Two Rare Icons of Parshwa Yaksha

Author(s): Balaji Ganorkar
Publisher: ZZ_Anusandhan
Catalog link: https://jainqq.org/explore/269126/1

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The Two Rare Icons of Parshva Yaksha
-Dr. Balaji Ganorkar* Two images of clephant faced Gods are found in the niches of Shakti Kunda at Akhaj village located at 15 km south-east to Mahesana district headquarter and 4 km northeast to Ambaliasan Railway station on meter gauge line of Western Railway running from Ahmedabad to Delhi.
The first image is studded in a niche located at first landing in south direction of the said Kunda!. Here the four armed elephant faced deity is standing in tribhanga posture. The trunk of this deity is leflwards and in a situation indicating that he is drinking some liquid, which is carried by his front hand in a beautiful bhrungaraka (i.e. vessel). The right front hand is mutilated from the elbow, while the back right hand holds a three hooded sarpu (i.e. cobra) and the left hand carries an akusu (j.e. goad). The deity is canopied by five hooded cobra. He bears cap type metallic head dress and other usual ornaments. It is noteworthy that both teeth are present here and body is simple and slimn. A snake is seated beside the left of the deity.
The same type of image with some variations is found sludded in a niche located on the first landing in northern direction. It is also clephant faced and four armed. The canopy of five hooded cobra and a snake beside the left leg as well as the ornaments are common. Standing poşture is dvibhanga and the trunk of this deity is making coil on the right side. The back right hand liolds three hooded cobra and the left holds a scripture, while the front right and left hands are bearing an unkusha (goad) and a small bhrunguruka (ves
*Associate Director, A.K.G.M., Kuba, Gandhinagar 382 009

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56
sel) respectively. The body is also slim and normal.
These two images are identified as Gancsha by Dr. P. C. Parikh but the absence of mushuk (rat), Bhagnadanta (broken tooth), modakputra (bowl of sweet balls) and lamhodaru (pot bellied stomach) etc. the peculiar characteristics of the deity are lacking. These features are necessary in the icons of Ganesha.
In Jain traditions, there is a Yaksha, named as Parshva Yaksha. According to Shilpa Ratnakur! and Trishashti Shalakapurusha Charitru', he is canopied by cobra-hoods. He is also described as elephant-faced and his attributes are bijapuraka (citrus), Sarpa (snake) and varadumudra etc. His mount is tortoise. This Yaksha is associated with Parshvanath, the 23rd Teerthankara of Jain religion. Here the symbol of tortoise and cobra beside the left leg is visible. The cobrahoods over the head and snake in one of his hands suggest that these images may be considered as Parsliva Yaksha of Jain tradition. Perhaps, these icons were brought here in this holy Kunda from some nearby Jain temple and due to elephant face, they are commonly accepted as Ganesha, the most popular Hindu deity.
Unfortunately, only one image of Parshva Yaksha, preserved in the Prince of Wales Museum of Western India, Mumbai, was noted by Late K. V. Davet. It is interesting to note that Parshva Yaksha disappeared and intermixed with the images of Ganesha and Vinayaka, who are also clephant faced Gods. Even we may see that iconography of Vinayaka and his images are also rarely known in all over India at present. Only one such ancient image is being worshipped in Siddhi Vinayaka's famous temple at Kashi Vishwanath lane in Varanasi.

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57 Foot Notes 1. Parikh Pravin C., Shakti Kunda at Akhaj, fig. no.6, Ahinedabad, 1989. 2. lbid, fig no.17. 3. Shilparatnakara, 12/78, Dhrangdhira, 1939. 4. Dave K. V., Gujaratnu Murti Vidhan, p. 494-495 5. Ibid.