Jaina Iconography

SR No.: 011018
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: B Bhattacharya
Publisher: Motilal Banarasidas
Publication Year: 1974
Total Pages: 247
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

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74
vice above a Sakti, Varada-mudra, fruit and rosary.1
The tortoise symbol is the same with the symbol of his Yakṣiņi (according to the Digambara version). The Švetāmbara Yakṣini holds an urn having some connection with water. All this group of emblems agree in nature with the aquatic symbol of a crocodile or a crab as associated with their master Suvidhinatha.
Brahma akşa
He is invariably given four faces, three eyes, eight hands, and a lotus seat. The difference lies in respect of the attributes held by the eight hands. The Svetambara Brahma Yakṣa bears the following objects in his hands: a citrus, club, noose, Abhaya, mongoose, mace, goad and rosary." The Digambara variants are a bow, staff, shield, a sword, l'ara-Mudrā etc. The conception of this Yakṣa has much in common, together with the name with that of the Brahmanic deity Brahma. The same four faces (Caturmukha) an epithet of Brahma, the lotus seat etc. are attributed to this demi-god. His Yakṣiņi Asoka (of the Svetambaras) has the lotus-seat while the same Yakşini as represented by the Digambaras has black hogs for her chariot and with the emblem of dawn may be said to be the Aurora of the Jainas.
Jaina Iconography
Isvara Yakşa
This Yakṣa of Sreyamsanatha has from both accounts, a bull vehicle, three eyes and four hands. The Digambara canon places on his hands the attributes of a trident (Trisüla), staff, rosary and a fruit." The Svetambara icon of the same Yakṣa
1.
प्रतिपुष्पदण्डस्य यक्षः खेतचतुर्भुजः । फलाक्षसूत्रशक्तयाढ्यो वरदः कूर्मवाहनः ॥
Pratisthasurasaṁgraha.
2. तत्तीर्थभूर्ब्रह्मनामा यक्षस्त्रयक्षश्चतुर्मुखः । पद्मासनः श्वेतवर्णश्चतुभिर्दक्षिणैर्भुजैः । मातुलिङ्गी मुद्गरभृत्सपाशाभयदायिभिः । वामैस्तु नकुलगदाङकुशाक्षसूत्रधारिभिः ॥
Hemacandra's Sitalanathacarita.
3. त्रिनेत्रो वृषवाहनः फलाक्षसूत्रसंयुक्तः सत्रिशूलश्चतुर्भुजः । Pratistha-sara-samgraha (MSS.. Arrah Library).