Padmāvatī

Padmāvatī is the protective goddess or śāsana devī (शासनदेवी) of Pārśvanātha, the twenty-third Jain tīrthāṅkara, complimenting Parshwa yaksha in Swetambara and Dharanendra in digambar the shasan deva. She is a yakshini (attendant goddess) of Parshwanatha.

Jain biography

There is another pair of souls of a nāga and nāginī who were saved by Parshwanath while being burnt alive in a log of wood by the tapas kamath, and who were subsequently reborn as Indra (Dharanendra in particular) and Padmavati (different from sashan devi) after their death. According to the Jain tradition, Padmavati and her husband Dharanendra protected Lord Parshvanatha when he was harassed by Meghmali. After Padmavati rescued Parshvanatha grew subsequently powerful in to yakshi, a powerful tantric deity and surpassed other snake goddess ''Vairotya''.

Legacy

Worship

Goddess Padmavati along with Ambika and Chakreshvari are held as esteemed deities and worshipped by Jains along with tirthankaras. Ambika and Padmavati are associated with tantric rituals. Both Padmavati and Dharanendra are revered exclusively as powerful intercessor deities. These tantric rites involves ''yantra-vidhi'', ''pitha-sthapana'' and ''mantra-puja''. Friday of every week is a particularly popular day to worship the Goddess.

In literature

* ''Bhairava-Padmavati-Kalpa'' written by Mallisena in 12th century is tantric text to worship Padmavati. The text discusses rites connected with Padmavati, namely, stambha, vasya, akarsana, nimitta-jnana, garuda tantra etc.
* ''Adbhuta-Padmavati-Kalpa'' is Śvetāmbara text composed by Shri Chandra Suri, 12th century.
* ''Padmavati-astaka'' composed by Śvetāmbara scholar Parshvadeva gani is commentary of various tantric rites.
* ''Padmavati-catusadika'' composed by Jinaprabha suri.
* ''Padmavati-Pujanama'', ''Padmavati-strota'', ''Padmavati-sahasra-nama-strota'', ''Rakta-Padmavati-Kalpa'' are tantric text dedicated to Padmavati.

Iconography

A snake's hood covers her head, and she sits on a lotus flower. Often a small image of Parshvanatha is placed in her crown. She may be depicted as four-armed, carrying noose and rosary (japa mala), elephant goad, lotus and a fruit. Her mount, or vahana, is the rooster. Yaksha-Yakshi pair sculptures of Padmavati Ambika and Dharanendra are one of the most favoured along with Gomukha-Chakreshwari and Sarvahanabhuti- Ambika.

File:Indian - Mandala of Padmavati - Walters 543007.jpg, 'Mandala of Padmavati', bronze, Walters Art Museum, 11th century
File:Sculpture of Yakshi Padmavathi at Akkana Basadi in Shravanabelagola.jpg, Sculpture of Goddess Padmavati in Akkana Basadi, 12th century
File:Padmavati Chandigarh Museum.jpg, Sculpture of Padmavati in the Government Museum and Art Gallery, Chandigarh. Chola dynasty, 13th century
File:Padmavati Devi Walkeshwar Jain Temple.jpg, Goddess Padmavati at Walkeshwar Jain Temple
File:Shri Mahaveerji temple - Padmavati Idol.jpg, Padmavati at Shri Mahavirji
File:Hanumantal padmavati.jpg, Goddess Padmavati at Hanumantal Bada Jain Mandir, Jabalpur

Main temples

* Padmakshi Gutta in Warangal, Telangana
* Padmavati temple, Humcha, 7th century temple

File:Karkala_1.jpg, Padmavati Basadi, Karkala, Karnataka
File:Backside view of Basadi in Humcha.jpg, Padmavati temple, Humcha

File:Bale padmavati.jpg, Bale Padmavati Temple, Padmavati Temple Vadanbilu, jog falls Karnataka

See also

* Humcha
* Hanumantal Bada Jain Mandir

References

Citation

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External links

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{{Jainism topics

Jain minor deities
Parshvanatha
Nāgas