Dharanendra

Dharanendra is the Yaksha (attendant deity) of Parshvanatha, twenty-third Tirthankara in Jainism. He enjoys an independent religious life and is very popular amongst Jains.[1] According to the Jain tradition, when Parshvanatha was a prince, he saved two snakes that had been trapped in a log in the ritual fire of a sorcerer named Kamath. Later, these snakes were reborn as Dharanendra, the lord of the underworld Naga Kingdom, and Padmavati. They, then sheltered Parshvanatha when he was harassed by Meghalin (Kamath reborn).[2][3][4] Śvētāmbara tradition, however, does not list Padmavati among the main queens of Dharanendra.[5]

Dharanendra
Sculpture of Yaksha Dharanendra at Akkana Basadi, Shravanabelagola
AffiliationYaksha of Parshvanatha
ConsortPadmavati

Western Ganga literature states that Dharanendra was worshipped for acquiring sons.[6]

In the Panchakuta Basadi at Kambadahalli ,Dharanendra is seen holding a bow and blowing a shankha. A five-hooded serpent makes a canopy over him.[7]

See also

Notes

References

  • Adiga, Malini (2006), The Making of Southern Karnataka: Society, Polity and Culture in the early medieval period, AD 400-1030, Chennai: Orient Longman, ISBN 81-250-2912-5
  • Dundas, Paul (2002) [1992], The Jains (Second ed.), Routledge, ISBN 0-415-26605-X
  • Shah, Umakant P. (1987), Jaina Iconography, Abhinav Publications, ISBN 978-81-7017-208-6
  • Jain, Jyotindra; Fischer, Eberhard (1978), Jaina Iconography, BRILL, ISBN 978-90-04-05259-8
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