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 28

i sxvi) Ambikā is of yellow colour and rides the lion. She holds a bunch of mangoes, a serpent-noose, a goad and a child :
सिंहारूढाऽम्बिका पीता मल बि ? (त्वाम्रकं ?) नागपाशकम् । अङ्ग कुशञ्च तथा पुत्र तथा हस्तेप्वनक्रमात् ॥
---Rūpamaņdana, VI, 19. From the above description it appears that the text refers to a four-armed image. The Aparajitaprcchā mentions a twoarmed image of the goddess carrying a fruit and a child in her hands :
हरिद्वर्णा सिंहसंस्था द्विभुजा च फलं वरम् । पुत्रणोपास्यमाना च सुतोत्सङ्गा तथाऽम्बिका ।।
-Aparajilaprcchā, 221, 36. Several varieties of the images of Ambikā are known from various parts of India.
Pārsva, the Yakşa of Pārsvanātha has been described as of black colour. He holds in his hands a citron, cobras, and a mongoose :
पाश्वः स्यात् पार्श्वनाथस्य कूर्मारूढो गजाननः । बीजपूरोरग नागं नकुलं श्यामवर्णकः ।।
-Rīpamandana, VI, 20. The-Iparūjitaprcchā, on the other hand, states that he should carry a bow, an arrow, a bhindi and a mulgara :
पावों धनुर्वाण भण्डिमुद्गरश्च फलं वरः। मर्परूपः श्यामवर्णः कर्तव्यः शान्तिमिच्छता ।।
----1parajitaprcchā, 221, 55. Padmăvati has red complexion and shc rides on a cock. In her four hands, she holds a lotus, a noosc, a goad and a citron: रक्तायसवती पूर्णा (पद्मा) ककुंटोरग
__ (कुक्कुटस्था) चतुर्भुजा । पद्मपाशोंशो (पद्मपाशाङकुशौ) बीजपुरं हस्ते यु कारयेत् (धारयेत्) ।।
-Rupamandana, VI, 21.
Shah, U. P., Iconography of the Jaina Goddess Ambikā, jour, of the University of Bombay, x, 2, pp. 195-2183; Muni Jayantavijayaji, Holy Abu, Bhavanagar, 1954, fig. 29.