Jain Journal 1983 10

SR No.: 520072
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1983
Total Pages: 35
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 3 MB

Page 8

JAIN JOURNAL
The third Yaksi Sarasati, joined by the vāhana peacock, is shown with varada-mudrā, a manuscript and a viņā in her three surviving hands. The Yakşi is identifiable with Siddhayini, the Yakși of the 24th Jina Mahavira, on account of her attributes, manuscript and vīnā.13
The fourth Yakşi Padumavati is none else but Padmavati, the Yakşi of the 23rd Jina Parsvanatha. The Yakşi, accompanied by a lion as mount, shows the varada-mudrā, lotus (twice) and a water-vessel. Barring lotuses, the figure, however, does not attune to the description of Digambara texts, wherein she is conceived with kukkuța-sarpa (or kukkuța) as vāhana and holding a goad, a rosary and a lotus as distinguishing attributes.14 However, the absence of snake here either in hand or as canopy is surprising.
The fifth Yakṣi Vijaya is joined by a lion as mount with one arm in varada, and the rest holding a thunderbolt, a snake and a water-vessel. Vijaya, the Yakşi of the 18th Jina Aranatha, is conceived with a lion as vāhana and holding, as she does, a snake, a vajra, a disc and a fruit.15 Thus the figure reveals complete concordance with the tradition, except for disc and fruit in hands.
The sixth Yakşi Jaya rides a buffalo and holds a musala, a noose and a water-vessel in her three hands, while the remaining one rests on a flower. The Digambara works invariably see the four-armed Jaya, the Yaksi of the 17th Jina Kunthunatha, with boar as vāhana and holding a conch, a sword, a disc and the varada-mudrā.16 The figure does not correspond the least with the textual injunctions.
The seventh Yakşi, Anantamati by name, rides a lion and holds the varada-mudrā, a trident, a ghanțā and a water-vessel. The Digambara texts, however, visualize Anantamati as the Yaksi of the 14th Jina Anantanatha, who, on the contrary, sitting on a hamsa bears a bow, an arrow, a fruit and the varada-mudrā.17
13 Tiwari, Maruti Nandan Prasad, Elements of Jaina Iconography, p. 58-62. 14 devi padmavati namna raktavamam caturbhuja/padmasanankusam dhatte
aksasutram ca pankajam/athava sadbhuja devi caturvimsati sadbhuja—Pratisthasarasamgraha 5.67-68 ; yestum kurkatasarpagatriphanakottamsadvisoyata sat/pasadih sadasatkrte ca dhrtasankhaspadido astaka - Pratisthasaroddhara
3.174. 15 simhasana caturbahurvajracakraphaloragah/tejovati svarnavarna namna sa
vijayamata-Aparajitaprccha 221.32. 16 jayadevi suvarnabha krsnasukaravahana/sankhasicakrahastasau varadadharma
vatsala-Pratisthasarasamgraha 5.55. Also : Pratisthasaroddhara 3.171. 17 tathanantamati hemavarna caiva caturbhuja/capambanam phalam dhattevarada
hamsavahana-Pratisthasarasamgraha 5.49. Also : Pratisthasaroddhara 3.168.