by Dipti Shah
Yakshas and Yakshinis
Who are they?
- Devs are of four major kinds
- Bhavanpati
- Vyantar
- Jyotishk
- Vaimani
- Yaksha and Yakshini are a kind of Vyantar
- All Yakshas are Devs as well as Vyantars
- However, all Devs are not Yakshas or Vyantars
Who are they?
- Some of the Yaksha and/or Yakshinis are anointed as care takers of specific followers of Jainism
- These care takers are also called Adhisthyak or Adhisthyaika
- These care takers are samyaktvi (Having right faith)
Tirthanakar Adhisthayaks
- 24 Yaksha and 24 Yakshinis are annoited as Adhisthayak and Adhisthayika of the 24 tirthankaras
- Their job is to protect the followers of the particular tirthankara
- Their anointment is done on the first day of establishment of the tirth by a tirthankara
Tirthankaras and their Yakshas and Yakshanis
Tirthankara | Yaksh / Yakshini |
Rishabhanatha | Gomukha / Chakresvari |
Ajitanatha | Mahayaksha / Ajitabala |
Sambhavanatha | Trimukha / Duritari |
Abhinandana | Nayaka / Kalika |
Sumatinatha | Tumburu / Mahakali |
Padmaprabha | Kusuma / Shyama |
Suparsvanatha | Matanga / Shanta |
Chandraprabha | Vijaya / Bhrikuti |
Suvidhinatha | Ajita / Sutaraka |
Shitalanatha | Brahma / Ashoka |
| Shreyamsanatha | Yakshet / Manavi |
Vasupujya | Kumara / Chanda |
Vimalanatha | Shanmukha / Vidita |
Anantanatha | Patala / Ankusha |
Dharmanatha | Kinnara / Kandarpa |
Shantinatha | Garuda / Nirvani |
Kunthunatha | Gandharva / Bala |
Aranatha | Yaksheta / Dhana |
Mallinatha | Kubera / Dharanapriya |
Munisuvrata | Varuna / Naradatta |
Naminatha | Bhrikuti / Gandhari |
Neminatha | Gomedha / Ambika |
Parshvanatha | Parshwayaksha / Padmavati |
Mahavira | Matamga / Siddhayika |
Yaksha / Yakshini and Others
- One should not bow down to Yaksh or Yakshini idols in front of tirthankara or siddhas
- The post of a monk is higher than Yaksh or Yakshini also.
Yakshinis in Jain Temples
- Chakreshwari Devi
- Adhisthayika of Adinath Bhagwan
- Adhisthayika of Shatrunjay (Palitana)
- Adhisthayika of Jin Shashan - Padmavati Devi
- Adhisthayika of Parshwanath Bhagwan - Laxmi Devi
- Goddess of Wealth - Saraswati Devi
- Goddess of Knowledge
Yakshas in Jain Temples
- Ghantakarna Veer
- A Dev who helps overcome obstacles
- His worship is controversial - Nakoda Bhairav
- Kshetra (Area) Dev
- Protects followers of Nakoda Parshwanath - Manibhadra Veer
- Adhisthayak of Tapa Gachh (Jain clan)
- Manikchand Sheth fought with robbers on his way to Palitana rather then giving up every thing and died
- All Acharyas, irrespective of their group, visit a place of worship of Manibhadra Veer