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तीर्थकर पार्श्वनाथ · why a statue of Suparshva with this swastika emblem has a hooded naga overhead. Nobody has been able to answer this question satisfactorily. As can be seen, there is no direct connection between the events of Suparshva's life and his acquisition of the hoodednaga overhead. What makes this still more interesting is the fact that even the swastika emblem is associated with the hooded naga which has it on its hood?. The following verse in praise of Dharanendra yaksha's beautiful form describes the swastika mark on the hood of nagarajao. Phanamani ganojvalam kutila kunthalolhasitham Lasathkusumashekharam vikata visphurath swastikam Bhujangama smanvitham prathitharupa Padmavathee'pathim Gunaganairyutham Dharanaraj yaksham bhaje
Particularly the expression 'Vikata visphurath swastikam' confirms the popular belief that swastika is also associated with the hooded nagaraja.
The statue of Parshvanatha in the Mathura museum shows the swastika mark in the middle of the seven-hooded head of nagaraja'. This statue belongs to first century A.D. and confirms our theory regarding swastika and its association with nagaraja.
Summing up what has been said on this subject, it is to be observed that nagaraja and its swasika figure in Suparshva's statues, though there is nothing to establish any kind of inherent relationship between the two. And further the naga which is associated with Parshva's statues is directly connected with Parshva's life.
It may be pertinent to ask why both these Thirthankaras are associated with the naga. This question has to be answered in the light of the importance given to naga worship in our country. When the different forms of naga worship are examined, the evolution of naga worship becomes clear. Naga worship is common to the Jaina, Buddhist, Shaktha, Shaiva, Vaishnava and folk traditions.
