Jain Journal 1983 01

SR No.: 520069
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1983
Total Pages: 36
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 2 MB

Page 31

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JAIN JOURNAL
as attributes.13 The Svetambara works, however, conceive Agni as holding a sakti14 (or a bow and an arrow in hands and riding on a meşa.15
Yama, wearing a karanda-mukuta, is accompanied by buffalo as mount and bears a lekhani, a noose, a danda (staff), a kukkuta and a manuscript in surviving hands.18 The Svetambara works invariably prescribe a danda in hand and a buffalo as mount for Yama.17
Nirriti, with short dhot 118 and dishevelled hair, has snake round his neck which suggests the terrific aspect of the deity. He does not wear any ornament. Nirriti, accompanied by a dog as conveyance, shows a mace, a sword, a damaru and a shield as attributes. 19 The Svetambara texts conceive Nirriti as wearing a tiger-skin and riding a preta (corpse) with a sword and a mudgara in hands.20
Varuna with makara-vāhana bears the varada-mudrā, the abhayamudrā, a noose, a spiral-lotus, a lotus (?) and a water-vessel. The
13 Some of the earliest figures, known from the Mahavira Temple of Osia and Ghane
rava, represent the two-armed Agni with mesa as vahana and holding the abhayamudra (or abhaya-cum-rosary) and a water-Vessel. tatha agnim agnivarnam mesavahanam saptasikham saktipanim ceti-Nivarnakalika, p 37. ..agneyaya digdhisvaraya kapialvasnaya chagavahanaya nilambaraya dhanurbanahastaya—Acaradinakara, p. 178. However, one of the left hands is damaged. At Svetambara sites, Yama invariably rides a buffalo and holds a lekhani, a manuscript, a khadga (or danda) and
a kukkuta which is reminiscent of Brahmanic Yama. 17 tarha yamarajam krisnavarnam mahisavahanam dandapanim ceti-Nirvanakalika,
p.37. .. namo yamaya dharmarajaya..krsnavarnaya carmavarnaya mahisayahanaya
dandahastaya---Acaradinakara, p. 178 18 It may be noted that Nirriti has never been visualised as nude in the Jaina texts
but in sculptural representations, mainly at Digambara sites, he is always nude. However, at some of the Svetambara sites, namely, Osia (Jaina devakulikas), Kumbharia (Parsvanatha and Neminatha Temples, devakulika) and Nadol (Adinatha Temple) also he is shown naked which readily suggests Brahmanical influence. The Vimala Vasahi figures never depict him without drapery. However, the middle left hand is broken, while the lower left holds some indi
stinct object. 20 tatha nairrirtim haritavarnam savavahanam khadgapanim ceti-Nirvanakalika, p.37.
..sri nirristaye nairrirta digdhisaya dhumravarnaya vyaghracarmavrtaya mudgarhastaya pretavahanaya—Acaradinakara, p. 178. It may be noted that against the Jaina tradition, he is always represented in sculptures with dog as conveyance, which is suggestive of Brahmanic influence. However, in few instances, he also holds a siras (human head) which again reminds of Brahmanic Nirriti.