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Jaina Iconography
Separate representations of Trimukha have not been discovered anywhere in India. A corner figure in miniature of the Yakṣa may be seen in the sculpture of the third Jina Sambhavanatha. In general details, the figures accord with the canonical descriptions.
His symbol of peacock has close connection with his Faksini, Prajnapti, who is one of the presiding deities over learning or as they are the Fidyadevis, and who also has peacock as her vehicle. The Yakṣa's name of Trimukha can be explained as his having three faces.
Taksesvara
He belongs, as an attendant spirit, to Abhinandana. He is characterised by the symbol of an elephant, the ascription thereof is common to divergent books. The attributes held by the spirit are not regular. Sectarian canons vary in this respect. According to the Svetambara view, the Yakṣa holds in his right hands- a citrus, a rosary, and in his left hand, a mongoose and a goad. According to the other view, he has a bow, shield (Khetaka) and a sword.
We have not met with any instance of an image of YakṣeSvara as a separate piece. The sculpture of Abhinandana, however, includes a figurine of this Yakṣa and when compared reveals much correspondence in respect of symbolism with the canonical description."
This Yakṣa has been described as the King of Yaksas (Yakses vara) and very powerful. The elephant symbol, in his
1. तीर्थयक्षेश्वरस्तत्र श्यामो द्विरदवाहनः । aldust aferit fazrungfa gr&gfaut || वामौ च धारयन् बाहू नकुलांकुशधारिणो ॥
Hemacandra's Abhinandana-carita III. 2.
Cr. श्यामसुन्दरवाहनो युगभुजो हस्तद्वये दक्षिणे
मुक्ताक्षावलिमुत्तमां परिणतं
मातु लिङ्ग वहन् वामेऽप्यङ्क शमुत्तमं च नकुलं कल्याणमालाकरः ॥ Acāradinakara (MSS. Rāmaghāṭa Jaina Collection)
2.
प्रेङ्खद्धनुःखेटकवामपाणि सकम्पत्राणास्यपसव्यहस्तम् । श्यामकरिस्थं कपिकेतुभक्तं यक्षेश्वरं यक्षमिहार्चयामि ||
3. Cf. Fig. B. 10. Nagpur Museum Collection.
Pratiṣṭhāsāroddhāra, p. 68.
