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The gradual development of Deities in
Jaina Pantheon
In Agamic literature many references to veneration of Yaksa and Yaksa shrines (caityas) are found. In Kuşāņa and pre Kuşāņa period the trend of carving yakşa-yakṣī along with Jinas were not in vogue but, in early medieval period a system of carving Yakşa-Yakṣī on a pedestal of Tīrthankara came in to practice. Hence it seems that the trend of carving them along with Jina is a later development. The obtained artefacts from Kankālī Tīlā confirm the veneration of some deities since Kșatrapa period but their adoration flanking the Jina or on a pedestal came into practice in early medieval period, though there are few images of Kuşāņa period flanking Jina with devotees might be deities as they are wearing crowns.
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The Trend of Veneration of Deities in Jaina Pantheon:
The obtained images of Laksmī, Sarasvatī, Surya, Kubera Ganesa, Ambikā and Cakreśvarī, etc. from Kankālī Tīlā strengthened the cult of their worship individually or with Jina. The images of Pārsvanātha with canopy of Dharanendra also show the existing trend of worshipping deities with Jinas. The Paumacariyam!, Sthānānga-sūtra?, Samavāyanga-sūtra’, etc. talk about great personalities4 (Salākā purusas). Out of them, 24 Tīrthankaras and Krsna - Baladeva were more popular.
4.2 The Krşņa and Balarāma with Arişğanemi:
The mention of Krsna and Balarāma is available in Uttarādyayanasūtras (c. 3rd B.C.). Afterwards a detailed description is offered in Harivansa-purāna and Mahā-purāna (7th A.D.). Nāyadhamma-kahāo also talks about Krsna. Antagada-dasāo (in later edition) describes Krşņa
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1) Paumacariyam, edi. Jacobi H., (Varanasi, 1962) pp. 5, 145-57 (63 Salākā Puruşas).
II) Tivari M. N., Jain Pratima Vijnana (Varanasi, Pārsvanātha Vidyapitha, 1981), pp. 32. Sthāṇanga-sūtra, edi. Ghasilal, (Rajkot, 1964), pp. 22. Samavāyanga-sutra, (54 Salākā puruṣas, here 9 Prativāsudevas are not included), pp. 132, 158, 207. 24 Tīrthankaras, 12 Cakravartis, 9 Baladevas, 9 Vāsudevas and 9 Prativāsudevas. I) Tivari, Jain Pratimā Vigyāna..., pp. 32. Uttarādhyayana - 22nd and 27th Adhyāya. II) Jacobi, Jaina sūtras, part II, 112-119. Tivari M. N., Jain Pratimā...., pp. 32.
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