Critical Study Of Paumacariyam

SR No.: 022643
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: K R Chandra
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology and Ahimsa
Publication Year: 1970
Total Pages: 672
Language: English, Sanskrit
Classification: Book_English & Book_Devnagari
File Size: 18 MB

Page 47

CHAPTER II
SUMMARY
1. The author commences his work with salutation to the Tirthankaras and declares to narrate the story of Padma (Paumacariyam) as it has come down traditionally. He mentions his name and speaks of the form and the style of his work. Then after giving the contents of the work he tells us again about the form and the style as well as the traditional way in which the story has been handed over.
2-4. Then follows a brief biography of Lord Mahāvīra, his arrival at mount Vipulagiri and the homage paid by king Śreņika to the Lord. Next day Śrenika again calls on Gautama (first Gapadhara of Lord Mahāvīra) and expresses his doubts in the Rama-story as it (Ramayana) has been popularised by the heretics. He requests Gautama to narrate the true story. Thereupon Gautama begins to relate the true story. He gives a brief account of the Universe, the Cycle of Time and the advent of fourteen Kulakaras. He recounts1 the biography of Lord Rṣabha, the establishment of three social orders (Ksatriya, Vaisya and Sudra), the assignment of the region of the Vijayardha mountain to Nami and Nemi, the episode of the battle of the two brothers, Bharata and Bahubali and the formation of the fourth social order, namely, the Brahmaņas (Māhaņas).
5. Thereafter Gautama narrates the origin of the Ikṣvāku, Soma and the Vidyadhara dynasties and their genealogies. He relates the biography of Lord Ajita, the installing of Meghavāhana, a Vidyadhara king as the first ruler of Lankapuri as well as Pātālankarapura, the episode of the death of the sons of Cakravartin Sagara and the origin of the Raksasa dynasty.
6. Gautama continues the narration with the installing of Vidyadhara Śrīkantha as the first king of Kişkindhipura situated in the Vanaradvipa. Amaraprabha, a descendant of Srikantha establishes Vanaravamsa, by adopting the figure of monkey as the emblem of his state. Then follows the wresting of Kişkindhipura and Laňkāpuri by
1. The main story commences with chapter 22.101 while the chapters preceding it contain the biographies of some Tirthankaras, the origin of various dynasties, the episodes or stories relating to some of the descendants of those dynasties, the early career of Ravana and the story of Añjanasundari. Here a passing reference has been made to them as they are dealt with in a separate chapter,