Jains have two main versions of Ramayana. A Swetambara version and a Digambar version. The Swetambara version begins with Vimala Suri’s work Pauma Chariya written in Prakrit language in 1st century AD. It has 118 cantos in Arya meter. The Digambar version begins with Gunabhadra’s Uttarapurna. In all there are 15 books written and preserved by Jains relating to Ramayana. These books are written in three different languages, Prakrit, Apbhransha and Sanskrit.
Jain versions of the Ramayana can also be found in the various Jain agamas like Ravisena’s Padmapurana (story of Padmaja and Rama, Padmaja being the name of Sita), Hemacandra‘s Trisastisalakapurusa charitra (hagiography of 63 illustrious persons), Sanghadasa’s Vasudevahindi and Uttarapurana by Gunabhadara.
In Jain Ramayana, Rama, who led an upright life, renounces his kingdom after lakshman’s death, becomes a Sanyasi and attains Kevala Jnana omniscience and finally liberation moksha.
In addition to these, Ramayana characters have been referred directly and indirectly in several scriptures and stories. For example, the story of Sati Anjana Bala (Hanuman’s mother) describes the birth and strength of Hanuman as an infant child. It describes how Hanuman fell from the Pushpak Vimaan and landed on a rock, for Hanuman is alive and playing on a rock crushed by his fall.
