Comparative Study of Mantrashastra

SR No.: 006575
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Mohanlal Bhagwandas Jhaveri
Publisher: Sarabhai Manilal Nawab
Publication Year: 1944
Total Pages: 376
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, L000, & L020
File Size: 21 MB

Page 332

APPENDICES: SRI AMBIKA
323
p. 19 describes her as riding on a lion and guarding the Tirtha of Mathurā and her image is actually found from the excavations of the Jain Stūpa at Mathură (see p. 256 ante). In the same work in Ahicchatrā Kalpa p. 14, it is stated that there was an image of Sri Ambikā in Ahicchatrā in the vicinity of the fort riding on a lion with the image of Sri Neminātha on her crown. Now it should be noted that Ahicchatrā is a Tirtha sacred to Sri Pārsvanātha. The same work mentions that images of Sri Ambika were found installed in the temples at Hastināpura, Pratişthänapura alias Paithana, Girinār, Dhimpuri and several other places. Even this day in the famous temple of Sri Antariksa Pārsvanātha at Sripura alias Sirpur is an image of Sri Ambikā accompanied by an image of Ksetrapāla. * Similarly in the famous Serisā Pārsvanátha Tirtha (near Kalol) is found when the Tīrtha was recently discovered a large stone-image of Sri Ambikā in a sitting posture carrying on her crown the image of Sri Neminātha holding a bunch of mangoes in her left hand and supporting a child on her lap with the right. Another child stands beside her and the lion crouches at her feet. In Prabhāsa Pātaņa also, in the temple of Sri Dādā Pārsvanātha is an image of Sri Ambikā-see fig. 87 ‘Bhār:nām Jain Tīrtho'. She is shown as sitting under a mango tree, carrying on her crown an image of Sri Neminātha and holding a bunch of mangoes in her right hand and supporting with the left a child on her lap. Another child stands on her right. Her vehicle the lion is also shown. From an inscription it appears that an image of Sri Ambikā was formerly installed in the temple of Sri Candraprabha at Prabhāsa Pātana. In the famous Ellora caves there are several carved images of Sri Ambikā. One large image going under the name
* 'Raivatakagirisarkşepa', Vividhatirthakalpa and "Sātruñjayamāhātmya' II, 13 give names of several Kşetrapālas and other deities presiding over various parts of the Mt. Girnar. They are associated with Sri Ambikā in the Jain narrative literature. Some of them are Kālamegha, Meghanāda, Girividāraņa, Kapăța, Simhanāda, Khodika, Raivat, Siddhavināyaka, various Rudras, Gomedha Yakşa and Mahā wālā.