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Jyestha or Jyeshtha ((サンスクリット:ज्येष्ठा), , "the eldest" or "the elder") is the Hindu goddess of inauspicious things and misfortune. She is regarded as the elder sister and antithesis of Lakshmi, the goddess of good fortune and beauty. Jyestha is associated with inauspicious places and sinners. She is also associated with sloth, poverty, sorrow, ugliness and the crow. She is sometimes identified with Alakshmi, another goddess of misfortune. Her worship was prescribed for women, who wished to keep her away from their homes. Jyestha appears in the Hindu tradition, as early as 300 BCE. Her worship was at its peak in South India in the 7th-8th century CE, but by the 10th century, her popularity waned pushing her into oblivion. Today, numerous ancient images of Jyestha still exist, though she is rarely worshipped. ==Description and Iconography== Texts that elaborate on the iconography of Jyestha are: the Agamas such as the ''Amshumadbhedagama'', y=the ''Suprabhedagama'' and the ''Purvakarangama''; the ''Vishnudharmottara Purana'' and other shorter references in the ''Baudhayanagrhyasutra''.〔 The earliest recorded bilingual inscription detailing the iconography and worship practices from the 8th century is found in the caves of Tiruparankunram near Madurai.〔K.G. 1981, pp. 15-8〕 Jyestha is usually depicted with two arms. Her nose is long and prominent to the extent that she is sometimes called elephant-faced.〔Leslie p. 115〕 Jyestha is described as having "large pendulous breasts descending as far as her navel, with a flabby belly, thick thighs, raised nose, hanging lower lip, and is in colour as ink."〔 Her large stomach is described to support her swollen pendulous breasts. Her complexion is black or red. She wears blue-black or red garments. She is often depicted seated comfortably on a throne with her feet on the ground.〔 According to textual descriptions, Jyestha holds a blue or white lotus in her right hand. A water-pot is held in her left hand or placed near her throne or placed in the hand that makes the ''abhaya'' mudra - gesture of protection. Her left hand usually rests on her seat or on her thigh.〔Leslie p. 116〕 Sometimes, Jyestha holds a broom, in her hand.〔 Jyestha wears different ornaments and a ''tilaka'' mark on her forehead, a sign of her married status.〔 Her hair is usually braided and piled on top of her head or wound around her head in the hairstyle called ''vasikabandha''.〔〔 Jyestha has a banner depicting a crow, and is popularly called "crow-bannered" (''Kakkaikkodiyal'') in Tamil. A group of two attendant goddesses sometimes stand beside her, usually carrying a crow and a broom.〔Leslie p. 117〕 Sometimes a crow stands next to her.〔 Jyestha is often depicted with two attendants, sometimes interpreted as her son and daughter. The man is bull-faced and holds a rope or cord. The woman is depicted as a beautiful damsel with a conical crown.〔 Though Jyestha is almost never depicted astride on a mount, she is described in most texts as riding a donkey like Alakshmi. In other texts, she is drawn in a chariot by lions or followed by tigers or astride a camel or lion.〔Leslie p. 118〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Jyestha (goddess)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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