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Jaina Iconography
In Jaina history of pontiffs, Abhinandananātha's birthplace is Ayodhyā.? His father's name is King Svayamvara and mother's name Siddhārthā.” He attained mok:sa accompanied by a thousand monks, as, indeed, did all the first eleven Tirthamkaras cxcept Supārsvanātha.
In treating of his symbolism. we encounter some difficulties. His main symbol is a monkey. If we interpret hari, one of the dreams of Jina's mothers, to stand for a monkey, the propriety of the emblern is explained. Hari also means a lion, which makes it a symbol of Mahāvīra. The real nature of his Yaksa and Yakșiņi may, lo some extent, help us !o get at the meaning of the symbols. Yakşa, as .we have seen, is named Isvara and Yakṣiṇī is named Kāli. Clearly, they are Saivite deities borrowed from the Brāhmaṇic pantheon. Thus, it is likeliest to connect the ape of the Jina with the apish incarnation of Isvara or Siva. The explanation of his name is given clearly enough in the Jaina books." According to it, he acquired the name of Abhinandana because he used to be honoured (Abhinandana) by Indra and others.
Sumatinātha
He is known from the Jaina Literature to be associated with the symbol of a curlow (Firauricha) or a red goose. The kevala tree, in his case, is Priyamgu. The Yaksa and Yaksi attend
1. The birth places of Jainas are given collectively in the following passage:
...THAT AT FT ET377 I इक्खागभूम जुज्झा सावत्थी दोअउज्जो कोसंबी। वाणारमि चन्दपुरी कायदी भदिलपुरं च ।। सीथपुरचम्पकपिल्ल उज्झरयणपुरतिगयपुरमिहिला। रायगिहमिहिलसूरियपुरवाणारसि य कुंडपुरं ॥
Abhidhāna Rājendra Satta, Dvāra 20. 2. Ash ura ato an arfera: 1 राजा स्वयम्वरो नाम्ना सिद्धार्थास्याग्रवल्लभा ।
Uttarapurāņa. Verse 16. 3. Heart of Jainism, P. 52. 4. 3ffarga darifafafafarga: 11
Abhidhāna-Cintāmani.
