________________
462
D. N. SHUKLA
among them may be mentioned here: Harinegamesi or Naigameśa is represented in sculpture as a male figure, either with the head of a ram or antelope or a goat. He is accredited for granting the boon of child birth. He is not altogether a new Jaina origin. His affinity with Daksa Prajapati is beyond doubt.
Kṣetrapāla:
He is Bhairava and seems to be the master of the Yoginis. His iconology is bewildering. He has 20 hands with many weapons, matted hair, a snake as his holy thread and he rides on a dog.
Gaṇeśa, Lakṣmi, Santi & Yoginis:
Gaṇeśa and Laksmi are equally adorable among the Jainas; but the conception of Santi Devi is really unique among the Jainas. As regards the Yoginis they are a Tantric influence from which no cult could escape.
With these few points, now let me conclude. In the inception of Buddhism, the Hinyan, Buddha was only aniconic or symbolic, Later on Mahāyan flourished and this second stage got amalgamated into Vajrayana-the third stage-as even continued in China, Japan and Tibet etc. This is the hall-mark of Purāņic influence. Similarly the Jainism did not lag behind to propitiate gods, goddesses and also demi-gods-the first stage aniconic or symbolic, the second stage iconic. Please recollect the above quotation afzad'. All the three volcanic currents are of one Dhārā.
f
Jain Education International
For Private Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
