Māllīnātha

Māllīnātha
Lord Māllīnātha (Prakrit Mālliṇātha, "Lord of jasmine or seat") was the 19th tīrthaṅkara "ford-maker" of the present avasarpiṇī age in Jainism. Jain texts indicate Mālliṇātha was born at Mithila into the Ikshvaku dynasty to King Kumbha and Queen Prajâvatî. Tīrthaṅkara Māllīnātha lived for over 56,000 years, out of which 54,800 years less six days, was with omniscience (Kevala Jnana).[2]
Lord Mallinatha is believed to be a woman named Malli bai by Swetambar Jains while the Digambara sect believes all 24 tirthankara to be men including Māllīnātha. Digambara tradition believes a women 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 Svetambara tradition of Jainism states that Māllīnātha was female with a name Malli bai.[5]
According to Jain beliefs, Mālliṇātha became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma.[6]
Literature
Jnatrdharmakathah gives the story of Lord Mallinath is said to be composed by Ganadhara Sudharmaswami.
Mallinathapurana was written by Nagachandra in 1105 CE.[7]
Main temples
Mannargudi Mallinatha Swamy Jain Temple is a Jain temple in Mannargudi, an ancient town in the erstwhile Chola Empire of Tamil Nadu.
Chaturmukha Basadi is a famous Jain temple located at Karkala in the Indian state of Karnataka. The temple is dedicated to Tirthankar Aranatha, Mallinath and Munisuvratnathswami.[8]
Chaturmukha Basadi
Mannargudi Mallinatha Swamy Temple
Mallinath Temple, Kosbad
See also
God in Jainism
Jainism and non-creationism
Citations
Sources
Johnson, Helen M. (1931), Mallināthacaritra (Book 6.6 of the Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra) [18] , Baroda Oriental Institute
Tukol, T. K. (1980), Compendium of Jainism, Dharwad: University of Karnataka