Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

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

Page 338

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Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies
Trişastišalakäpuruşacaritra (10.5.12-13) of Svetāmbara tradition describe four-armed goddess as having green complexion and riding on a lion. In the Nirvāņakalikā, she is said to hold fruit and arrow in her two left hands and book in the third right hand while the fourth is in abhaya-mudrā. But according to Trişastiśaläkāpuruşacaritra, she bears a viņa in one of her left hands.
A solitary dhyāna of the six-armed Siddhāyikā is prescribed in the Mantradhirājakalpa (3.66). She is here visualized as bearing pustaka, the abhaya-mudrā, the varada-mudrā, sharp-edged weapon (kharāyudha), vīņā and fruit.
A two-armed image of Siddhāyika standing in tribhanga is carved on the wall of the Temple No. 12 (A.D. 862) at Deogadh. The Yakşi represented with Vardhamana is called 'Aparajitā' and shows a bud-like object in her left hand, while the right hand is resting on thigh. Her vahana is not shown. A solitary instance of independent rendering of the four-armed Siddhāyikā is found at Khajuraho. The figure is carved on the right extremity of a door-lintel, incorporated in the modern Jaina Temple No. 24 (11th century A.D.). Here Siddhāyikā sits in lalitäsana with a lion carved below her feet, and bears sword and shield respectively in her right and left upper hands, while the lower right and left ones show the varada-mudra and water-vessel (hanging). An exact replica of the above figure was noticed at Deogadh also.
In the sculptures hailing from south India, the Yakşi is invariably shown with two arms and as standing to the proper right of the Jina instead of the left. At a small distance from Anandamangalam, sculptures carved on the rock of a hillock near the village of Kāñcī, is another example where two-armed Siddhāyikā is portrayed standing by the right side of Jina. Her right hand rests on the waist and the left one holds an object which seems a fruit.
A bronze image of Mahavira, assignable to the 9th century A.D., comes from Karanja (Akola, Maharashtra) and represents Siddhāyikā standing as she is on a separate pedestal. The four-armed deity carries axe, lotus-flower, citron and flower (?). In an image of Mahāvīra harboured in a niche on the southern facade of the sanctum of the Mālādevi Temple (9th century A.D.) at Gyaraspur (Vidisha, M.P.), the twoarmed Yakṣī, seated in lalităsana, is rendered at the left corner of throne. She holds viņa in her both arms. Another image of Mahāvīra, deposited in the Reserve Collection of the Rajputana Museum, Ajmer (Acc. No. 279, inscribed in samvat 1061 = 1004 A.D.), contains the figure of two-armed Siddhāyikā at the left extremity of throne. Here she rides on a lion and bears sword in right hand, while the left one is broken off. Two 12h century figures of Mahāvīra, housed in the reserve collection of the State Museum, Lucknow (Acc. Nos. J.808, J.782), contain the figures of two-armed Siddhāyikā at their throne ends. In both the figures showing identical details, Siddhāyikā bears the abhayamudră in right hand and kalaśa in the left.
In the images of Mahāvīra coming from Khajuraho Siddhāyikā is carved both as possessing two and four arms. In three instances, the two-armed Siddhāyikā is shown with the abhaya-mudra in right hand and fruit or blossom in the left. In three other examples Siddhāyikä, seated in lalitāsana with a lion below her feet, possesses four hands. First image, installed in the Modern Jaina Temple No. 2 inscribed in sarvat 1149 = 1092 A.D.), exhibits Siddhāyikä as bearing a disc and a fruit in her upper and lower right hands, while the corresponding left ones carry respectively lotus and conch. Second example, lying in the Open Air Museum (No. K. 17), adjacent to the Adinātha Temple shows the same set of symbols. Third figure, incorporated on the rear wall of the modern Jaina Temple No. 11 (No. K. 28/1; 11h century A.D.), represents her as carrying
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