________________
SIXTEEN VIDYADEVIS AS DEPICTED IN JAINA TEMPLES AT KUMBHĀRIĀ
Gauri, the lotuses and rosary are femilar symbols of the goddess. The goddess identified as Gauri in the set of 16 Mahavidyäs in the rangamandapa dome of the Vimalavasahi at Abu also bear similar symbols and cognizance." The goddess with lotuses, varadākṣa and citrus in the panel sixteen Mahavidyās in the Santinatha temple may also be identified with Gauri.
10. Gandhari Acording to the Svetambara texts, she is to be sculptured as seated on a lotus and holding a staff and vajra or varada, staff, abhaya and vajra. One of the sixteen Vidyadevis in the rangamandapa ceiling of the Santinatha temple carries vajra, staff, varada and fruit and may be identified with this goddess. A similar images is also depicted on the doorframe of the central devakulika of the Pärsvanatha temple. Another image of this goddess is built on the sanctum wall of the Neminatha temple. Here the four arm standing goddess carries the same set of symbols as are noticed in the above two images, but has ram instead of lotus cognizance. The goddess identified as Gāndhäri in the set of sixteen Vidyadevis in the dome of the rangamandapa of the Vimalavasahi at Abu also rides a ram. 13
11. Mahājvālā - There are three images of this goddess. One of these is built on the mukhamaṇḍapa pillar of the Mahāvīra temple. This four armed image carries in four hands pāśa, jväläpätra, varada and citrus and sits on a lion. The images of mahavidyas in the rangamandapa ceiling of the Santinatha temple also carries the same set of symbols but pasa is replaced by jvālāpātra. Another image of the goddess stationed on the sanctum wall of the Neminatha temple also sits on a lion but holds jväläpätra and struk in the two upper hands, while the objects held by the other two arms are one. These descriptions correspond more to the dhyana in the Acâradinakara than any other text, as it describes her vehicle14 Since cat shows much resemblance to the lion,it is not unlikely if the sculptor intended it to represent cat rather than lion.
Jain Education International
३
she sits on a lotus and is four-armed carrying varada, noose, rosary and a bough of a tree.15 The doorframe of the güdhamandapa in the Mahavira temple depicts an image of Manavi who is represented as carrying lotus bough of a tree, varda and pitcher in her four arms. Although her congnizance is broken off, the recognizing symbol of bough of tree leaves no room for doubts for her identification. The image of Manavi in the panel of 16 Mahavidyas in the Santinatha temple shows bough of tree in both the upper hands, while her lower right hand is in the varadamudrā and the corresponding left one bears the fruit. An identical image of Manavi along with her lotus cognizance is sculptured on the sanctum wall of the Neminatha
temple.
13. Vairotyä The images of Vairotyä are most popularly represented in the Jaina temples at Kumbhäriä. There are two varieties of images of this goddess. In one she rides a snake, in the other bull is depicted as her vechile. The images of the latter variety are larger in number. The iconographic texts also prescribe snake instead of bull as the vähana of the goddess. On the basis of ayudhas the images of Vairotyä may be divided into three groups. In one she holds snake, shield, sword and fruit; in the second
she is armed with snake and varada in three of her four hands, while the fourth one is mutilated, but there is no uniformity in the depiction of ayudhas in the respective hands. All these images are sculptured on of the Mahavira temple; rangamandapa ceiling (panel the gudhamandaps door and mukhamandapa pillars of 16 Vidyadevis) and mukhamandapa pillar, pilaster and ceilig of he Śantinätha temple; gudhamandapa door, mukhamandapa pillar and devakulikā pillars, ceilings and doorframes of the Parsvanatha temple; and the sanctum wall and the devakulika door of the
Neminatha temple.
14. Acyuptă She is described in the Svetambara literature as riding a horse and holding a bow, sword, shild and arrow." There are seven images of this goddess at Kumbharia. Two of these, namely one in the panel of 16 Vidyadevis in the
12. Manavi - According to the Nirvanakalik, rangamandapa ceiling of the Santinātha temple and
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
