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Jaina Iconography
Digambara variant of the same Yaksiņi, is described from their point of view, as riding a tiger, and holding in her six hands a lotus, bow, Varada, goad, arrow and lotus.1
The origin of symbols, it must have been noticed, is of irregular character. The fish symbol of the Yakşiņi scems to be due to the identical symbol of her consort Kinnara as furnished by the Digambara books (Dharmasya Kimaro Taksah..Minarihana). It is hardly easy to see any possible connection between her name as Kandarpā and the Brāhmaṇic God, Kandarpa or Kārna. The name -Mānasi has very probable relation with 'Manasija' innplying the same idea. Thus, the other name of Pannagā devī or the Goddess of snakes might have been derived from Manasā, who is characteristically a goddess of snakes. Mānasi is also a deity, in the list of the Vidyādevīs and as such, she is interestingly seen to be symbolised by a snake. Her tiger vehicle, in this instance, shows her a prototype of Vāgīśvarī (goddess of learning) whose figure in Benares show's the same animal as her vchicle.
Nirväni or Mahāmānasi
Nirvāṇī, in Svetārnbara accounts, is represented as scated on a lotus and four-armed, the attributes being a book, lotus, k'amandalu and a lotus bud.? The Digambara books supply
Cr. तथोत्पन्ना च कन्दर्पा गौराङ्गी मत्स्यवाहना।
उत्पलाङ्गधारिभ्यां दक्षिणाभ्यां विराजिता । दोर्ध्या तदितराभ्यां च पद्मिनाऽभयदेन च ।।
Hemacandra's Duro mātha Ciwita. Further, कन्दर्पाकृतपरपन्नगाभिधाना गौराभा झपगमना चतुर्भुजा च ।
cīnīradinukara (Ramghala Collection). 1. साम्बुजधनुदानाङ्कुशशरोत्पला व्याघ्रगा प्रवाल निभा । नवपञ्चकचापोच्छ्रितजिननम्रा मानसीह मान्यते।
Pratis!hisārecikara. Cr. व्याघ्रवाहनमारूढा शिल्पधर्मानुरागिणी।
l'rutis!hā dziusamgraha (MSS., Arrah) 2. निर्वाणां देवी गौरवर्णा पद्मासनां चतुर्भुजां पुस्तकोत्पलयुक्तदक्षिणकरां कमण्डलुकमलयुतवामहस्ताम् ।
Nirrānukalikā (Jžāna-mandir, Agra).
