Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

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

Page 347

Vidyādevis
joined by a lion as vähana, holds sword, abhaya-mudra, shield in her three hands, while the lower left is resting on thigh.)
The Jaina Mahavidyās may also be compared with the deities of the Brahmanical and Buddhist pantheons so far as their names and iconography are concerned. Mahākālī, Kālī, and Gauri claim affinity with the Brahmanical goddesses in respect of their names, sometimes attributes also, whereas Prajñapti, Vajränkuśā and Apraticakra with Brahmanical Mātṛkās like Kaumārī, Aindri and Vaiṣṇavi in respect of iconography. The Mahavidya Gauri, in point of fact, is identical with the Brahmanical Gauri in respect of iconography, who likewise holds lotus and rosary and rides an iguana. Besides, Naradatta (or Puruṣadatta) has close resemblance with Brahmanical Durga, who bears sword and shield and rides buffalo. Mahavidyā Vijraśṛnkhala, on the other hand, offers comparison with the Buddhist
Vajraśṛnkhala who is conceived as an emanation of Amoghasiddhi. However, the Sadhanamālā visualises Vajraśṛnkhala with three faces and eight arms and holding, besides vajra and vajraśṛnkhalā, abhaya, arrow, kapāla, tarjanī-mudră, noose and bow. The forms of Sarvästramahājvālā, Mānavī and Vairotyä perhaps bear some influence of Agni, and tree and snake worship respectively. REFERENCES
U.P., Shah, 'Iconography of Jaina Mahavidyas', Journal of Indian Society of Oriental Art, Vol. XV, 1947, pp. 114-177; Maruti Nandan Prasad Tiwari, 'Iconographic Features of the Sixteen Jaina Mahavidyas as enunciated in the Iconographic Texts', Sambodhi, Vol. 5, Nos. 2-3, pp. 69-73 And also 'A Note on the figures of Sixteen Jaina Goddesses on the Adinatha temple at Khajuraho', East and West (New Series), Vol. 34, Nos. 1-3, (Sep. 1984), pp. 139-151.
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