________________
Jaina Art and Architecture at Mathurā
Ambikā, the yaksī of Neminātha, who is the Jaina counterpart of Pārvatī.350 Ambikā has an ornamental halo; she is seated on a lotus cushion which is supported by a couchant lion; she holds a bunch of flowers in her right hand; her left hand clasps a male child who is seated on her thigh and plays with the lower part of her necklace. 351 The image of Ambikā shows many deities - Gaṇeśa, Kubera, Vişnu, etc., and also the cauri bearing attendants. 352 The centre of top in this figure depicts a meditating jina, and the background shows beautifully chiselled flowers. 353 The pedestal of the image illustrates eight female devotees in adoration.354
Lāñchanas and attendant yakşas and yakşīs of the twenty-four tirthamkaras
The lāñchanas of the twenty-four jinas evolved in about the eighth-ninth century AD. These lāñchanas are embodied in Jaina texts like Kahāvalī, Pravacanasāroddhāra 355 Pratisthāsāroddhāra or Pratisthāsārasaṁgraha, 35 etc. The Svetāmbaras and the Digambaras are in agreement regarding the lāñchanas of the jinas except those of four – Supārsva, Śītala, Anant and Aranātha. 357 They also differ in respect of the attendant yaksas and yaksīs of many jinas.358 There is also a marked difference between the Digambara Jaina iconography of north and south India. 359 The lāñchanas of the twentyfour jinas and statement of their attendant yaksas and yaksīs as given below should be viewed in the light of this background.
350. MM no. D.7; JUPHS, III, pp. 31-2; R.C. Sharma, op. cit., p. 159. 351. Ibid., ibid., p. 31. 352. Ibid.; ibid., p. 32; R.C. Sharma, op. cit., p. 159. 353. Ibid.; R.C. Sharma, op. cit., p. 159. 354. Ibid., ibid. 355. JPV, p. 250. 356. DJI, Introduction, p. 9. 357. JPV, p. 250. 358. JAA, I, pp. 14-16. 359. DJI, Introduction, p. 9.
2071
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
