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 118

Taksas and Sasanaderasās
In the list of the Yakṣas, Kubera, who was the king of them, must be included. Every Indian religion has a Kubera. This Kubera of Jainism retains the common symbol of a club found in the Hindu Kubera. In other respects, his aspect is quite original and distinct.
Varuna
Descriptions of both the sectarian literatures agree insofar as to make him three-eyed, crowned with matted hair and riding a bull. The Digambara books represent him as eight-headed and four-arined but the Svetambara books represent him as cightheaded and eight-armed. The former representation bears in the hands a shield, sword, fruit and Varada1 and the latter-a citrus, mace, arrow, spcar, mongoose, lotus, bow and axe.2
This is another instance of mixing up the conception of Varuna, the guardian deity of ocean and the Western quarter, with that of a Yakṣa, the attendant Jina Muni Subrata. His name is Varuna. He holds, on the other hand, citron, club, and the mongoose,-the symbols of Kubera and Jambhala of Bud
dhism.
Bhrkuți
The Svetambara and Digambara descriptions are undivided as to the present Yakṣa's having four faces, eight hands and a bull as the vehicle. The Digambara books give the following attributes to his hands,-shield, sword, bow, arrow, goad, lotus, disc, Varada. The texts of the other school substitute these:
1. त्रिनेत्रो वृषभारूढः श्वेतवर्णश्चतुर्भुजः । अष्टाननो महाकायो जटामुकुटभूषितः ॥
Pratisthāsāroddhāra, p. 69.
2. तत्तीर्थजन्मा वरुणयक्षस्त्र्यक्षश्चतुर्मुखः । zànì uct queeezgfráfarinjat: 11 मातुलिङ्गगदाबाणशक्तिभृद्भिस्तथापरैः । नकुलाक्षघनुःपर्शुधारिभिः परिशोभितः ॥
Hemacandra's Munisuvratanāthacarita.
81
3. अष्टबाहुश्चतुर्वक्त्रो रक्ताक्षो नगवाहनः ।
Pratisthāsä:asamgraha.