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58 : Śramaņa, Vol 61, No. 4 October-December-10
(Misnusops Elengi) Vetasa tree (Reed
Neminātha or
Conch
Aristanemi
or Bamboo)
Pārsvanātha
Snake
Dhātiki tree (Grislea Tomentosa) Śāla tree (Shorea Robusta)
Mahāvīra
Lion
The importance of flora and fauna is further extended when we find that all the 24 Yakşas and Yakṣis (Śāsanadevatās) associated with the Jinas are provided with Vāhanas (conveyances) which are mainly some animals, birds or reptiles and flowers (shown animal, bird wise in tabular form). Further the Yakşas likeGomedha, Brahmā; Yakṣis like- Kālikā, Ašokā, Chandā, Vinītā, Ankuśā, Nirvāni, Dhāriņi, Vairotyā, Padmavati and Mahāvidyās like Rohiņī, Vajrašķīnkhalā, Kālikā, Gāndhārī, Mānavi are shown as carrying lotuses in one of their hands. ASSOCIATION OF NATURE WITH ŚĀSANADEVATĀS
& MAHAVIDYĀS
Animal, Bird and
Yaksa
Yakşi
Mahāvidya
Aquatics Vāhanas
Bull
Gomukha (face) Isvara, Yakşendra, Varuņa, Bhřkuti
śāntā, Sutară
Cow
Rohiņi
Rohiņi
Elephant
Gomukha (mount), Mahāyakşa,
Mahakali, Śanta, Vajrassňkhalā, śānta,
Vajrānkuša Siddhāyikā
