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 143

Dikpälas
109
tâmbara and Digambara texts. His chief characteristics are his elephant called Airāvata and his Vajra or thunderbolt.1 Indra is the guardian of the castern regions and his wife is called Saci. In one text, we shall sec, later on, he has been described as possessed of thousand cyes. We can infer, therefore, that the Brāhmaṇic conception of Indra's having thousand eyes, is carried to Jainism. Clcar identity of some features leads me also to infer that Mātaiga, the Yakşa of Mahavira or Mahendra, the Yaksa of Aranātha according to the Digambaras owes largely its conception to that of Indra.
Agni
Both from the Svetāmlara and Digambara standpoints, Agni is described as riding a ram, holding a Sakli (spear; and bearing seven flamcs. One Svetambara test, however, gives him a bow and arrow while a Digambara text adds a sacrificial pot to his attributes and makes rosary as his armlet.? His wife is Svāhā and he has the charge of the south-castern regions.
1. दृप्यत्सामानिकादित्रिदशपरिवृतं रुच्यशच्यादिदेवी
113 लोलाक्षं वज्रभूपोद्भटसुभगरुचं प्रागिहेन्द्रं यजामि ॥
Pratisthāsāroddhāra. cा. पूर्वस्यां दिशि कुण्डलांशुनिचयव्यालीढगण्डस्थलं शत्रु मूर्धनि साधुबद्ध___ मुकुटं स्वारूढमरावतम् । पत्नीबान्धवभृत्यवर्गसहितं देवं सदाह्वानये ।
Derapūjā (MSS.. Jaina. S. Bhavana, Arrah.). Svetāmbara version-अथ लोकपाला: शक्रं पीतवर्णमैरावतवाहनं वज्रपाणि . . ..
Nirrānakalikā (MSS., Agra Collection). cr. वास्तुदेवाः ओं ह्रीं ऐरावतस्कन्धमधिश्रयन्तं वज्रायुधं रुच्यशचीसमेतं प्रत्यूहविध्वंसकम् ।
(MSS., Rimaghāta) 2. अग्निमग्निवर्ण मेषवाहनं सप्तशिखं शक्तिपाणि ।
___Nirānakalika (MSS.. Agra, J. Library). cr. श्रीअग्नये · · कपिलवर्णाय छागवाहनाय नीलाम्बराय धनुर्बाणहस्ताय Pūjāvidhi, Acaradinakara (MSS.No. 74/11/36 Råmaghāt a
MSS. Library, p. 14) Again, ज्वाला यात्मकशक्तिहस्ता वस्ताधिरूढा - ‘स्वाहा महिष्यासममग्निदेवाः
ओं ह्रीं अग्निवास्तुदेवाय स्वाहा । bid.. P. 33. S ...
.
. . .
.y
. . .
"
| bid.. D 38s