Jain Journal 1983 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 9

OCTOBER, 1983
The eighth Yakṣi Vairota (Vairata-Cunningham), provided with nāga vāhana, shows the varada-mudrā, a snake, a snake and a watervessel. Vairotya (or Vairoti), the Yakși of the 13th Jina Vimalanatha, in Digambara works, is likewise conceived with snake as mount and holding snakes in two hands and a bow and an arrow in the remaining ones. 18
The ninth Yakşi Gauri, traditionally, associated with the 11th Jina Sreyamsanatha, in conformity with the Digambara dhyānas rides a deer with one arm in varada, and the rest holding a lotus, a lotus and a watervessel.19
The 10th Yakṣī, inscribed as Mahakali, is accompanied by kūrma as vāhana with one hand in varada and the remaining carrying a mace (or mudgara), a thunderbolt and a water-vessel. The four-armed Mahakali, the Yakși of the ninth Jina Puspadanta, is conceived in Digambara texts, riding a kürma and holding a vajra, a mudgara, a fruit and the varada-mudrā.20 According to the Aparăjitapịcchā, the Yakşi shows a mace and the abhaya-mudrā in place of mudgara and fruit.21 The figures thus fully corresponds with the tradition.
The 11th Yakşi Kali, associated with the seventh Jina Suparsvanatha, in accordance with the Digambara texts, rides a bull and shows the varada-mudrā, a trident, a ghantā and a watervessel in hands.22
The 12th Yakşi, labelled as Pusadadhi (correct name Purusadatta), is accompanied by an elephant as vāhana with one arm in varada and the remaining bearing a disc, a vajra and a water-vessel. Purusadatta, the Yaksi of the fifth Jina Sumatinatha, in Digambara tradition, is likewise
18 vairoti namatau devi haridvarna caturbhujah/hastadvayena sarpau dvau
dhatte ghanasavahana-Pratisthasarasamgraha 5.42. Also : Pratisthaasarodd
hara 3.167. 19 However, the texts envisage mudgara in place of a lotus. padmahasta suvar
nabha gauridevi caturbhuja/jinendrasasane bhakta varada mrgavahana-Pratisthasarasamgraha 5.38; samudgarabjakalasam varadam kanakaprabham
-Pratisthasaroddhara 3.165. 20 devi tatha mahakali vinita kurmavahana/savajramudgara (krsna) phalahasta
caturbhuja-Pratisthasarasamgraha 5.34. Also : Pratisthasaroddhara 3.163. 21 caturbhuja krsnavarna vajra gadavarabhayah-Aparajitaprccha 221.23. 23 However, the texts envisage fruit in place of a water vessel and even trident is
sometimes replaced by a spear, sitagovrsabharudha kalidevi caturbhuja/ghantatrisulasamyuktaphalahastavaraprada-Pratisthasarasamgraha 5.30; sita govrsaga ghantam phalasulavaravrtam-Pratisthasaroddhara 3.161.