Jain Heritage and Beyond

Author(s): Shailesh Shah
Publisher: Oshwal Associations of The UK

Page 69

Jain Yakshas and Yakshinis
The primary Jain pantheon is the group of twenty-four Tirthankars (enlightened souls and or path-finders), beginning with Lord Rishabhdev and ending with Lord Mahavir. The Jains, specially those who believe in temples, worship images of these Tirthankaras and one can find idols of many other gods and goddesses too. They are often called Sashan-devtas or the protectors of Jain-community. The question now is: Who are they? Why they are important and why people worship them? The Sashan-devtas are not same as Tirthankars who have conquered the inner passions. These Sashan-devtas or male and female deities (Yakshas and Yakshinis) are heavenly beings of celestial groups who have supernatural powers including ability to change their forms and sizes. According to some beliefs, Jains believe that these Yakshas and Yakshinis were appointed by Indra to look after the well being of Tirthankars. Therefore, they were always found around Tirthankars and that has reflected their presence in the Jain temples and also around the idols of the Tirthankars. In Jain religious sculptures one can often find one male (yaksha) standing on the right side of the Jina idol and one female devotee (yakshini) on the left side of the Tirthankar. They are paying their obeisance as well as protecting the Shasan (Order of Jain religion). In the earlier period they were regarded mainly as the devotees of Jina but as time passed by, people started to worship them too. These 24 male plus 24 female devotees are the gods and goddesses from the subterranean region of the universe (loka). Of the 24 Yakshinis, devotees of the Tirthankars, the three more popular and worshipped by Jains all over the world are:
Tirthankar Rishabhdev Neminath Parshvanath
Associated Yakshini Chakreshvari (also called Apratichakra) Ambika (very popular as Hindu goddess also) Padmavati (Popular goddess of Jains)
Congratulations to Oshwal Association of the U.K. on the completion of the first Shikharbandhi Derasar in the U.K. We are very happy to see the development of phase Three project. The Derasar project has given us the Inspiration to move forward.
Best wishes from: Late Meghji Pancha Shah, Mrs Liluben Meghji Shah Ramesh Meghji Shah, Premila Ramesh Shah, Vijay & Bunji Shah
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