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At times it is seen that the Säshan devtäs receive more reverence then the Tirthankaras by many people, but they are not the Jinas, Arihanta, or Tirthankaras who have conquered the inner passions. The images of the Säshan devtäs are found in Jain temples and also around the idols of the Jinas. They are found in a pair, a male (yaksha) and a female (yakshini). The yakshas are usually found on the right side of the Jina idol while the yakshinis are on the left. In the earlier period they were regarded mainly as the devotees of the Jina, but as the time passed people started to worship them independently.
Names of the twenty-four yakshas associated with the twenty-four Tirthankaras:
The following twenty-four yakshas are mentioned here. Each yaksha is the protector deity of a Tirthankara. The first yaksha protects the first Tirthankara and so on..
1. Gomukh, 2. Mahayaksh, 3. Trimukh, 4. Yakshesh, 5. Tumbru, 6. Kusum, 7. Mätang, 8. Vijay, 9. Ajit, 10. Brahmä, 11. Manuj, 12. Surkumär, 13. Shanmukh, 14. Pätal, 15. Kinnar, 16. Garuda, 17. Gandharya, 18. Yakshendra, 19. Kuber 20. Varun, 21. Bhrukuti, 22. Gomedh, 23. Pärshva, 24. Mätang.
The names of the twenty-four Yakshinis associated with the above yakshas
1. Chakreshvari, 2. Ajitä, 3. Duritari, 4. Käli,
Yakshinis like Chakreshvari, Ambika, Padmavati and Jwalamalini attained such a position that independent cults developed around them.
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