Comparative and Critical Study of Mantrashastra

Author(s): Mohanlal Bhagwandas Jhaveri, K V Abhayankar
Publisher: Sarabhai Manilal Nawab

Page 332

APPENDICES: SRI AMBIKA
323
p. 19 describes her as riding on a lion and guarding the Tirtha of Mathura and her image is actually found from the excavations of the Jain Stüpa at Mathurā (see p. 256 ante). In the same work in Ahicchatrā Kalpa p. 14, it is stated that there was an image of Sri Ambikā in Ahicchatrā in the vicinity of the fort riding on a lion with the image of Sri Neminātha on her crown. Now it should be noted that Ahicchatrā is a Tirtha sacred to Sri Pārsvanātha. The same work mentions that images of Sri Ambikā were found installed in the temples at Hastināpuri, Pratişthānapura alias Paithaņa, Girinār, Dhimpuri and several other places. Even this day in the famous temple of Sri Antariksa Pārsvanátha at Sripura alias Sirpur is an image of Sri Ambikā accompanied by an image of Ksetrapāla. * Similarly in the famous Serisā Pārsvanātha Tīrtha (near Kalol) is found when the Tirtha was recently discovered a large stone-image of Sri Ambikā in a sitting posture carrying on her crown the image of Sri Neminātha holding a bunch of mangoes in her left hand and supporting a child on her lap with the right. Another child stands beside her and the lion crouches at her feet. In Prabhāsa Patana also, in the temple of Sri Dada Pārsvanātha is an image of Sri Ambikā-see fig. 87 Bhartnām Jain Tirtho'. She is shown as sitting under a mango tree, carrying on her crown an image of Sri Neminātha and holding a bunch of mangoes in her right hand and supporting with the left a child on her lap. Another child stands on her right. Her vehicle the lion is also shown. From an inscription it appears that an image of Sri. Ambikā was formerly installed in the temple of Sri Candraprabha at Prabhāsa Pātana. In the famous Ellora caves there are several carved images of Sri Ambika. One large image going under the name
* 'Raivatakagirisarksepa', Vividhatirthakalpa and 'Sātruñjayamahatmya' II, 13 give names of several Kşetrapālas and other deities presiding over various parts of the Mt. Girnår. They are associated with Sri Ambikā in the Jain narrative literature. Some of them are Kālamegha, Meghanāda, Girividāraņa, Kapăța, Simhanāda, Khodika, Raivat, Siddhavināyaka, various Rudras, Gomedha Yakşa and Mahā wālā.