Ambika on Jaina Art and Literature

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

Page 39

Ambikā : Iconographic Concept and Symbolism
"May Ambikā, of golden complexion, riding on a lion and accompanied by her two sons, Siddha and Buddha, and holding a bunch of mangoes in her hand, protect the Jaina sangha from obstacles."'1
Ambikā, acknowledged as the Yakși of the twenty-second Jina Aristanemi or Neminātha, enjoyed an exalted position in Jaina worship. She is also considered one of the four most popular Yakşīs of Jaina pantheon. According to the Rūpa-mandana of Sūtradhāramandana (c. mid 15th century A.D.), the images of Ādinātha, Neminātha, Pārsvanātha and Mahāvīra and so also their respective Yakşīs Cakreśvari, Ambikā, Padmăvati and Siddhãyikā, who are endowed with great power, occupy a specially venerated position.2 After the introduction of Ambikä in the Jaina Church as Yaksi, she progressively attained popularity in Jaina worship, as is evidenced by literary notices and archaeological material. There are several literary references to the ancient images as well as to the temples of Ambikā, the most important of them being at Mathurā, Urjayantagiri, Hastināpura, Ahicchatrā and Pratisthānapura. The Kalpa-pradipa (popularly known as Vividha-tirtha-kalpa) frequently refers to such temples. It mentions that Ambikā, riding a lion, was the guardian goddess of the Mathurā tirtha. A similar reference is found in the Ahicchatrā-nagari-kalpa in the selfsame work, wherein Ambikā is
Ambika 25