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Subsidiary Deities in Jainism

After the 6th century, Jainism began accepting more deities alongside the Jinas or Tirthankars. These included female divinities and guardian deities known as Yakshas and Yakshinis. While the Jinas remained the primary focus of devotion, many subservient celestial beings and tutelary deities were systematized into classes. Yakshas and Yakshinis in particular served as divine guardians for the Jinas and are often depicted beside images of Jinas in temples, though never in superior positions. Jains show respect to benevolent Yakshas and Yakshinis for protecting Tirthankars and ensuring the survival of Jain

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245 views1 page

Subsidiary Deities in Jainism

After the 6th century, Jainism began accepting more deities alongside the Jinas or Tirthankars. These included female divinities and guardian deities known as Yakshas and Yakshinis. While the Jinas remained the primary focus of devotion, many subservient celestial beings and tutelary deities were systematized into classes. Yakshas and Yakshinis in particular served as divine guardians for the Jinas and are often depicted beside images of Jinas in temples, though never in superior positions. Jains show respect to benevolent Yakshas and Yakshinis for protecting Tirthankars and ensuring the survival of Jain

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pramithadas
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Subsidiary Deities in Jainism

After the Sixth century many other deities began to be represented. The Jinas
were now attended by guardian deities. The most important new development was
the acceptance of female divinities, both as companions to the Jinas and as
independent deities of well being. This was a very important concession to the
growing and influential lay community, for which the concept of well being became
a basic ingredient of the religious life. (Pal, 1994) While the Jinas retain their
primacy in Jain devotion, there are many other subservient figures, including
guardian spirits, celestial beings, and divinities, known as Sasanadevata, or tutelary
deities, systematized in several classes such as Yakshas and Yakshis,
vyantaradevata (peripatetic gods), vidyadevi, etc. The term Yaksha was once used
synonymously with deva or devata to mean a god but later acquired the
connotation of a demigod. In Jainism the original meaning appears to have been
maintained, for most Yakshas and Yakshis are regarded as divine beings. They
generally serve the Jinas as guardian angels and are frequently present in images.
Impressive depictions from Karnataka of Dharanendra and Padmavati, the Yaksha
and Yakshi of Parsvanatha indicate their status in that region. Though in Jaina
literature Yaksha cult seem very ancient, Yaksha images do not appear in art much
earlier than fifth century. The earlier scriptures like the Sthananga- sutra,
Uttaradhyayan-sutra, Bhagawati-sutra, Tattvartha-sutra, Antagadadasao-sutra, and
Pauma -chariya have frequent references to Yakshas and Yakshinis. In the
Pratisthakalpa, finally the estab- lishment of the character and the function of
Sasanadevatas is achieved. Many Jains pay their respect to these Yakshas and
Yakshinis for having them provided protection to Tirthankars and to the existence of
Jainism. These are the reasons, they are found around the images of Jinas as well as
their individual images in many Jain temples. Yaksha usually found on the right side
of the Jina idol while Yakshini on the left side. In Jain temples, they are never
situated in superior physical locations in relation to images of the Jinas. These are
benevolent Yakshas and Yakshinis. There are also malevolent Yakshas and Yakshinis
who caused sufferings to Tirthankars and troubles to Jains and existence of Jainism.
For example, Yaksha Sulpani troubled Lord Mahavir in his mediation and inflicted
much suffering and there are similar stories in which malevolent Yakshas troubled
others as well. The Jains do not pay their respects or worship Yakshas and Yakshinis
for the material gains, favor and freedom from fear, illness and disease. They pay
their respect to them for their service to Tirthankars and Jainism.

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