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

Page 115

Jaina Iconography
supposed to be human figures with horse-heads and Kubera is their leader being called Kimisvara. Gradually, we find, these Yakṣas are associated with Nagas, Kinnaras, Garudas, Gandharvas and so on. Of course, the particular appearance in which they appear along with the Jinas is, no doubt, of Jaina invention. The idea of his three faces is quite original to them. The fish symbol alone given by the Digambaras is curious enough to be noticed in the case of his Yakṣini Kandarpa as represented by the Svetambara.
78
Garuda Yaksa of Santinatha
Garuda Yakṣa is represented from both points of view as riding a boar. (acc. to the Pravacana-Sāroddhāra and elephant acc. to Hemacandra) and as endowed with four hands. The objects borne by the hands, as usual, vary canonically. In accordance with the Svetambara view, the hands hold a citrus, lotus, mongoose and rosary. To the other sect the hands are known to have a lotus, fruit, Fajra and discus.2
I saw a figure of Garuda Yakṣa on the Southern face of a pillar just entering the Deogarh Fort Gate (Western) as an attendant of Santinatha. He rides a boar and holds a club, rosary, citrus, and snakes. Thus, all this agrees mostly with the description cited before. It seems to be a Svetambara image although in Deogarh Fort there are Digambara images in greater number as well. Both are found inseparably mixed up.
His symbol of an elephant might not have distant allusion to the mythical bird Garuḍa while holding an elephant in one hand and tortoise in another (Gaja Kacchapa).
1. तत्तीर्थजन्मा गरुडयक्षो गजरथोऽसितः । sistent वीजपूराब्जभृद्दक्षिणकरद्वयः । वामौ दधानो नकुलाक्षसूत्राभ्यां सहितौ करौ ॥
Hemacandra's Santinathacarita, Parva 5. Sarga 5. 2. गरुडो नामतो यक्षः शान्तिनाथस्य कीर्तितः । वराहवाहनश्यामो वक्रवक्त्रचतुर्भुजः
Pratistha-sara-sangraha (Arrah). Cr. वक्त्रानधोऽधस्तनहस्तपद्मफलोऽन्यहस्तापितवज्रचक्रः । मृगध्वजार्हत्प्रणतः सपर्यां श्यामः किटिस्थो गरुडोऽभ्युपैतु ॥
Pratistha-saroddhāra, p. 69.