Mallinatha Explained

Type:Jain
Venerated In:Jainism
Symbol:Kalasha
Color:Blue
Father:Kumbha
Mother:Prajnavati
Height:25 dhanusha (75 meters)
Age:56,000
Predecessor:Aranatha
Successor:Munisuvrata
Birth Place:Mithila
Gender:Male (Digambara tradition)Female (Shvetambara tradition)
God Of:19th Tirthankara
Mallinatha
Member Of:Tirthankara, Shalakapurusha, Arihant and Siddha
Moksha Place:Sammed Shikhar
Dynasty:Ikshvaku dynasty

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.

In Jain mythology

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).

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. However, the Shvetambara tradition of Jainism states that Māllīnātha was female with a name Mallivati.

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

Literature

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

Main temples

See also

References

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: www.Jinalaya.com - Shri Bhoyani Tirth - Jain Temples in Gujarat. 2021-05-15. www.jinalaya.com.