Jaina Iconography

SR No.: 011018
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: B Bhattacharya
Publisher: Motilal Banarasidas
Publication Year: 1974
Total Pages: 247
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

Page 112

Yaksas and Sasana-devatās
holds a mongoose, rosary, staff and a fruit. 1
A separate image of this Yakṣa was unexpectedly explored by the author, who gave it to the Indian Museum, Calcutta. The image with slight modifications agrees with the scriptural description. The important symbol of a bull is prominent enough in the figure.
From the aforesaid description and from the name itself the Yakṣa, represents a borrowed form of the Brahmanic Siva or Isvara. His Yakṣiņi also bears the name of Gauri (according to the Digambaras ). And as Manavi (Svetāmbara version ), she rides an elephant like the consort of Siva. All this shows that the older gods became subordinate to the Tirthankaras whom they also served as attendants with their wives.
Kumāra
Both the texts of the Svetambaras and the Digambaras coincide in attributing to him a vehicle of swan and white complexion. The Digambara view makes him three-headed and six-handed while the Svetämbara school only four-armed. The attributes held by him according to the former are a bow, ichneumon, fruit, club, vara.3 The attributes as represented by the latter view are a citrus, arrow, mongoose and bow. 1
It is rather curious that this Yakṣa, who bears the analog
1.
2.
Cr. त्रिशूलदण्डान्वितवामहस्तः करेऽक्षसूत्रं त्वपरं फलं च । Pratisthã-sāruddhāra. p. 68.
वृषयानो मातुलिङ्गगदादक्षिणदोर्द्वयः । नकुलाक्षसूत्रयुक्तदक्षिणेतरबाहुकः ।।
Hanacandra's Sreyāṁšanāthacarita.
त्रिमुखः षड्भुजः श्वेतः सुरूपो हंसवाहनः ।
Pratistha-sara-samgraha (Jaina Bhavana, Arrah).
3. शुभ्रो धनुर्बभ्रु फलाढ्यसव्यहस्तोऽन्यहस्तेषु गदेष्टदानः । लुलायलक्ष्मप्रणतस्त्रिवक्त्रः प्रमोदतां हंसचरः कुमारः ।।
4. तत्तीर्थभूः कुमाराख्यो यक्षो हंसरथः सितः । मातुलिङ्गशरधरौ धारयन् दक्षिणौ करौ ॥ वामौ च नकुलधनधारिणौ धारयन् भुजौ । वासुपूज्य जितेन्द्रस्याभवत् शासनदेवता ।।
75
Pratisthā sāvoddhara.
Hemacandra's Vāvūpaiya-carita.