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Celebrating Jain Center of Houston Pratishtha Mahotsav 1995
YAKSHAS & YAKSHINIES
Chakreshware Devi She is the dedicated attendant deity of Lord Adinatha (Rishabhdev). She is also called by another name i.e. Apratichakra. The color of this goddess is golden. Her vehicle is the eagle. She has eight arms. In her four right hands she holds the blessing mudra, arrow, rope and wheel. In her four left hands she holds the rein, the bow, the protective weapon of Indra and the wheel.
Padmavati Devi She is the dedicated deity of Lord Parshvanath, the 23rd Tirthankara. Her color is golden and her vehicle is the snake with a cock's head. She has four arms, and in her her two right hands, she holds a lotus and a rosary. The two left hands hold a fruit and a rein.
Saraswati Devi Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, is considered to be the source of all learning. This divine energy is the source of spiritual light, remover of all ignorance and promoter of all knowledge. She is respected and adored by all faiths, worldly persons and saints. She has four arms, one holding a book, the other a rosary and two hands holding a musical instrument Veena. Her seat is a lotus and the peacock is her vehicle, representing equanimity in prosperity. In some places it is mentioned that the swan is her vehicle.
Lakshmi Devi Goddess Lakshmi represents wealth. People worship her as the goddess of wealth, power, money etc. In the upper two hands, she is holding a lotus with an elephant, in the lower right hand a rosary and in the lower left hand a pot.
Manibhadra Dev Shri Manibhadra is a 'Vyantar Indra Dev' and has been worshipped by Indian masses since old times. He has six arms, and is holding a trident, tabor, drum, a snake in 5 arms, symbol of 'Siddhachal Temple' on his face, with Lord Adinatha in his eyesight, and an elephant as his vehicle. He is worshipped for protection from diseases, poverty, trouble and anxiety, and also for receiving good health and weatlth.
Ghantakarna Veer This deity is worshipped for protection and for driving away the evil influence created by lower types of negative energy. His arrow indicates penetration of evil forces. The bow gives forceful momentum to the arrow. His symbol is the bell that resounds to create auspicious sounds in the atmosphere. Sometimes people who are not aware of the facts call him by mistake Ghantakarna Mahavira, which creates confusion between Lord Mahavira and Ghantakama Veer. He is not connected to Lord Mahavir in any way.
"I like the doctrines of Jainism greatly. If I were to be reborn, I wish to be reborn as a Jain."
(George Bernard Shaw
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