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86 : Śramaņa, Vol 66, No. 3, July-September 2015 the rendering of which however was regular feature with all other 23 Jinas. However sometimes the texts also provide three or eleven hooded snake canopy with Pārsvanātha, which is rarely shown in the images. In the images datable between second century BCE and sixth century CE Pārsvanātha was shown both with five and seven hooded snake canopy." It may be noted that mostly the seven-hooded snake canopy is shown with Pārsvanātha.
The yakșa and yakși associated with Pārsvanātha, according to texts, are respectively Dharanendra (or Pārsva) and Padmāvatī, who are again related to Nāga-cult. Both the Svetāmbara and Digambara texts refer to previous existence of Pārsvanātha in which he tried to save the lives of the snakes from the wood-fire. After death these snakes (nāga-nāgis) became the serpent king Dharaṇendra and serpent queen Padmāvatī, and remembering the help and compassion of previous existence became the Śāsanadevatās of Pārsvanātha, when he attained Jina-hood. Both the yakṣa and yakşi are shown on two sides of the pedestal of Pārśvanātha images, and are provided with snake-canopy overhead and snake in one or two hands. Thus the entire conception and iconography of Pārsvanātha developed in the background of folk worship of Nāgas to bring the masses closer to Jainism. Perhaps this was the reason that Pārsvanātha was accorded an exalted position both in north and south India. We also find in Svetāmbara'and Digambaral texts the detailed mention of upsargas (inflictions) caused to Pārsvanātha during the course of his tapas (penance), in which Pārsvanātha remained unshaken. However in the images from Deogarh, we do not find the renderings of upasargas, which is surprising. At Digambara Jaina site like Deogarh, Pārsvanātha with seven-hooded snake-canopy (figs. 05 &06) is mostly depicted as standing with the flanking figures of Dharaṇendra and Padmāvatī having either three or five hooded snake-canopy. Dharaṇendra is shown with folded hands while Padmāvatī holds a long parasol, the top of which is shown above the snake hoods of Pārsvanātha. In such cases
