Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c75.s2.54
Vāstu-śāstra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c75.s2.54
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v2.c75.s2.54
III. The 16 Śruta-or Vidyā Devis— are also an important class of Jain images, their names and lakṣaṇas in many respects, correspond to those of the Yakṣiṇīs. Brindavana says: ‘Of all the conceptions found in the Jain Iconography, none is so original as the conception of the Vidyādevīs or the goddesses of learning’ to which the present writer most respectfully would differ. They are a combination of so many Hindu goddesses modelled on the Yakṣiṇīs by the Jains. The Jains make a special ceremony of Sarsvatīpūjā (Sarsvati heading the 16 Śruta-or Vidyā-devis) on the Śukla Pañcami day of the Kārtika month called by them Jain-Pañcami.