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Jaina Iconography
‘since the prince was placed in the womb of the Ksatriyāņi Trialā this family's (trcasure ) of gold, silver, riches, corn, jewc!s, pearls, shells, precious stones and corals incrcased, theresore, the prince shall be called Vardhamāna (ie. Increasing).1 He was called Vira or Mahāvira inasmuch as he specially sent away the deeds (Karmans)
His symbol of the lion is the niost befitting mark of his spiritual heroisin. His forbearance, his austerities, his strenuous work in the path of destroying work are all unmistakable proofs of his lion-like personality. Indeed, he figures aniongst the whole range of Jaina Tirthakaras as the Coeur de lion. For the same reason, we find his Yaksiņi Siddhīyikā has the symbol, as her vehicie, of a lion. His Yaksa Mālanga riding an elephant personifies the royal power, which was associated with Vardhamāna in his worldly as well as in his spiritual lifc.
diärānga Sūtra. S.B.E. XXII, p. 191. विशेषेण ईरयति प्रेरयति कर्माणीति वीरः ।
Abhidhāna-Cin!āmani. He had also five names Vira, Ativira, Mahavira, Sanmati, Vardhana.
