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Jaina Art and Architecture at Mathura
Ambikā, the yakṣi of Neminatha, who is the Jaina counterpart of Parvati.350 Ambika has an ornamental halo; she is seated on a lotus cushion which is supported by a couchant lion; she holds a bunch of flowers in her right hand; her left hand clasps a male child who is seated on her thigh and plays with the lower part of her necklace.351 The image of Ambika shows many deities - Gaṇeśa, Kubera, Viṣṇu, etc., and also the cauri bearing attendants.352 The centre of top in this figure depicts a meditating jina, and the background shows beautifully chiselled flowers.353 The pedestal of the image illustrates eight female devotees in adoration.354
Lāñchanas and attendant yakṣas and yakṣis of the twenty-four tīrthamkaras
The lañchanas of the twenty-four jinas evolved in about the eighth-ninth century AD. These lañchanas are embodied in Jaina texts like Kahāvalī, Pravacanasaroddhāra,355 Pratiṣṭhāsāroddhāra or Pratisthāsārasamgraha,356 etc. The Svetambaras and the Digambaras are in agreement regarding the lanchanas of the jinas except those of four- - Suparśva, Śītala, Anant and Aranatha. 357 They also differ in respect of the attendant yakṣas and yakṣis of many jinas.358 There is also a marked difference between the Digambara Jaina iconography of north and south India.359 The lañchanas of the twentyfour jinas and statement of their attendant yakṣas and yakṣis as given below should be viewed in the light of this background.
350.
MM no. D.7; JUPHS, III, pp. 31-2; R.C. Sharma, op. cit., p. 159. 351. Ibid.; ibid., p. 31.
352. Ibid.; ibid., p. 32; R.C. Sharma, op. cit., p. 159.
353. Ibid.; R.C. Sharma, op. cit., p. 159.
354. Ibid.; ibid.
355. JPV, p. 250.
356. DJI, Introduction, p. 9.
357. JPV, p. 250.
358. JAA, I, pp. 14-16.
359.
DJI, Introduction, p. 9.
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| SR No. | 022807 |
| Book Title | History Of Jainism With Special Reference To Mathura |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | U K Sharma |
| Publisher | D K Printworld P L |
| Publication Year | 2001 |
| Total Pages | 304 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 9 MB |