________________
શાસનદેવી શ્રી પદ્માવતી માતા ]
[ 380
respledent with three snake-hoods over her head rides on white swan and rests on the lotus seat. Four-armed, Sri Padma, carries the lotus, the goad, the varada and the noose in her hands. The form offers an interesting comparisons with the Buddhist goddess Durgottarini Tara who shows the same set of symbols and rests on the lotus. The difference lies in the complexion only since the Buddhist goddess is green in colour.
Pancasara Padmavati image shows another stage in the evolution of iconography. The devi holds the lotuses in her two upper hands, the noose in the right lower and the goad in the left lower hand. A kukkata sarpa is her vahana. The fornı, although not very popular, shows neverthless a combination of two distinct types of sculptures of four armed Padmavati. The first and probably the earlier type has the lotuses as the chief distinguishing symbols of Padmavati. ( lit the goddess with the lotus ). The second type, probably later in the chronological order, mainly showed the goad and the noose in her two hands.
A peculiar variety of four armed form is noteworthy since the symbols are entirely different. From those of the rest. T.N.Ramchandran has given a form of Padmavati from popular Canarese Dhyana-slokas recited by temple priests in South India. According to this tradition the goddess sits in lalitasan and holds the axe and the thunderbolt ( Vajra) in the upper hands while the abhaya and the kataka mudras are shown by the two lower ones. The goddess has five snake-hoods overhead and rides on the swan. (hamsa). Six armed variety :
Vasunandi, Asadhara and Nemichandra reser also to a six-armed form. According to Vasunandi, she holds the noose, the spear, the sword, the crescent, the club and the pestle ( Musala ) in her six hands. The other two authors merely say that the goddess holds the symbols begining with pasa. According to Nemichandra, Padmavati when invoked in this form, gives victory over the enemy. Found mainly in Digambara sect. Twelve armed variety :
Mainly popular in Digambara sect, Padmavati is red in complexion with 5 hoods and kukkata sarpa as her vahana. The symbols are—club, bow, lotus, arrow, varada, sword, vajra, snake,
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
