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Jaina Iconography
Sri or Laksmi
Śri or goddess of wealth has been described in a Digambara MS. as a four-handed figure holding a flower and lotus. The same goddess in a Svetāmbara MS. is represented as riding on an clephant and holding, as symbol, lotuses.
The worship of Lakşınī has a great hold upon the orthodox Jainas of both communities. The special day on which honour is done to the goddess of wealth is called Dhanaterasa. On the same occasion, the Svetāmbara women polish their jewellery and ornaments in honour of Laksmi. The description of Jaina Lakşmi, given above, does not far differ from that of the Brāhmanic Śri or Kamalā. Only in one point, it appears, namely in the riding on an elephant, the Jaina image presents an originality. It must be noted here that the conception of Lakşmi even in Jainism is very old as the goddess is mentioned in the Kalpasūtra as one of the objects of Triíalā's dream. śāntidevi
She may be found described in Svetārbara accounts as a goddess seated in a lotus and hearing in her four hands Varada, rosary, Kamandalu and a pitcher."
The idca of this female dcity seems to be quite now to us. No deity of Brāhmanism or Buddhism affords even a nearer parallel to this. She is believed by the Jainas to have the function of improving the origination of the four-fold Jaina church."
1. ओं ह्रीं सुवर्णवर्णे चतुर्भुजे पुष्पकमलमुखहस्ते श्रीदेवि अत्रागच्छ ।
Manulira-pratisthāridhăna.
(MSS. No. 6/2. Jaina S. Library, Arrah) 2. महालक्ष्म्यै नमः । पतिवस्त्रां सुवर्णाङ्गी पद्महस्तां गजाङ्किता' · · क्षीरोदतनयां at aterat afafaat GTECİ TATIERI
(A MSS. from Rāmaghāta Library). 3. शान्तिदेवतां धवलवर्णां कमलासनां चतुर्भुजां वरदाक्षसूत्रयुक्तदक्षिणकरां ___कुण्डिकाकमण्डल्वन्वितवामकराम् ।
Nirzānak likā. 1. etagfatata atrapa fanfeunt शिवशान्तिकरी भूयात् श्रीमती शान्तिदेवता ।।
Pratisthäkalpa.
