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 116

Taksas and Sasana-devatās
79
Gandharva l'aksa
The Digambara account inakes this Yaksa to ride a bird and bear four hands. The symbols held in them are a snake, noose, bow etc. The Svetāmbara representation shows a swan as his vehicle and his four hands holding a l'arada, noose, citrus and goad.?
The Gandharvas are a class of derni-gods regarded as the musicians of gods and are said to give good and agreeable voice to girls. As the Yakşas came out from all kinds of demi-gods, it is very natural that a Gandharva also had a place among them. His vehicle of a bird ora swan might echo theidca of his inherent connection with sound and sky, which is called "Gandharvanagara" or the city of the Gandharvas.
Khendra or Yaksendra
According to the imagery of both the sects, this Yaksa is represented as having six mouthis and twelve arms. The Svetāmbara version gives the vehicle of a conch-shell and adorns his arms with a citrus, arrow, sword, club, noose, and Abhara, Imongoose, bow, fruit, spcar, goad and rosary. Another book of the same school gives him a peacock as a vehicle.' He, as called "Khendra' by the Diganılaras, is described as bcaring in
1. कुन्थुनाथजिनेन्द्रस्य यक्षो गन्धर्वसंज्ञकः । पक्षियानसमारूढः श्यामवर्णश्चतुर्भुजः ।।
*** Pratis!hāvāra-Samurahın (MSS. Arrah). Cr. सनागपाशोर्ध्वकरद्वयोऽधः करद्वयात्तेपुधनुः सुनीलः ।
___ गन्धर्वयक्षः स्तमकेतु भक्तः पूजामुपेतु श्रितपक्षिजानुः ॥ 2. तत्तीर्थभूश्च गन्धर्वयक्षो हंसरथोऽसितः । दधानो दक्षिणी वाहुदण्डौ वरदपाशिनौ । मातुलिङ्गाङ्कुशधरौ धारयन् दक्षिणेतरौ ॥
Hemacandra. 3. यक्षेन्द्रः षण्मुखस्त्र्यक्षः श्यामः शङ्खरथो भुजैः ।
मातुलिङ्गिबाणिखङ्गिमुद्गरिपाशभीप्रदैः (छिदः) । दक्षिणः षडभिरन्यश्च नकुलेष्वसिचर्मभिः । शूलाङ्कुशाक्षः सूत्राक्षंयुक्तस्तत्तीर्थभूस्तथा ।
Hemacandra's dranāthacaritra. 4. Pravacanasāroddhāra.