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Yaksas and Sasanadevatās
comparison. They all show the nearest correspondence to the scriptural description.1
He is typically a Yakṣa and probably a form of Kubera. Two symbols occurring in the description very strongly support this. In the first place, he is called Naravahana (riding a man), which is another name of Kubera. He is also called Puspayāna (driving the chariot called Puspa). This is, again indicative of this Kubera type inasmuch as Kubera's chariot was called Puspa or Puspakam, which was subsequently snatched away by Ravana and after him by Rama.
Parsva or Dharanendra
This Yakṣa of Parsvanatha is one of the most important amongst the members of his class. His image whether Svetämbara or Digambara has the common points of snake-hoods, snake-attribute and a tortoise as vehicle. The Svetambara books, in points of difference, make him appear with four hands holding an ichneumen, snake, citrus, and snake (again).2 The Digambara texts, in turn, give his hands snake, noose and Varada.
A clear representation of Parsva Yakṣa's figure may be seen in the statue of Parsvanatha from Jogion ka Matha, near Rohtak town. Another good figure of the Yaksa was seen by the
I. What Dr. Vogel has wrongly identified as the figure of Kubera is, in fact, the figure of Gomedha, Mathura Museum fig. B. 65 (Cata). The same case with fig. No. 75 of the figure of Gomedha, Deogarh Fort, Jhansi, Arch Photo-Negatives, Serial No. 2229.
तत्तीर्थभूरभूत्पार्श्वयक्षः कूर्मरथः शितिः । गजाननः फणिफणाछत्रशोभी चतुर्भुजः । नकुलाही वामदोर्भ्यां वीजपूरोरगौ पुनः ।
Hemacandra's Pārsvanalhacarita.
2.
Cf. पार्श्वः स्यात्पार्श्वनाथस्य कूर्मारूढो गजाननः । बीजपुरोरगं नागं नकुलं श्यामवर्णकः ।
4.
83
Sutradhara Mandana's Vastusāstra (MSS Jñāna mandir, Baroda).
3. ऊर्ध्वद्विहस्तघृतवासुकिरुद्भटाघः सव्यान्यपाणिफणिपाशवर प्रणन्ता । श्रीनागराजककुदधरणोऽभ्रनीलः कूर्मश्रितो भजतु वासुकिमौलिरिज्याम् ।।
Prastiṣṭhāsāroddhāra.
Vide Photo Negatives, Arch: Dept., Serial No. 2431.
