________________
Jaina Iconography
The two names have two origins as might be expected. The name "Suvidhinatha" was given to him because after an internecine warfare fought by his kingly relatives, they gave up fighting and took to performing religious duties. His birth eventually brought 'good order' (Suvidhi)' to the distracted family. The other name, namely, Puspadanta was derived from the fact that the Jina's teeth resembled the buds of a flower (puspa). The origin of his symbols seems prima facie rather enigmatic. Neither a crocodile nor a crab has been dreamt of by the Jina's mother. His father was the lord of Kākandi. Curiously, Kākandi is called Kākandinagara, Skt. Kişkindhinagara. Let us remember, his father is called Sugrīva, his mother has the name of Rāmā. All this has curious association with the Rāmāyaṇa. The Kişkindha of the Rāmāyaṇa was situated on the sea. Hence, it is evident that aquatic animals like a crocodile or a crab have come to be the emblems of this Tirthankara. His Yaksa Ajita for the same reason has tortoise as vehicle and his Yakṣiņi Sutārā Devi has an urn symbolising her intimate connexion with waters.
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Sitalanatha
2
The Tirthamkara in question was, as usual, born of a Kṣatriya family of Malaya Kingdom. His birth-place is named Bhadrikapura or Bhadillapura (Madrapura according to one version). His parent's names were king Drdharatha and Queen Sunanda respectively. His chowri-bearer was called Rājā Simandhara. The tree under which he attained the Kevala knowledge is Vilva (Aegle Marmelos). The Jaina texts assign to him the Yakṣa named Brahmā and Yakṣiņi named Aśokā (Dig. Mānavi). The Digambaras regard the Asvattha (Ficus religioso) as his emblem, the Svetambaras Srivatsa (wishing tree) for the
same.
A separate specimen of Šītalanatha's image has not been discovered so far. When discovered, it is doubtless expected to
1. शोभनो विधिविधानमस्य सुविधि: | Hemacandra
द्वीपेऽस्मिन् भारते वर्षे विषये मलयाह्वये । राजा भद्रपुरे वंशे पुरोर्दृ ढरथोऽभवत् ॥
2.
Ullara p. 92. Ibid.
