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 144

Jaina Iconography
It may be seen from the above description that there is very little difference in iconography between a Brahmanic Agni and Jaina Agni, the latter being a by-product of the former. The attributes of a bow and arrow are, of course, conspicuous. We can imagine that these attributes, which arm the hands of Kärttikeya may have been conceived in case of Agni, who was the presiding god of Kartikeya. The symbols of sacrificial pot (Kundi) and rosary are only indicative of the god's primary nature as a sacrificial priest. The meaning of Svaha, also, supports this idea.
Fama
110
Yama, the god of death, who governs the south regions, is to be sculptured both according to the Svetāmbaras and Digambaras, as riding on a buffalo and holding a staff. He is known to be the son of the sun and accompanied by his wife called Chaya. His chief function is not only to guard the south but also to pronounce judgment on merits and demerits of departed souls.1
Digambara.. रुक्मारुग्घुर्धुरस्रग्गलचटुलपृथुप्रायभृङ्गाभङ्गस्थं रौद्रं पिङ्गलेक्षणयुगममलं ब्रह्मसूत्रं शिखास्त्रम् । कुण्डीवातप्रकोष्ठे दधतमितरपाण्यात्तपुण्याक्षसूत्रम् । स्वाहान्वीतं धिनोमि श्रुतिमुखरसमं प्राच्यप्रोच्यान्तराग्निम् । छागारोहणमक्षसूत्रवलयं स्वाहासंयुतमुज्ज्व....
..
Pratiṣṭhāsāroddhāra.
नमो यमाय धर्मराजाय दक्षिणदिगधीशाय समवर्तिने धर्माधर्मविचारकरणाय कृष्णवर्णाय चर्मावरणाय महिषवाहनाय दण्डहस्ताय । Acäradinakara, Pūjāvidhi. Gr. छायासमेतं महिषाधिरूढं दण्डायुधं दण्डितवैरिवर्गं वैवस्वतं .... यमवास्तुदेवाय स्वाहा | Ibid.
श्रीं ह्रीं
Digambara version:
यमदेवस्येति । श्रासीनं शितवर्णभाजि महिषे वैवस्वतञ्च स्वयम् । दण्डमण्डितभुजं दक्षिणस्यां दिशि ।....
Devapūjā (MSS.; Arrah Collection).
Cr. चण्डाचिःकाण्डदण्डं डुमरकरमतिक्रूरदारं विलोके । काष्र्णोद्रेकं नृशंसं प्रथममथ यमं दिश्य प्राच्यां यजामि ॥
Pratisthāsäroddhära.