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{{Short description|Jain illustrious person}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Jain
| name = Rama
| deity_of = [[God in Jainism]]
| image = Rama Lakshmana.jpg
| caption = Rama and Lakshmana are the eighth set of Baladeva and Vasudeva according to the Jain universal history
| alt =
| other_names = Padma
| spouse =
| father = [[Dasharatha]]
| mother = [[Kaushalya]]
| children =
| predecessor = [[Dasharatha]]
| successor =
}}

{{Jainism}}

'''''[[Rama]]''''' (Rāma), the hero of [[Ramayana]], is described in the [[Jain scriptures]] as one of sixty-three illustrious persons, known as [[Salakapurusa]]. Among these, there are nine sets of [[Balabhadra]], Vasudeva and Prati-Vasudeva.<ref name=IE>{{cite news|last1=Pillai|first1=Pooja|title=No exaggerations: The truth behind what happened in the Ramayana|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/no-exaggerations-the-truth-behind-what-happened-in-the-ramayana/|access-date=8 November 2015|issue=8 November 2015|publisher=The Indian Express}}</ref> Rama was the 8th Balabhadra with [[Lakshmana]] and [[Ravana]] being his Vasudeva and Prati-Vasudeva counterparts. He is described as a young prince who is deprived of his throne and turned into a pauper. While living in exile his wife [[Sita]] is kidnapped by Ravana, King of Lanka. Rama then rescues Sita with the help of his brother Lakshmana and King [[Sugriva]]. Ravana is killed by Lakshmana (a deviation from the Hindu epic where Rama slays Ravana) and they both go into hell. Rama becomes a [[Jain monk|Jain muni]] and his soul attains [[Moksha (Jainism)|moksha]] (liberation from the cycle of birth and death).<ref name=IE /> Sita becomes a Jain sadhvi and is born into heaven as Indra.

According to [[Nirvana Kanda]] Rama attained nirvana at [[Mangi-Tungi|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 (Jain monk)|Gunabhadra]]'s version.{{sfn|Iyengar|2005|p=60}}
Some of the early works which deal with Rama are:{{sfn|Jain|2000|p=5}}{{sfn|Iyengar|2005|pp=58-59}}

'''Vimalsuri's version'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Author !! Language !! Work
|-
| Vimalsuri || Prakrit || Paumchariya (3rd CE)
|-
| Shilankacharya || Prakrit || Chaupannamahapurusa Chariyam
|-
| [[Haribhadra]] || Prakrit || Dhurtakhyana
|-
| Bhadreshvara || Prakrit || Khavali
|-
| Shilankacharya || Prakrit || Chaupannamahapurusa Chariyam
|-
| [[Ravisena]] || Sanskrit || ''Padmapurana''{{sfn|Natubhai Shah|2004|pp=21-23}}
|-
| Yogashastra Vrtti || Sanskrit || Hemachandra
|-
| [[Hemchandra]] || Sanskrit || Trishashtisalakapurusha Charitra
|-
| Dhaneshvara || Sanskrit || Shatrunjaya Mahatman
|-
| Svayambhu || Apbhramsha || Paumachariya
|}

'''Gunabhadra's Version'''

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Author !! Language !! Work
|-
| [[Gunabhadra (Jain monk)|Gunabhadra]] || Sanskrit || [[Uttarapurana]] (9th CE)
|-
| Krishna || Sanskrit || Punyachandrodaya
|-
| Pushpadanta || Apbhramsha || Mahapurana
|-
|}

'''Samghadasa's version'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Author !! Language !! Work
|-
| Samghadasa Gani || Prakrit || [[Vasudeva-hindi|Vasudevahindi]] (3rd CE)
|-
| Harisena || Prakrit || Kathakosha
|}

Some of the later works which mention the story of Rama are:{{sfn|Iyengar|2005|p=61}}
* 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==
[[File:Swarn Jain temple, Gwalior - Ram.jpg|thumb|''Rama'', ''Lakshmana'', and ''Sita'' with Jain acharya ''yugal-charan'', Swarn Jain temple in Gwalior.]]

Following is the outline of Rama story from the Jain narratives:{{sfn|Jacobi|2005|pp=4-5}}{{sfn|Iyengar|2005|p=67}}

[[Dasharatha]] was the king of [[Ikshvaku dynasty]] who ruled [[Ayodhya]]. He had four princes: Padma (Rama), Narayana ([[Lakshmana]]), [[Bharata (Ramayana)|Bharata]] and [[Shatrughna]]. [[Janaka]] ruled Videha. His daughter [[Sita]] was married to Rama. Sita was kidnapped by [[Ravana]], who took her to his kingdom [[Lanka]]. During the search for Sita, Rama and Lakshmana meet [[Sugriva]] and [[Hanuman]]. [[Sugriva]], the king of the [[Vanara]] clan was removed from his throne of [[Kiskindha]] by his brother [[Vali (Ramayana)|Vali (Vali later becomes a Jain Monk and attains Moksha)]]. Rama and Lakshmana help Sugriva get back his kingdom, after which they, along with the army of Sugriva marched towards Lanka.

Ravana's younger brother, [[Vibhishana]], tried to persuade him to return Sita. However, Ravana refused to do so. Therefore, Vibhishana allied with Rama. There was a war fought between the armies of Rama and Ravana. Lakshmana kills Ravana in the end(deviating from the [[Ramayana]] where the hero [[Rama]] slays [[Ravana]]) and Vibhishana is crowned King of Lanka. Rama and Lakshmana return to [[Ayodhya]]. Rama had around eight thousand wives among whom Sita was the principle consort (whereas in the [[Ramayana|Valmiki Ramayana]], Sita was Rama's only wife), and Lakshmana had around sixteen thousand wives in which [[Prithvisundari]] was his principle consort (in the Hindu epic, he had only one wife, [[Urmila]]). After Lakshmana's death, Rama becomes a monk. He attains [[Kevala Jnana]] and subsequently [[moksha]]. Lakshmana and Ravana, on the other hand, go to hell. Sita was born in heaven.

===Vimalasuri's Version===

Vimalasuri'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 (Ramayana)|Bharata]] from becoming a [[monk]]. To do so, she wanted to give him the responsibility of a king.{{sfn|Iyengar|2005|p=81}} [[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.{{sfn|Ramanujan|1991|p=35}} 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.{{sfn|Ramanujan|1991|p=34}} He was the king of [[Rakshasa]], a kingdom of civilized and vegetarian people.{{sfn|Das|2005|p=122}} [[Sugriva]] was appointed by his brother [[Vali (Ramayana)|Vali]] to become the king before Vali renounces the world and becomes a Jain monk.{{sfn|Das|2005|p=122}} [[Shambuka]] was accidentally killed by [[Lakshmana]].{{sfn|Das|2005|p=122}} 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<ref>{{citation|title=Padma Puran|url=http://www.jaingranths.com/Manuscript.asp?id=284&i=1}}</ref>(Lorebook of the Lotus) is termed as one of the most artistic Jain Ramayana by Dundas.{{sfn|Dundas|2002|p=239}} He belonged to the [[Digambara]] sect of Jainism and hence removes almost every Svetambara elements that was present in the tale.{{sfn|Das|2005|p=123}}

====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.{{sfn|Das|2005|p=123}} 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.{{sfn|Das|2005|p=123}} This narration ends when Bhamandala, after knowing that Sita is his sister, turns into a Jain ascetic.{{sfn|Das|2005|p=123}}

===Sanghadasa's Version===

Sanghadasa's version presents only a brief account of Rama's story.{{sfn|Iyengar|2005|p=66}} In this version, [[Dasharatha]] had three queens; [[Kaushalya]], [[Kaikeyi]] and [[Sumitra]]. Rama was from Kaushalya, Lakshmana from Sumitra, [[Bharata (Ramayana)|Bharata]] and [[Satrughna]] from Kaikeyi.{{sfn|Iyengar|2005|pp=63-64}}

Sita is said to be daughter of Ravana's queen [[Mandodari]].{{sfn|Jain|2000|p=5}} It was predicted that the first child of Mandodari would bring annihilation to the family. Hence, Ravana deserted the child when she was born.{{sfn|Iyengar|2005|pp=63-64}} The minister who was responsible for this took her in a pearl-box, placed her near a plough and told [[Janaka]] of [[Mithila (ancient)|Mithila]] that the girl is born from the trench. Janaka's queen Dharini became Sita's foster mother.{{sfn|Iyengar|2005|p=64}}

While in exile, Rama visited a place called Vijanasthana. Surpanakha was dumbstruck at the beauty of Rama and wanted to marry him.{{sfn|Iyengar|2005|p=64}} However, Rama refused to marry another person's wife. He in turn cut her ears and nose after she was scolded by Sita.{{sfn|Iyengar|2005|p=64}} 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.{{sfn|Iyengar|2005|p=65}}

====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.{{sfn|Das|2005|p=124}}

===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.{{sfn|Iyengar|2005|p=71}} Sita was born of Ravana and Mandodari. She was subsequently abandoned by Ravana in a place where Janaka was ploughing the field.{{sfn|Das|2005|p=124}}

====Pushpadanta's Mahapurana====

Pushpadanta gives elaborate description of the marriage between Rama and Sita.{{sfn|Das|2005|p=125}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Hinduism|Philosophy|Religion
}}
* [[Diwali (Jainism)]]
{{Clear}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist|2}}

===Sources===
*{{citation|last=Das|first=Sisir Kumar|title=A History of Indian Literature, 500-1399: From the Courtly to the Popular|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BC3l1AbPM8sC|date=2005|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-260-2171-0}}
* {{citation |last=Dundas |first=Paul |author-link=Paul Dundas |title=The Jains |url={{Google books|X8iAAgAAQBAJ|plainurl=yes}} |edition=Second |date=2002 |orig-date=1992 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-0-415-26605-5 |location=London and New York }}
*{{cite book|last=Iyengar|first=Kodaganallur Ramaswami Srinivasa|title=Asian Variations In Ramayana|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CU92nFk5fU4C|year=2005|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-260-1809-3}}
*{{cite book|last=Jacobi|first=Herman|title=Vimalsuri's Paumachariyam|year=2005|publisher=Prakrit Text Society|location=Ahemdabad|edition=2nd}}
*{{cite book|last=Jain|first=Pannalal|title=Ravishenacharya's Padmapurana|year=2000|publisher=Bhartiya Jnanpith|location=New Delhi|isbn=81-263-0508-8|edition=8th|editor=Hiralal Jain, A.N. Upadhaye|language=hi}}
* {{citation |last=Johnson |first=Helen M. |title=Jain Ramayana of Hemchandra |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/jainism/book/trishashti-shalaka-purusha-caritra/d/doc213981.html |date=1931 |ref=none}}
*{{cite book|last=Ramanujan|first=A.K.|editor=Paula Richman|title=Many Rāmāyaṇas: The Diversity of a Narrative Tradition in South Asia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XkifYfljHP4C|year=1991|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-07589-4|chapter=[[Three Hundred Ramayanas: Five Examples and Three Thoughts on Translation]]}}
* {{citation |last=Shah |first=Natubhai |title=Jainism: The World of Conquerors |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qLNQKGcDIhsC |volume=I |date=2004 |orig-year=First published in 1998 |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] |isbn=81-208-1938-1 |ref={{sfnref|Natubhai Shah|2004}} }}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Rama in Jainism}}{{Jainism topics}}{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Jainism and other religions]]
[[Category:Hinduism and other religions]]
[[Category:Solar dynasty]]
[[Category:Salakapurusa]]
[[Category:Rama]]

Rama in Jainism - Revision history

Svetlanakxj: further enhanced lead further and updated info

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article