Encyclopedia.com > Dictionaries, Thesauruses, Pictures, and Press Releases > The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions > January 1997

Śāsanadevatā

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions | 1997 | 700+ words | Copyright

Śāsanadevatā. Jain spiritual beings who serve the jinas but who also respond as gods, at a popular level, to the devotion and prayers of humans. Frequently they are Hindu deities, and thus have afforded a way in which not only the natural human desire for God is satisfied, but also respect for those deities is made manifest in a Hindu context. Of particular importance are Śri Lakṣmī, Sarasvatī, and Amba, the guardian of the jina Neminātha. Under the name of Sachika, Durgā, the slayer of Mahiṣa, is revered (mainly in Rājasthān). Yakṣadampati, pairs of attendant yakṣas and yakṣis, are often found in carvings without any further identity beyond that of the jina whom they serve.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

JOHN BOWKER. "Śāsanadevatā." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN BOWKER. "Śāsanadevatā." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-sanadevat.html

JOHN BOWKER. "Śāsanadevatā." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-sanadevat.html

Learn more about citation styles

Find thousands of answers for hundreds of subjects at Answers Encyclopedia .

All answers verified by trusted sources at Encyclopedia.com

Try Answers Encyclopedia now!

For students and teachers!

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including: