Parshwanathopasargaharini Shasandevi Shree Padmavatimata

SR No.: 005139
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Nandlal B Devluk
Publisher: Arihant Prakashan
Publication Year: 1995
Total Pages: 688
Language: Gujarati
Classification: Book_Gujarati
File Size: 33 MB

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[ શ્રી પાર્શ્વનાથોપસર્ગ-હારિણી
ncose, bow, fruit, axe, shield, disc, mace, goad, snake.
This form is found in Jaina temple of Devgadh.
Adorned with five snake hoods over the crown, goddess sits on a bhadrasana with her right foot hanging. The figure shows the club, the bow, the lotus, the arrow, the sword,(?) and varada mudra in six hands on the right. In her left hands are seen the vajra, the snake, the noose, the bow and the fruit. The kukkata sarpa is here very artistically represented. Twenty two armed variety : Though no image is yet found, it is prevalent in Digambara tradition. Symbols described by Padmavati stotra are - vajra, goad lotus, disc, chatra, damaru, bowl ( kapala ) sword, bow, pestle, plough, same of fire, Bhindmala, cluster of stars (taramandala ), the trident, axe, cobra, club, stall, noose, stone and big tree. She is red in colour with 3 hoods and kukkata sarpa. Twenty four armed variety : The pratisthasarasanghra of Vasunandi gives a form with twenty four arms showing the following weapons and mudras, they are - the conch, the sword, the disc, the crescent, the lotus, the stone (upala), the bow, the sakti, the noose, the goad, the bell, the arrow, the pestle, the shield, the trident, the axe, the spear, the vajra, the rosary, the fruit, the club, the leaf, the stalk, and the varada mudra.
Asadhara and Nemichandra also refer to the twenty four armed form but do not give all the symbols. They, however, add that the form is invoked for benefic as well as malsic rites. The form was certainly popular as it is referred to by three chief Digambara writers. Multi-armed variety : According to a verse in the Padmavati stotra, the goddess carries swords, bows, arrows, pestles, ploughs, vajras, narcas, discs, saktis, salyas, tridents, axes, clubs, staves, nooses, stones, trees and such innumerable divine weapons in her hands. The goddess is said to destroy the wicked in this form. A form like this yet to be discovered in sculptures or paintings.
We find Padmavati on the famous toranas of Warangal, in miniature form carved on the south face of southern torana.
The Jaina temples at Penukonda which perhaps belong to sangama period have Padmavati images in the form of votary figures made in grey soapstone. Here we find stucco of Padmavati.
The available material shows that Padmavati was one of the most popular deity.