Jwalamalini

Jwalamalini or Jvālāmālinī( Sanskrit: ज्वालामालिनी,Kannada: ಜ್ವಾಲಾಮಾಲಿನೀ) is the Yakshini (guardian spirit) of the Eighth Tirthankara, Shri Bhagwan Chandraprabhu in Jainism and was one of the most widely invoked Yakshinis in Karnataka during the early medieval period.[1]

Jwalamalini
Jwalamalini, c. 17th-19th cent, Ackland Art Museum
AffiliationDevi
Personal information
SpouseVijaya or Shyama
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Etymology and origin

Jvālā refers to the glow of fire,mālinī implies one of bears the garlands (of).

A well known historical text Jwalamalini Kalpa was composed by Jain Acharya Indranandi in 939 AD in Manyakheta during the rule of Rashtrakuta Krishnaraj.[2] It was inspired by and older and complex text written by Helacharya before him, who had vanquished a Brahma-Rakshasa by invoking Jwalamalini.

Jwalamalini also appears in various Puranas, the Vayu Purana associates her with Shiva, the Brahmanda purana and the Matsya purana associate her with Shakti.[1]

Jwalamailni in Jain Mythology

Jain literature also recognize her as Vahni Devī or the fire goddess. Her iconic forms depict her with flames issuing forth from her head. She is also described as adorned with rising flames of fire.[1]

The worship of Jwalamalini

This deity has got Tantric affiliations. According to the literature Jvālini Kalpa, a cult in her honor was started by a Jain tantrik teacher of the monastic order called Dravida gana. A legend has it that, the Goddess herself, instructed Helacharya to systematize the occult lore sacred to her. From the inscriptions it is evident that exorcising rites were performed in her honour.[1]

Location

The location of the Jwalamalini temple, which is a sacred place for all Jains, is Narsimharajapur in Chikmagalur district in Indian state of Karnataka[3]

The place where Helacharya propounded his system is described as Malaya Hemagrama in the south identifiable with Maleyur in the Chamrajnagar Taluk of the Mysore district in the state of Karnataka.[1] As described in an inscription dated 909 CE this place is holy to the Jain disciples. The inscription also registers a grant in the favor of a Jain temple.[1]

Nittur, Thumkur district also hosts an ancient Jwalamalini temple.

See also

Citations and references
  1. Singh, Nagendra (2001). Encyclopaedia of Jainism, Volume 1. Anmol Publications. pp. 8330 pages. ISBN 9788126106912.
  2. Jwala Malini Kalpa Tantra by Muniraj Indranandi Jain Tantra, Commentary by Shekharachandra Shastri, 1966, p. 10
  3. Jain Tirthas
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