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 114

Takşas and Sāsana-Devatās
holds a goad, spear, bow, rope, plough and fruit' and in addition bears a canopy of a three-hooded snake. The latter texts represent his hands as holding a lotus, sword, moose, mongoose, fruit and rosary.
For some reason or other his name “Pātāla” has been connected with Ananta both meaning serpent-kings of the nether world. His symbol of a three-headed snake may support this explanation. He seems to be the presiding spirit of the Nāga world and the plough symbol suggests of agriculture also. Kinnara raksa
The texts of both the schools is unaninious in giving this Yaksa three faces and six arms. His vehicle differs from a tortoise with the Svetāmbaras to a fish with thc Digambaras. The former sect describes his attributes as a citrus, mace, Abhaya, mongoose, lotus and a rosary. The Digambaras, on the contrary, describe them as a disc, Vajra, goad, club, rosary and Fara Mudrā.3
The symbolisms of the some of the Yakşas are sometimes very riddling. It is certain that the conception of this Yaksa is mainly borrowed from an older tradition. Thc Kinnaras are
यक्षः पातालनामकः । त्रिमुखः षड्भुजो रक्तवर्णो मकरवाहनः ।
Pratisthā-sāra-sangrahn (MSS.. Jaina Collection Arrah). Cr. पातालकः सशृणिशूलकचापसव्य
हस्तः कषाहलफलाङ्कितसव्यपाणिः । रक्तोऽर्यतां त्रिफणनागशिरास्त्रिवक्त्रः ।
Pratisthi-säroddhāra, p. 69. 2. तत्तीर्थभूः किन्नराख्यस्त्र्यास्यः कूर्मरथोऽरुणः ।
दक्षिणस्तु मातुलिङ्गगदाभृदभयप्रदैः । वामैस्तु नकुलपद्माक्षमालामालिभिर्भुजैः ॥
Hemacandra's Dharmunātlıncarita, Parva 4, Sarga 5. 3. धर्मस्य किन्नरो यक्षस्त्रिमुखो मीनवाहनः ।
___Pratisthā-sriva-samgraha. सचक्रवज्राङ्कुशवामपाणिः समुद्गराक्षालिवरान्यहस्तः । प्रवालवर्णस्त्रिमुखो झषस्थो वज्राङ्कभक्तोऽहंतु किन्नरोऽर्चाम् ॥
Pratisthā-sarorldhāra.