जैनधर्म और श्रुतदेवी सरस्वती
By Sagarmal Jain
Summary
Sagarmal Jain examines the presence of Saraswati, the goddess of learning, in Jain religious tradition. He notes that early Jain texts emphasise worship of enlightened beings and meditation rather than deities. While yakshas and yakshinis are mentioned, there is little evidence of their worship by monks. The first depiction of a learning goddess appears on a second-century CE ayagapatta from Mathura. Over time, under Brahmanical influence, Saraswati was incorporated into Jain practice as Shrutadevi, the personification of scriptural knowledge. Jain iconography shows her seated on a lotus with scriptures and a rosary, flanked by monks and devotees. Medieval texts describe her as the embodiment of the Jain canon and recount stories of her blessings aiding scholars. Jain argues that this adoption was pragmatic: Saraswati became a symbol honouring knowledge rather than a deity granting worldly boons. The article highlights Jainism’s flexibility in assimilating cultural motifs while preserving its core emphasis on scriptural study and self-discipline.
Conclusion
Sagarmal Jain concludes that although Jainism is an ascetic tradition, it eventually embraced Saraswati as a personification of scriptural knowledge. This syncretic adoption did not compromise Jain values because the goddess serves as an inspiration to study rather than a source of worldly favours. Her presence in Jain art and ritual underscores the community’s enduring commitment to learning and illustrates its flexibility in assimilating cultural motifs.