________________
The gradual development of Deities in Jaina Pantheon
125
Dhavalā and Mahābandha50 do not have reference to Sarasvatī in the beginningsi. The word Sarasvatī occuring at four places in canonical literatureI) The Vyantara class' Indra, Gitarati Gandharva's queen, 'Sarasvatī’52. II) “Sarasvatī' as a sister of Ācārya Kālaka. III) The Vipākasutras3 contains a story of king of Rşabhapura, where a
queen's name is Sarasvatī. IV) Sarasvati as a river. At above four places 'Sarasvatī' is used just simply as a name of
individual, but not related to any deity. 4.18 Development of śrutadevatā/śrutadevī:
As we have seen Śruta is imagined as a śrutadevī in the form of adhisthāyaka deva and adored as - Namo Bhagavyai Srutadevtyai. Here 'Namo' comes to show respect and honour towards her. When a group of Śāsana-devatās and Vidyādevīs were introduced in Jaina deva clan at that time Śrutadevī is also imagined for Śruta devatā and represented as Sarasvatī deity as in Hinduism54. But in Jainism archaeological reference of veneration of Sarasvati image is earlier than scriptural evidences. The Sarasvati image from Kankālī Tīlā, Mathurā is the oldest available in the world, though without head and a palm provides plenty of information in this cult. She holds a role of Manuscript in a hand symbolizing her as a śrutadevī.
4.19 The adoration of Sarsvati in various scriptures:
The Vividha-tīrtha-kalpa, informs us that in the sixth century A.D. Jinabhadra Ksamāśramana arrived at Mathurā, saw the deteriorated condition of manuscript of Mahāniśītha-sūtra and decided to recondition the same. He then meditated on the Śāsanadevī at the stūpa to get her blessings in rewriting the lost portions. The scripture clearly indicates the Srutadevatā as one in the deva clan. The author requested the deity
50 The scripture and its commentary contain 44 Labdhipadas i.e. slokes to perform mangala
but nowhere Sarasvatī is mentioned. Jain S. article in Titthayara, 2009, vo, 5, pp. 231. 51 Jain S. article in Titthayara, 2009, vo, 5, pp. 231. 521) Ibid, vol. 4, pp. 203.
II) 10th Sataka, Bhagavatī-sūtra 53 Angasutra - second Sruta-scandha, Vipākasutra,2nd Adhyayana 54 Jain S., An article on Sarasvatī, vol. 4, 2009, pp 200 -210.
