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ICONOGRAPHY OF THE HINDUS, BUDDHISTS AND JAINS
Brahmanic influence. Many of the Yakshinis are also Vidya-devis, goddesses of learning. These too show influence of the Brahmanic female deities.
SRUTA-DEVI AND VIDYA-DEVIS
Kubera or Vaisravana, the king of the Yakshas, is referred to several times in Hindu literature. Many of his attendants are referred to in Jain canonical texts, viz.. Purnabhadra, Manibhadra. Sitalabhadra, Sumanabhadra, Laksharaksa. Purnaraksa, Sürvana, Sarvyasas, Sarva Kama, etc. or these Manibhadra, whose other name is Yaksendra or Yak-apati attained much antiquarian inportance on account of a discovery of his image in the frontier.
'A Yakwa is a devotee of the Tirthankaras. According to Jain belief, Indra appoints one Yaksha and one Yakshini to serve as attendants on each Tirthankara. The Yaksha would be on his right and Yakshini on his left. Thus, they also came to be called Māsana-devatās or attendant spirits.
In later development, the Yaksha cult obtained greater veneration and so we find detached in- dependent images of Yakshas among the ancient ruins.
The Vidya-devis are sixteen in number. They are goddesses of learning. Besides these sixteen deities, the Jains also include one Sruta-devi or Sarasvati closely approximating the Brahmanical goddess of the same name. She heads the sixteen goddesses of learning, 'Goddess of Sruti or revealed literature. Her description reminds one of Brahmani, who like Brahma carries a book in her hands. Both hold in their hands the Vedas. On the Sukla Panchami day of the Karttika month (November) the Jains celebrate 'Jnana Panchami,' when devout people fast, worship books, etc.
Through the worship of the Vidya-devis, the devotee gets knowledge, character, religion, mental qualities, etc.
YAKSHINIS (Pls. 197-200, Figs. 67-83)
The Yakshiņis are the female attendants of the Tirthankaras, being the leaders of the women converts. They are endowed with semi-divine attributes. Their names and symbols indicate
HINDU GODS AND GODDESSES
Hindu deities appear as subordinate gods and goddesses in the Jain pantheon.
