Book Title: Lord Mahavira Vol 01
Author(s): S C Rampuria
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati Institute

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Page 270
________________ Yaksini of the Twenty-Fourth Jina 261 will also be advisable to take as an independent deity and not a variety of Siddhâyikâ. We have no evidence to ascertain whether the Aparâjitâ of Mahâvîra's age had the same form as that on Devgadh temple no. 12 or not. Siddhâyika (Two-Armed Variety) Vasunandi says that Siddhâyikâ is golden in complexion and has two arms showing the varada and book. The yaksi sits on the bhadrasana. 13 Asadhara pandita gives the same form and adds that the goddess rides on the lion. 14 The Partisthatilaka15 specifies that the book is held in the left hand while the varada mudra is known by the right one. The Aparâjitâprccha16 gives the abhaya for varada in the above tradition. According to the Canerese dhyana slokas, the yaksi shows the abhaya mudra with the right hand while the left one is held open with the fingures hanging down and the palm-upwards (varada mudra?) The swan is her vehicle. 17 In the Seattle Art Museum (U.S.A.) is a beautiful, almost completely preserved stone sculpture depicting 24 Tirthankaras in all with Mahâvîra in the centre. The lion cognizance of Mahâvîra is on the lowermost part of the pedestal. The yaksi on the left end of the simbasana is here two-armed showing the sword in her right hand and the shield in the left. Her vahana is not shown. The sculpture, probably from Madhya Pradesh dates from C. 10th11th cent. A.D. Amongst the mutilated Jaina sculpture that were collected and/or near the pitha of the Digambara Jaina Maladevi shrine at Gyaraspur (in the old Gwalior state) Madhya Pradesh, is preserved a mutilated sculpture of Mahâvîra with the only hands and the legs crossed in padmasana remaining and the upper parts lost. The Jina is sitting on a visva-padma resting on a simhasana with the dharmacakra in the centre and lion on each side of the wheel. Another figure of a lion, half seen above the wheel represents the cognizance of Mahâvîra. On the right side of the simhasana, is a two-armed pot-bellied yaksa, possibly called Sarvanubhuti, while on the left is the yaksi Siddhayikê with her left foot tucked up. Twoarmed, she shows the abhaya mudra with her right hand and carries the citron in the left one. Fig. 8 represents the above mutilated sculpture of Mahâvîra, reproduced from negative no.

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