Prof. Dr. Nagarajaiah Hampana
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[19] Rājanāpur Khinkhinī (Murtajāpur) in Akoṭa Dt. (Maharastra) |
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Śrutadevī's worship is ancient, extensive, and common to both the Śvetambara and Digaṁbara sects. Literary references are abundant: The Bhagavatīsūtra, Dvādaśārānyacakra, Mahāniśitasūtra, Pañcāśaka, Pākṣika-stotra (Haribhadrasūri), Sārasvatakalpa, etc.
Words like Śrutabhakti, Śrutapūje, Śrutaskanda-vrata, Śrutadevatā-tapas and Śrutajñāna-vratas are frequently used in Jaina literature. Literally Śrutadevī means 'goddess of śruti i.e., the teachings of Jina'. She is the foremost of all goddesses and is worshipped prior to that of other subordinate deities, particularly in the Digaṁbara tradition. Generally, haṁsa, 'goose', figures as her mount and sometimes mayūra, 'peacock' also finds a place. The Sārasvata-Yantra-Pūjā, of Śubhacandra, refers to her as "Mayūravāhinī, white like moon, shining with trinetra, 'three eyes', and riding on a Peacock and holds the rosary and the book". The Jinasaṁhita of Ēkasandhi records that the three eyed and four-armed Vāṇi is white and sits in paryankāsana on a lotus.
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The four-armed Śrutadevī in Hombuja (Śivamogga Dt.) collection is singular for its delicate execution. It represents the traditional trend in its stylistic idiom and resembles the two dancing images at Haḷebiḍu except that Hombuja image is seated on a full bloomed lotus on the lion-throne. The displaced Hombuja image, of late Rāsṭṛakūṭa and early Cālukya age, has lost its right front -arm, possibly in abhayākṣa-mudrā. The arch in the parikara, 'surround', is broken and missing. Albeit, the 32 inches sculpture with boxed crown, prabhāmaṇḍala, 'lustrous halo', behind the head, and opulent jewellery is unequalled [Hampana: 1997:197].
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Copper alloy image, 9.6", Rājanāpur Khinkhinī (Murtajāpur), Akoṭa Dt. (Maharastra), 10th century. As a rare instance, holds a stylus in her right hand. Central Museum, Nagpur.
Four-armed goddess, Śrutadevī with miniature figure of seated Jina in the centre of Karaṇḍa-mukuṭa, 'boxed crown'. The deity, seated in lotus posture, on a broad padmapatra, 'lotus-leaf, holds pāśa, aṅkuśa, pustaka and?......(right-lower hand is broken). The stellate-like bhāmaṇḍala, 'radiant nimbus', behind head is notable. Hombuja (Karnataka), late 10th century.
