Gomukha

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Gomukha
Yaksha Gomukha and his beloved.jpg
Gomukha, c. 8th century, Gurjara-Pratihara

In Jain cosmology, Gomukha is the guardian god or Yaksha (attendant deity) of Rishabhanatha, the first Tirthankara. [1] [2]

Contents

Legacy

Worship

Gomukha along with Dharanendra is the most popular yaksha in Jainism. [3] [4] [5]

Iconography

According to Jain tradition, Gomukha is depicted as two or four armed yaksha riding on an elephant. [6] As the name suggests, gomukha has the head of a bull. [7] [8] Gomukha carries a goad in left hand and noose in left. In other two lower arms gomukha carries varada and conch. [9] The yaksha-yakshi pair sculptures of Gomukha-Chakreshwari are one of the most favoured along with Ambika-Sarvanubhuti and Dharanendra-Padmavati. [10]  The image of Gomukha yaksha in Ellora caves is noteworthy. [11]

See also

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References

Citation

  1. Bruhn 1969, p. 26.
  2. Shah 1995, p. 18.
  3. Campbell 1884, p. 117.
  4. Kelting 2009, p. 240.
  5. Pereira 1977, p. 29.
  6. Shah 1987, p. 117.
  7. Pereira 1977, p. 42.
  8. Bruhn 1969, p. 24.
  9. Shah 1987, p. 227.
  10. Tiwari 1989, p. 13.
  11. Pereira 1977, p. 61.

Source