Ambika on Jaina Art and Literature

Author(s): Maruti Nandan Prasad Tiwari
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith

Page 11

Preface
Ambikā, acknowledged as the Yaksi of the 22nd Jina Aristanemi or Neminātha, enjoyed a specially venerated position in Jaina worship. The popular worship of female principle as 'Mother', representing fertility cult, was adopted by the Jainas in the form of an early Yakşi Bahu-putrikā who towards the close of sixth century A.D., was transformed into Yaksi Ambikā. The concept and visual form of Ambikā, the most popular of all the Jaina Yaksis, have some very interesting and revealing aspects which, however, have so far not been properly studied. Hence, an exclusive work on Ambikā was a long felt need.
It has been endeavoured in the present work-a desideratumto give a detailed and critical assessment of the origin and development of the Jaina Yaksi Ambikā. The evolution of her iconographic forms, on the basis of Jaina literature and iconographic texts with their visual manifestation in sculpture and painting, have been dealt with in great details. I have personally visited a number of prolific Jaina sites, namely Khajurāho, Deogarh, Mathurā, Osiān, Kumbhāriā, Mt. Abū, Tārangā, Khandagiri, Elloră etc., to make a detailed study of the icons of Ambikā. The treatment of the subject has always been historical. The sculptural data have been compared with relevant textual prescriptions for showing the development of her iconic forms. Besides nine coherent chapters, the appendices, the detailed bibliography and illustrations have also been added.
I must record at this juncture my gratitude to those who assisted me in one or the other way in preparing this monograph. My heartfelt thanks are due to Prof. M.A. Dhaky, Associate Director (Research), American Institute of Indian Studies, Varanasi, for, kindly reading the manuscript and offering valuable comments.
I would like particularly to thank Dr. (Mrs.) Kamal Giri, Reader, Deptt. of History of Art, Banaras Hindu University and Sri Gopilal Amar, Research Officer, Bharatiya Jnanpith, New Delhi, for their valuable suggestions and kind assistance in preparation of the monograph
I am also grateful to Prof. (Dr.) K.D. Bajpai, Former Tagore Professor and Head of the Deptt. of Ancient Indian History, Culture