Jaina Yakṣī Ambikā: Bahuputrikā to Śakti
By Maruti Nandan Prasad Tiwari
Summary
The article surveys the evolution of the goddess Ambikā within Jain tradition, tracing her transformation from an early fertility yakṣi known as Bahuputrikā (the mother of many sons) into the powerful Śāsanadevī Ambikā associated with the twenty‑second Tīrthaṅkara, Neminātha. It explains that the Jains adopted elements of the Mother‑goddess cult prevalent in India and assimilated them into their own devotional practices. Ambikā is depicted with two sons, a mango tree and a lion, symbolising fertility and protection, and her popularity grew because devotees believed she granted children. During the 10th to 13th centuries, features of Śakti were incorporated into her iconography; tantric and iconographic texts describe her carrying a goad, noose, thunderbolt, bell, sword and disc to manifest her power. The author compares Ambikā with Brahmanic goddesses like Durgā and notes that some stotras in later Jain works treat her as Amoghavāgiśvarī or Sarasvatī. The article cites passages from Jain tantric literature and devotional hymns to show how Ambikā’s worship promised blessings and protection. It also highlights scholarly debates on the origins of Ambikā’s four‑armed images and how certain attributes, such as a goad and noose in her upper hands, appear only in Śvetāmbara sources. Overall, the article argues that Ambikā’s development exemplifies the Jain community’s ability to assimilate popular Mother‑goddess beliefs while retaining doctrinal distinctiveness, and it underscores her enduring role as a fertility and protective deity in Jain worship.
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Conclusion
Focusing on the yakṣi Ambikā, this study shows how a popular fertility cult was absorbed into Jainism and transformed into the worship of a protective mother‑goddess. By examining textual references and iconographic evidence, the author demonstrates how Ambikā evolved from Bahuputrikā to a multi‑armed embodiment of Śakti while maintaining links to Jain doctrine. The article concludes that Ambikā’s cult illustrates the adaptability of Jain devotional practices and the community’s capacity to integrate wider cultural beliefs without compromising core principles.