Mallinatha (Prakrit Mallinātha, "Lord of jasmine or seat") (Devanagari: मल्लिनाथ) (Sanskrit: मल्लिनाथः) was the 19th tīrthaṅkara "ford-maker" of the present avasarpiṇī age in Jainism.

Mallinatha
Sri Mallinatha
Idol of Mallinatha in female form at Keshavrai Patan, Rajasthan
Venerated inJainism
PredecessorAranatha
SuccessorMunisuvrata
SymbolKalasha[1]
Height25 dhanusha (75 meters)
Age56,000
ColorBlue
GenderMale (Digambara tradition) Female (Shvetambara tradition)
Genealogy
Born
Died
Parents
  • Kumbha (father)
  • Prajnavati (mother)
DynastyIkshvaku dynasty

In Jain mythology

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A diorama in Jain Museum of Madhuban, Giridih depicting Mallinatha teaching six kings the futility of bodily beauty, as per Swetambara tradition.
 
Mallinath Tonk on Shikharji from where Mallinatha attained Nirvana

Jain texts indicate Mālliṇātha was born at Mithila into the Ikshvaku dynasty to King Kumbha and Queen Prajnavati. Tīrthaṅkara Māllīnātha lived for over 56,000 years, out of which 54,800 years less six days, was with omniscience (Kevala Jnana).[2]

Mallinatha is believed to be a woman named Malli Devi by Shvetambara Jains while the Digambara sect believes all 24 tirthankara to be men including Māllīnātha. Digambara tradition believes a woman can reach to the 16th heaven and can attain liberation only being reborn as a man. Digambara tradition says Mallinatha was a son born in a royal family, and worships Mallinatha as a male.[3][4] However, the Shvetambara tradition of Jainism states that Māllīnātha was female with a name Mallivati.[5][6]

According to Jain beliefs, Mālliṇātha became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma.[7]

Literature

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  1. Jnatrdharmakathah gives the story of Lord Mallinath, which is said to be composed by Ganadhara Sudharmaswami.[citation needed]
  2. Mallinathapurana was written by Nagachandra in 1105 CE.[8]

Main temples

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See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ Tandon 2002, p. 45.
  2. ^ Vijay K. Jain 2015, p. 203.
  3. ^ Dundas 2002, p. 56.
  4. ^ Umakant P. Shah 1987, pp. 159–160.
  5. ^ Vallely 2002, p. 15.
  6. ^ Vyas 1995, p. 19.
  7. ^ Jaini 1998, p. 40n.
  8. ^ Ashton 1976, p. 20.
  9. ^ Sandhya, C D’Souza (19 November 2010), Chaturmukha Basadi: Four doors to divinity Last updated, Deccan Herald
  10. ^ "www.Jinalaya.com - Shri Bhoyani Tirth - Jain Temples in Gujarat". www.jinalaya.com. Retrieved 15 May 2021.

Sources

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