Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain, Others
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 322

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Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies
In north India only two examples from Deogadh (Temple No. 12) and Barabhuji cave are found which are carved in association with Candraprabha. In case of four-armed figure from Deogadh, the name of the Yakşi given in the inscription is Sumalini who is accompanied by lion mount (Pl. 176). The Yakşi in tribhanga exhibits sword, abhaya-mudrā, shield and kati- hasta. The figure appears to have the bearing of the iconographic form of 16h Mahavidya Mahämanasi. The other example in the Bārabhuji cave also shows simhavāhana but here Yakşi has twelve arms. The Yakşi shows varada-mudrā, krpāņa (small dagger), disc, arrow, mace and sword in right and varada-mudrā, shield, bow, conch, noose and ghanță in left hands. The figure of Yakşi is carved also with Candraprabha images from Kausambi, Deogadh and Khajuraho but the Yakşi is usually represented without any distinguishing feature. Only in some examples from Deogadh (Temple Nos. 20 and 21) and Khajuraho (Temple No. 32), the four- armed Yakṣi with lotus, manuscript, abhaya-mudrā and pitcher (or fruit) suggests the prevalence of some independent form.
Out of a number of figures from south India, some very interesting figures of Jvälämälini depicts the Yakşi with eight arms and with the attributes like trident, disc, sword, arrow, bow, conch and noose. One such image of about 11th - 12th century A.D. is presently kept in the Siva temple at Aihole (Pl. 177). It may be noted here that Jvālāmālini in southern tradition was one of the four most popular Yakşis. (9) Ajita Yaksa and Sutārā (or Mahākāli) Yakși of Suvidhinātha (or Puspadanta) (9th Jina)
(i) Ajita Yakşa- According to both the traditions, the vāhana of the four-armed Yakṣa is tortoise but we find some difference in respect of the attributes. The Svetāmbara texts prescribe fruit and rosary in right and nakula and spear in left hands (Nirvāņakalika - 18.9) while the Digambara texts provide varada-mudră in place of nakula (Pratisthāsārasamgraha - 5.33). The south
Indian texts almost fully correspond with north Indian texts prescribing trident in place of süla or sakti. However, so far independent figure of the Yakşa is not known to us.
(ii) Sutārā (or Mahākāli) Yakşi-The four-armed Sutārā, according to Svetämbara texts, rides a bull and shows varada-mudrā and rosary in right and pitcher and goad in left hands (Nirvāņakalikā - 18.9) while the four-armed Mahäkäli of Digambara tradition is provided with tortoise vähana and thunderbolt, mudgara, fruit and varada-mudră in hands (Pratisthāsároddhāra - 3.163). The south Indian tradition mostly concurs with the north Indian Digambara tradition wherein sometimes the vahana is lion also.
We come across only two figures of Mahākāli Yakşi from Deogadh (Temple No. 12) and Barabhuji cave. However, in both the instances the traditional features are not shown. In case of Deogadh the Yakşi with Puspadanta has been labelled as Bahurūpi. The two-armed Yakși bears flywhisk-lotus in one hand. In case of Bärabhuji cave the Yakṣi with bull mount is ten-armed and holds disc, some bird, pot filled with fruits, ardhacandra (half crescent), snake and twig, besides varada-and tarjani-mudra. Thus apparently the iconographic form of Yakṣi was not standardized in sculptural renderings. (10) Brahma Yaksa and Asokā (or Mānavi) Yaksi of Sitalanātha (10th Jina)
(i) Brahma Yakşa- In both the traditions fourfaced Brahma Yakṣa with lotus mount is provided with eight arms but in respect of attributes we find some difference. The Svetāmabara texts prescribe for trinetra Brahma fruit, mudgara, noose and abhaya-mudra in right and nakula, mace, goad and rosary in left hands (Nirvāņakalikā - 18.10 and Trişaştisalākāpuruşacaritra - 3.8.111-12). The Yakşa, according to Digambara texts, bears arrow, sword, varada-mudrā, thunderbolt, axe, bow, staff and shield like attributes (Pratisthāsároddhāra - 3.138 and Pratisthätilakam – 7.10, p. 334). The Aparajitaprccha (221.49) however conceives Brahma
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