Jain Journal 1988 10

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

Page 11

JAIN JOURNAL
Padmavati never appeared with Parsvanatha prior to the eighth-ninth century A.D.15 In western India her images date back to the 11th-12th century.16 Therefore, it is difficult to ascertain as to when she appeared in the Jaina pantheon. Moreover the available literature on her belong to much later date when she had already become popular.
There are two important aspects of the yakşi Padmavati in regard to her origin and development of her iconography. First, her association with lotus as is apparent from her name and various other epithets with which she is known in the Jaina literature, such as Padma, Padmahasta, Padmasanastha, Padmakatini, Padmavadana and Kamalavati.1. Secondly, she is the goddess who cures snake bites. This aspect of the goddess is dealt in detail in the tenth chapter of the Bhairava Padmavati Kalpa. In this regard Janguli is the Buddhist counterpart who has also been referred to in the early Jaina literature. 18 Janguli is a form of Tara.
In regard to her association with lotus the yakşi Padmavati can be compared with Buddhist Tara and Brahmanical Durga and Gauri. Padmavati has been referred to by these names in the Jaina literature. The Adbhuta Padmăvati Kalpa refers to her as Candi, Tara, Taravatara and Durga.19 Some texts eulogises her as Gauri of the Saivite, Tara of the Buddhist, Prakrti of the Sankhya, Gayatri of the Bhattamargis and Vajra of the Kaulikas. She has been said to be found in all religion and every cult and she has been all pervading in the whole universe 20 In the Bhairava Padmavati Kalpa she has been referred to as Totala and Tripura, the two forms of Gauri. In this way Padmavati has a close association with Tara, Durga, Gauri, Candi, Prakrti, Gayatri, Vajra and many others.
It has been rightly pointed out by U. P. Shah that Padmavati is a mixture of two ancient cults Srima Devata and the Naga cult of ancient Magadha where Jainism had its origin. Padma-Sri or Padmini Vidya is the source of these three goddesses i.e. Tara, Padmavati and Gauri.21 Here it is worthwhile to mention the fact that the conception of MahaLaksmi who has played an important role in the origin and development
15 U. P. Shah, op. cit., p. 278. 16 Ibid. 1. Ibid., p. 278. 18 Ibid., p. 279. 19 Sri Bhairava Padmavati Kalpa, op. cit, Appendix I, p. 9. 20 Ibid., p. 8. 21 U. P. Shah, op. cit., p. 279.