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The Jaina Stupa at Mathura: Art & Icons
Negameşa is considered as a pitřgraha, as he acts as the guardian and protector of children. His position, discussed in nine grahas is prominent as a male Graha29. Here infant diseases are classified into nine with their symptoms - Skanda, Skandāpasmara, Revatī, Mukhamandikā and Negamesa or Pitr-graha30 etc. and their separate treatment is prescribed. If the child has not recovered, then the worship of the above grahas is recommended by lighting a lamp of mustard oil and putting mustard seeds on the floor with flowers and garlands. Thus to protect children from various diseases symptomatic method is recommended but in case the child is not cured then parents are advised to adore the related Yakşa-Yakṣī. In this Samhita the word 'Ajānana:31 is used for Negamsa deity shows the fixing of iconographic formula while compiling the work Susruta-samhitā, where Aja means goat and anana for head. V.S. Agraval32 noted about this deity“In the beginning of Christian era, the iconographic formula of Naigamesa had become settled with its characteristic features - a) The deity was beneficent to children and was considered their
guardian protector (Pitrgraha); b) he was believed to have a goat's head; c) He had been taken out of the orbit of the Jain religion and had
grown popular as the presiding deity of children amongst all classes of people, and certainly in a much wider society than implied in the Jaina reference, for the medical literature refers the deity in a
non-sectarian strain.” The Negamsa deva is even discussed in detail by A. P. Jamkhedkar in 'Vasudeva Smrti Saṁhita':33 The other reference of Negameşa is available in Kalpasutra - when Indra became aware that Mahāvīra's soul (jiva) had taken place in the form of an embryo in the Brāhmani Devānandā, he first paid a homage to Arhat that was to be born. He understood that an Arhat ought not to be born in
29 Suśruta-saṁhitā, 27th Adhyaya, slokes 2,3,4 and 15. 30 Ibid, slokes, 7,9,11,12,15,18 and 21. 31 अजाननश्चलाक्षिभूः कामरूपी महायशाः। बाल पालयिता देवो नैगमेषो भिरक्षतु ।। 32 Journal U.P.H.S. Vol. XX PT I&II, V.S. Agrawal, article on 'A note on God
Naigmeşa'. 33 Jamkhedkar A. P., “Naigamesha: A Reconsideration in the light of a Vedic Rituals”, in
Vasudeva Smriti Samita, ed. Agrawal P. K., (Varanasi. 2014), pp. 189-197.
