Padmāvatī is the protective goddess or śāsana devī (शासनदेवी) of
Pārśvanātha, the twenty-third
Jaintīrthāṅkara, complimenting Parshwa yaksha in Swetambara and Dharanendra in digambar the shasan deva.[1] She is a yakshini (attendant goddess) of Parshwanatha.[2]
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.[3] According to the
Jain tradition, Padmavati and her husband
Dharanendra protected Lord Parshvanatha when he was harassed by Meghmali.[4][5] After Padmavati rescued Parshvanatha grew subsequently powerful in to yakshi, a powerful tantric deity and surpassed other snake goddess Vairotya.[6]
Legacy
Worship
Goddess Padmavati along with
Ambika,
Chakreshvari are held as esteemed deities and worshipped by Jains along with
tirthankaras.[7][8] Ambika and Padmavati are associated with
tantric rituals. Both Padmavati and Dharanendra are revered exclusively as powerful intercessor deities.[1] These tantric rites involves yantra-vidhi, pitha-sthapana and mantra-puja.[9][6] Friday of every week is particularly popular day to worship the Goddess.[10]
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.[11]
Adbhuta-Padmavati-Kalpa is
Shvetambar text composed by Shri Chandra Suri, 12th century.[11]
Padmavati-astaka composed by Shvetambar scholar Parshvadeva gani is commentary of various tantric rites.[11]
Padmavati-catusadika composed by Jinaprabha suri.[11]
Padmavati-Pujanama, Padmavati-strota, Padmavati-sahasra-nama-strota, Rakta-Padmavati-Kalpa are tantric text dedicated to Padmavati.[11]
Iconography
A snake's hood covers her head, and she sits on a lotus flower. Often a small image of the Lord 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.[4] Yaksha-Yakshi pair sculptures of Padmavati Ambika and
Dharanendra are one of the most favoured along with
Gomukha-
Chakreshwari and Sarvahanabhuti-
Ambika.[12]
Sūri, Padmasundara; Raval, D. P; Shah, Nagin J (1987).
Padmasundarasūriviracita Yadusundaramahākāvya. L. D. Series 105 (in Sanskrit). Ahamadābād: Lālabhāī Dalapatabhāī Bhāratīya Saṃskṛti Vidyāmadira.