Book Title: Jaina Iconography
Author(s): B Bhattacharya
Publisher: Motilal Banarasidas

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Page 113
________________ Jaina Iconography ous name to Kumāra or Kāritikeya should have a swan instead of a peacock for his vehicle while the next Yakşa, who is called Caturmukha (an epithet of Brahmā) has a peacock as his riding animal. In all probability there must havc been some unknown anomaly in the symbolism of these two Yakşas. Caturmukha or Sanmukha laksa He is known by the name of Caturmukha, to the Digambaras and Sanmukha to the Svetāmbaras. Both sects, however, concurrently assign to him the vehicle of a peacock. Caturmukha las twelve arms according to one version and cight arms according to another. The arms hold such objects as-an axe, scimilar (haukscinko), Iksamani (?) shield, staff etc. The Yakşa Șanmukha has twelve hands holding a fruit, disc, arrow, sword, noose, rosary, mongoose, discus, bond, fruit, goad and Abhara. l'rom the description and names, he bcars anomalously, as mentioned before, identity with Brahımā as well as with Kumīra or Kirtikeya, The Sverīnbara Yaksa is clcarly called Şanmukha (six-headed, a designation of Kärttikeya) while in accordance with both the doctrines, lic rides a peacock, the svinbol of Kurttikeya. Pütüla luksa The Digarnbara and the Svetānıbara books agrec insofar as the Yakşa has three faces, six arms and the vehicle of a dolphin. The former tests state in a version of difference that he 1. विमलस्य जितेन्द्रस्य नामार्थाभ्यां चतुर्मुखः । यक्षो द्वादशदोर्दण्ड: मुरूपः शिखिवाहनः ।। Prutişthū-svīra-sangraha MSS. Jaina Bhavana. 67. Tet T741963/4fTHT (?) centfot: atenuai temaforecaiguEHET: 1 विभ्रच्चतुभिरपरैः शिखिगः किराङ्कनम्रः प्रतृप्यत यथार्थचतुर्मखाख्यः ।। Mendia-Pratiştiu-I'ielāna (MISS 6/2 Arrah). 2. Pravacana-sároddhāra, Dvira 26. तत्तीर्थभूः षण्मुखाख्यो यक्षः शिखिरयः सितः । दक्षिणः शूलचक्रेपुखगपाशाक्षसूत्रिभिः । वामैः सनकुलचक्रकोदण्डशूलशङ्कुकैः । Heinacandra's l'imalunithacarita.

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