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Jaina Iconography
The Yakṣini's tortoise symbol originates from the same animal as used by Ajitā, her husband. As the names Sutārā or Mahākālī suggest, the Yaksini's aspect seems, to some extent, to be Saivite although Mahākāli has her part to play, as a Vidyadevi, with some cominon symbolic attributes.
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Asoka or Mānavi
The image of the Śvetāmbara Yakṣiņi Aśokā is described as seated upon a lotus and bearing in her hands Varada, noose, fruit and goad. The Digambara books describe Manavi as riding a hog and holding the attributes, as follows, fruit, Vara, bow, etc. "
Like the majority of Yaksinis, the Yaksini, in question, has a dual aspect, she is in one aspect a Yakṣini and in another, a Vidyadevī. As Vidyadevi, her name is Manavi and she is described as seated on a blue lotus. Here, also as a pure Yakṣiņi, the Svetambara accounts give her a blue lotus. The warlike attributes like a goad, noose, bow are symbols quite befitting her characteristic of a Yaksini or Guardian angel. The benign symbols, such as, Varada, fruit and a blue-lotus seat she is given, however, would make us recognise in her a form of Vidyadevi or goddess of learning.
Cr. कृष्णा कूर्मासना धन्वशतोन्नतजिनानता ।
महाकालीज्यते वज्रफलमुद्गरदानयुक् ।।
Pratiṣṭhāsāroddhāra.
1. अशोकां देवीं मुद्गवर्णां पद्मवाहनां चतुर्भुजां वरदपाशयुक्त दक्षिणकरां
फलाङ्कुशयुक्तवामकराम् ।
Nircūnabalikā (MSS. Jñānamandir ). Cf.नीला पद्मकृतासना वरभुजैर्वेदप्रमाणैर्युता पाशं सद्वरदं च दक्षिणकरे हस्तद्वये बिभ्रती । वामे चाङ्कुशवर्मणी बहुगुणाऽऽशोका विशोका जनं. ... 2. मानवी च हरिद्वर्णा झषहस्ता चतुर्भुजा । कृष्णशूकरयानस्था फलहस्ता
Acāradinakara.
वरप्रदा ।
Pratisthāvārasangraha (MSS. Jaina S. Bhavana, Arrah ) Cf. झषदामरुचकदानोचितहस्तां कृष्णकोलगां हरिताम् । नवतिधनुस्नुग ( ? ) जिनप्रगतामिह मानवीं प्रयजे ॥
Pratiṣṭhāsāroddhāra.
