जैन रामकथाओं के परिप्रेक्ष्य पुष्पदन्त की रामकथा

Summary

The text examines the Ramayana narrative within Jain literature, focusing on the versions by Acharya Gunabhadra and Mahakavi Pushpadanta. It notes that the Ramayana is a pervasive and beloved theme in Indian literature, appearing across languages and genres, including Jain, Vedic, and Buddhist traditions. In Jain tradition, Rama is revered as the eighth Vasudeva among the sixty-three Shalakapurushas, and his story is detailed in major Jain texts like the Mahapuranas. The earliest detailed Jain Ramayana is Vimalasuri's Prakrit "Paumachariu" (1st century CE), followed by Ravishena's Sanskrit "Padumacharita" (7th century) and Svayambhu's Apabhramsha "Paumachariu" (8th century). Two main narrative streams exist: one by Vimalasuri, Ravishena, and Svayambhu, and another by Gunabhadra and Pushpadanta. Gunabhadra's "Uttarapurana" begins Rama's story three births prior, detailing his past life as Prince Chandrachula, who, with his friend Vijaya, was exiled for misconduct. They later took initiation and were reborn as Rama and Lakshmana to King Dasharatha. The text recounts Sita's origin as the abandoned daughter of Ravana and Mandodari, her marriage to Rama, her abduction by Ravana, and the subsequent war where Lakshmana kills Ravana. Rama eventually renounces the world, attains kevalajnana, and achieves liberation. Pushpadanta's "Mahapurana" follows a similar narrative but differs in details, such as describing Dasharatha having four queens instead of three.