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 91

Tirthankaras
Kunthanatha.
Jaina tradition as preserved in their literature, has always connected the symbol of a goat with this Tirthamkara. He has as his Yakṣa Gandharva and Yakṣiņi Bala (Dig. Vijayā). The contemporary King, who carries his Chowri-fan is called Kuṇāla. The tree selected by him to sit under for attaining the Kevala knowledge is Tilaka taru.
Hitherto, no image of Kunthanatha, to the best of my knowledge, has come to light. Doubtless, however, any image when found out will shew unmistakably the iconographic marks as detailed above.
His parent's names, as may be gathered from the Jaina Purāņas, are variously called Šūrasena, Surya, Sivarāja (Svetambara version) for the father, Srikantā or Śri-devi for the mother. His father belonged to the Kuru race, and Hastinapura as his capital, where the Jina was born. He, like his predecessor, became an emperor.
53
Two explanations of the origin of his name are given in the Abhidhana Cintamani. First the Jina stood firmly on earth hence Kunthanatha. Secondly, before his birth, his mother saw a heap (Kuntha) of jewels.3
Agni, the god of fire, is believed in India to be the presiding deity of wealth also. His symbol of goat has been borrowed in this case to symbolise the idea of riches, which, too, is responsible for the origin of the Jina's name.
Aranatha
The eighteenth Jina Aranatha carries with him the mystic symbol of either the Nandyuvarla (a kind of Svastika) or a fish. His ministerial staff consists of the Taksa named Yakṣendra and
I.
तिलकद्रुममूलस्थश्चैत्रज्योत्स्नापराह्न । हस्तिनाख्यपुराधीशः कौरवः काश्यपान्वयः । शूरसेनो महाराजः श्रीकान्तास्याग्रवल्लभा ॥
Ibid.
3. कुः पृथ्वी तस्यां स्थितवानिति कुन्थुः । तथा गर्भस्थे भगवति जननी
Hemacandra.
2.
Ullara P.. 2. 281.
रत्नानां कुन्थुराशिं दृष्टवतीति कुन्थुः
Mrs. Stevenson mentions two more explanations, viz.. "...during his life people began to show great kindness to insects (Kunthu) and the power of his enemies was stunted (Kuntha)".