Rama in Jainism

According to Nirvana Kanda Rama attained nirvana at Tungi Giri in Maharashtra, where the Jains worship his footprints.

Sources

The story of Rama in Jainism can be broadly classified into three groups; Samghadasa's version, Vimalsuri's version and Gunabhadra's version.^[2] Some of the early works which deal with Rama are:^[3][4]

Vimalsuri's version

Gunabhadra's Version

Samghadasa's version

Some of the later works which mention the story of Rama are:^[6]

• Ramayana of Jinadasa(c. 15th century CE)
• Ramacharitra of Padmadevavijaya Gani(c. 16th century CE)
• Ramacharitra of Somadeva Suri(c. 16th century CE)
• Laghu-Trishashtisalakapurusha Charitra of Somaprabha(c. 15th century CE)
• Padmapurana of Raidhu in Apbhramsha(c. 15th century CE)
• Padma-Ramayana of Nagchandra in Kannada(c. 11th century CE)
• Ramacharita of Devavijayaganir(c. 1596 CE)
• Laghu-Trishashtisakalapurusha Charitra of Meghvijaya(c. 17th century CE)

Story

Following is the outline of Rama story from the Jain narratives:^[7][8]

Vimalsuri's version is one of the most important and influential Jain stories of Rama. In his version, Kaikeyi is shown to be a generous and affectionate mother who wanted to stop Bharata from becoming a monk. To do so, she wanted to give him the responsibility of a king.^[9] Ravana was also called Dasamukha (ten-headed one) because when he was young, his mother gave him a necklace made of nine pearls. She could see his face reflected ninefold. Hence, he was named thus.^[10] In Vimalsuri's Paumachariya, Rama married thrice when he was in exile. His brother Lakshmana married eleven times. Ravana was well known for his abilities in meditation and ascetic practices.^[11] He was the king of Rakshasa, a kingdom of civilized and vegetarian people.^[12] Sugriva was appointed by his brother Vali to become the king before Vali renounces the world and becomes a Jain monk.^[12] Shambuka was accidentally killed by Lakshmana.^[12] Ravana had passionate feelings for Sita. Due to the effects of karma (caused because of this vice), he was said to have suffered at the end.

Ravisena's Padmapurana

The story of Rama in Jainism is found in Ravisena's Padmapurana^[13](Lorebook of the Lotus) is termed as one of the most artistic Jain Ramayana by Dundas.^[14] He belonged to the Digambara sect of Jainism and hence removes almost every Svetambara elements that was present in the tale.^[15]

Svayambhu's Paumachariyu

In Svayambhu's version, Rama is son of Aparajita and Lakshmana is son of Sumitra. Sita is shown to be daughter of Janaka.^[15] There is also a narration about Sita's brother Bhamandala. He did not know about Sita being his sister and wanted to marry her. He even wanted to abduct her.^[15] This narration ends when Bhamandala, after knowing that Sita is his sister, turns into a Jain ascetic.^[15]

Sanghadasa's Version

Sanghadasa's version presents only a brief account of Rama's story.

While in exile, Rama visited a place called Vijanasthana. Surpanakha was dumbstruck at the beauty of Rama and wanted to marry him.[18] However, Rama refused to marry another person's wife. He in turn cut her ears and nose after she was scolded by Sita.^[18] Surpanakha complained about this to her brothers Khara and Dusana who were killed by Rama on their quest for revenge. Surpanakha then goes to her brother Ravana.^[19]

Harisena's KathaKosa

In Harisena's Kathakosa, there is an incident where Rama asks Sita to give the famous Agnipariksha. When Sita steps into the fire, the whole area turns into a lake. A Jain nun appears and Sita and others around her become Jain ascetics.^[20]

Gunabhadra's Version

In the story of Gunabhadra, Dasharatha lived in Varanasi. His queen Subala gave birth to Rama and Kaikeyi gave birth to Lakshmana.^[21] Sita was born of Ravana and Mandodari. She was subsequently abandoned by Ravana in a place where Janaka was ploughing the field.^[20]

Pushpadanta's Mahapurana

Pushpadanta gives elaborate description of the marriage between Rama and Sita.^[22]

See also

• Vimalsuri
• Diwali (Jainism)

References

Citations

Sources

• Das, Sisir Kumar (2005), A History of Indian Literature, 500-1399: From the Courtly to the Popular, Sahitya Akademi,
  ISBN 978-81-260-2171-0
• ISBN 978-0-415-26605-5
• Iyengar, Kodaganallur Ramaswami Srinivasa (2005). Asian Variations In Ramayana. Sahitya Akademi.
  ISBN 978-81-260-1809-3
  .
• Jacobi, Herman (2005). Vimalsuri's Paumachariyam (2nd ed.). Ahemdabad: Prakrit Text Society.
• Jain, Pannalal (2000). Hiralal Jain, A.N. Upadhaye (ed.). Ravishenacharya's Padmapurana (in Hindi) (8th ed.). New Delhi: Bhartiya Jnanpith.
  ISBN 81-263-0508-8
  .
• Johnson, Helen M. (1931), Jain Ramayana of Hemchandra
• Ramanujan, A.K. (1991). "
  ISBN 978-0-520-07589-4
  .
• Shah, Natubhai (2004) [First published in 1998], Jainism: The World of Conquerors, vol. I,
  ISBN 81-208-1938-1

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