Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

SR No.: 006774
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sagarmal Jain, Others
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 2010
Total Pages: 726
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 51 MB

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Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies
while the left ones carry nakula, axe, thunderbolt and rosary. The Pratisthāsāroddhāra (3.149) and other Digambara texts prescribe sword, shield, bow, arrow, goad, lotus, disc and varada-mudrā for the Yakşa. In south Indian tradition also the Yaksa has been endowed with the identical features as found in north Indian Digambara texts. The features of the Yakşa alongwith third eye are suggestive of the bearing of Siva on the Yaksa. We however do not find any independent figure of the Yakşa. Even in the Naminātha images from western Indian Svetāmbara sites the Yakşa is Sarvānubhuti.
(ii) Gāndhāri (or Cāmundā) Yakși- The four- armed Gāndhāri in Svetämbara tradition rides a goose and holds varada-mudra and sword in right and fruit and pitcher (or spear or shield) in left hands (Nirvāņakalikā - 18.21 and Mantradhirajakalpa - 3.63). The four-armed Cämundã in Digambara texts is visualized as riding on a crocodile (or monkey) and bearing staff, shield, rosary and sword in her hands (Pratisthasāroddhara - 3.175; Aparajitaprecha - 221.35). The south Indian tradition almost agrees with the north Indian Digambara tradition.
We come across only two figures of the Yakşi which come from Digambara Jaina sites, namely Deogadh (Temple No. 12) and Bārabhuji cave. The figure from Deogadh represents the two-armed Yaksi without any distinguishing attribute and even vāhana. The Yakși holds pitcher in right hand while the left hand rests on thigh. In case of Barabhuji cave the four- armed Yakṣi with three faces and swan mount shows varada-mudra, rosary, three-pronged object and pitcher in her hands. The Yakşi apparently is not the traditional one and instead she has the features of Brahmāni, the consort of Brahmā. In the Naminātha images from Svetāmbara Jaina sites the Yakși as usual is Ambikā. (22) Gomedha Yaksa and Ambikā (or Kuşmāņdi) Yakși of Neminātha. (22nd Jina)
(i) Gomedha Yakşa-Both the traditions conceive six-armed Gomedha Yakşa as three-faced and with man
(nara) or flower vahana and the difference is noticed only in respect of attributes. The Nirvāņakalikā (18.22) prescribes fruit, axe and disc in right and nakula (shown in art as mongoose-skin-money-bag), spear and sakti in left hands. The Ācāradinakara (34, p. 175) refers to the presence of Ambika also near Gomedha. The Digambara texts envisage mudgara, axe, staff, fruit, thunderbolt and varada-mudră (Pratisthāsaroddhāra3.150). The Pratisthātilakam (7.22) provides wealth (dhana) in place of mudgara which we invariably find in sculptural examples in the form of money-bag (made of mongoose skin) or jewel pots (nidhi pătra). The south Indian Digambara tradition gives another name Sarvāṇha and provides a small temple as his vahana. The attributes of three-faced and six-armed Yaksa are more or less the same as noticed in north Indian Digambara texts. It is relevant to note here that in sculptural examples the Yakşa carved with Neminātha is never shown as riding on a man and possessing three faces and six arms. Rather in visual renderings, the Yakşa, either twoor four-armed, rides an elephant (in some cases even accompanied by jewel pots, nidhi-pätra). In all the examples the Yaksa invariably holds a money-bag to suggest that he is the transformation of Kubera (the Brahmanical god of wealth). In addition to money-bag (nakula) at Svetāmbara Jaina sites of western India (Akota, Osian, Kumbharia, Delvada, Taranga), he also carries goad and noose. Although nakula (possibly to suggest mongoose-skin-purse) is provided by Nirvanakalikā but the other attributes like goad and noose and also elephant mount are prescribed by the solitary text of south India-Yakşa-Yaksi Laksana (c. 14h-15th century A.D.). Thus it is apparent that instead of Gomedha Yakşa, Kubera (also known as Sarvānubhūti or Sarvāṇha) Yakșa was carved with Neminātha.
Sarvānubhūti Yakșa at Svetämbara Jaina sites is four-armed, while at Digambara Jaina sites like Dhank, Deogadh, Khajuraho, Ellora (cave 32, 9th century A.D.; Pl. 179), Sahet-Mahet and Gwalior he is shown with
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