Mallinatha

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

In Jain history

Jain texts indicate Mālliṇātha was born at Mithila into the Ikshvaku dynasty to King Kumbha and Queen Prajnavati. Their height is mentioned as 25 dhanusha. Tīrthaṅkara Māllīnātha lived for over 56,000 years, out of which 54,800 years less six days, was with omniscience (Kevala Jnana). They were said to have lived for 55,000 years by other authors.

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.

Mallinatha is said to have been born 1,000 crore less 6,584,000 years after their predecessor, Aranatha. Their successor, Munisuvrata, is said to have been born 54 lakh years after them.

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

• 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.
• Sri Mallinath Jain Derasar, near Bhoyani, Viramgam Taluk, Gujarat.

See also

• God in Jainism
• Jainism and non-creationism

References

Citations

Sources