Paumacariu

Summary

This article introduces Svayambhūdeva’s Paumacariu, an Apabhraṃśa epic that retells the Rāmāyaṇa from a Jaina perspective. Composed in five kāṇḍas, the poem situates Rāma (Pauma) within the Jaina framework of karma and liberation. The first book narrates the princes’ births and emphasises their karmic backgrounds. The middle books recount familiar episodes—Sītā’s marriage, the exile and the war with Rāvaṇa—but with ethical modifications: Lakṣmaṇa, not Rāma, slays Rāvaṇa; violence is minimised; and all characters are subject to karmic law rather than divine intervention. The final book describes Rāma and Sītā’s renunciation; they take monk and nun vows, practise austerities and ultimately attain liberation, illustrating the Jaina belief that even heroes must renounce worldly life to achieve mokṣa. The article places Paumacariu within the broader context of Apabhraṃśa literature, noting that vernacular epics allowed Jain authors to reach wider audiences. It points out that the poem weaves digressions on cosmology, ethics and philosophy—explaining the structure of the universe, the nature of karma, the vows of non‑violence and truth, and the doctrine of anekāntavāda. By recasting a popular Hindu tale in Jaina terms, Svayambhūdeva propagates non‑violence, karma theory and ascetic ideals while preserving the narrative’s dramatic appeal. The article acknowledges that this overview is preliminary and promises further discussion in subsequent issues.