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CHAPTER VI ŚRUTA-DEVI AND VIDYĀDEVIS Of all the conceptions found in the Jain Iconography, none is so original as the conception of the Vidrādevis or the Goddesses of learning. They are sixteen in number. In no other Indian religion are the goddesses of knowledge so numerous. Besides the sixteen Vidrādevis, the Jains of both sects admit into their pantheon, one Sruta-devī or Sarasvali approximating very closely the Brahmanical conception of the same goddess. She seems to be at the head of the collective body of the sixteen Vidyādevis and her worship is prior to that of other subordinate deities. Her name as Śruta-deri meaning 'Goddess of Sruti' originally refers to the Vedas or revealed literature preserved through hearing. There is some hidden meaning behind this name. The description of Sruta-devī as a florded by the Jain books makes it on a par with Brahmāni's (wife of Brahmā) description.' And Brahmā is known to hold, the Vedas or the Ancient Scripture. The Jains, like the Brāhmaṇas, make a special ceremony of her worship on the Sukla Pancami day of the Kārtrika month, which they call "Jūāna Pañcami. On that special anniversary day of knowledge, the devout people fast, worship the books and instal them carcfully custed. The conceptions and imageries of the other sixteen goddesses of lcarning, if analysed disclose clear points of identity in respect of names, attributes, etc., with those of the Jain Yaksiņis. This lcads us to assuine reasonably that the Vidyādevis in conception were modelled after the Yaksinīs. The reverse would have been assurned as well but is inadmissible on the ground of the priority of the Yakşiņīs as connected in mythology and ritual with the Tirtharkaras in Jainism. The sixteen divinities under the name of the Vidyādevīs may be prima facie supposed to sway the sixteen
1. ओं ह्रीं नमो भगवति ब्रह्माणि वीणापुस्तकपद्माक्षसूत्रे हंसवाहने श्वेतवर्णे इह षष्ठीपूजने आगच्छ ।
Ācāradinakara Pratisthāvidhi (MS.R.B.). cr. the description of Srutadevi infra.
