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Jaina Iconography
The few sculptures hitherto discovered of this Jina shew, in unmistakable terms, the symbols ctc., as we have described above. Of him, one separately sculptured in age is only known
Regarding the Jina's parentage, we are informed that his father named Sumitra was the king of Magadha. His mother had the name of Soma (Padmāvati according to some books). His dynasty is called the Harivanía. The capital was at Rājagļha.
His name originated from the fact that he kept noble vows (Suvrata, good vows) devoutly and he was a Muni or a Saint. The tortoise as his emblen symbolises the idea of slowness and steadiness, the two requisite qualities for keeping vows. Naminātha
The emblem which is associated with this Jina is a blue Jotus or the Asoka trec, according to the sectarian view of the Digambaras. Bhỉkuți and Gandhari (Dig. Camundi) are his respective Yakșa and Yaksiņā.
The King who holds the Chouri-fan by him is called Vijaya Rāja. The tree under the shade of which he sat and attained the Kerala knowledge is Bakuln.
No image with the particular symbol of a lotus, so far as I know, has yet come to light. One image of a Tīrthankara with the sign of a lolus between two conches was seen by me among the group of Jaina statues on the Vaibhār Hill. It may presumably be the figure of Naminātha. Conches have been added to clistinguish the syinbolism of Padmaprabha, who likewise has a lotus emblem.
1. Dr. Fuhrer obtained a black pillar with the representation of Muni
Suvrata not far from the gate of the Agra Fort overlooking the Jumna
river. 2. अत्र व भरते राज्ञां पुरे राजगृहाह्वये ।
सुमित्रो मगधाधीशो हरिवंशशिखामणिः ॥ गोत्रेण काश्यपस्तस्य देवी सोमाया सुरैः ।।
Utlara P., p. 318. 3. शोभनानि व्रतान्यस्य सुव्रतः, मुनिश्चासौ सुव्रतश्च मुनिसुव्रतः ॥
Hemarandra. å fpectarea pregatirea: i Uttara P. 1. 437.
