Mallinatha (

Prakrit Prakrit ( ) is a group of vernacular classical Middle Indo-Aryan languages that were used in the Indian subcontinent from around the 5th century BCE to the 12th century CE. The term Prakrit is usually applied to the middle period of Middle Ind ...

''Mallinātha'',

Devanagari Devanagari ( ; in script: , , ) is an Indic script used in the Indian subcontinent. It is a left-to-right abugida (a type of segmental Writing systems#Segmental systems: alphabets, writing system), based on the ancient ''Brāhmī script, Brā ...

: मल्लिनाथ,

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...

: मल्लिनाथः, 'Lord of jasmine or seat') was the 19th tīrthaṅkara "ford-maker" of the present ''avasarpiṇī'' age in

Jainism Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religions, Indian religion whose three main pillars are nonviolence (), asceticism (), and a rejection of all simplistic and one-sided views of truth and reality (). Jainism traces its s ...

In Jain history

Jain Universal History Diorama in Jain Museum Madhuban 20

Jain texts indicate Mālliṇātha was born at

Mithila Mithila may refer to: Places * Mithilā, a synonym for the ancient Videha state ** Mithilā (ancient city), the ancient capital city of Videha * Mithila (region), a cultural region (historical and contemporary), now divided between India and Nepa ...

into the

Ikshvaku dynasty The Solar dynasty or (; ), also called the Ikshvaku dynasty, is a legendary Indian dynasty said to have been founded by Ikshvaku. In Hindu literature, it ruled the Kosala Kingdom, with its capital at Ayodhya, and later at Shravasti. They ...

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 Omniscience is the property of possessing maximal knowledge. In Hinduism, Sikhism and the Abrahamic religions, it is often attributed to a divine being or an all-knowing spirit, entity or person. In Jainism, omniscience is an attribute that any ...

( Kevala Jnana). Mallinatha is believed to be a woman named Malli Devi by Shvetambara Jains while the

Digambara ''Digambara'' (; "sky-clad") is one of the two major Jain schools and branches, schools of Jainism, the other being ''Śvetāmbara'' (white-clad). The Sanskrit word ''Digambara'' means "sky-clad", referring to their traditional monastic pract ...

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 ''Siddha'' (Sanskrit: '; "perfected one") is a term that is used widely in Indian religions and culture. It means "one who is accomplished." It refers to perfected masters who have achieved a high degree of perfection of the intellect as we ...

, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its

karma Karma (, from , ; ) is an ancient Indian concept that refers to an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences. In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of cause and effect, often descriptively called ...

Literature

Jnatrdharmakathah ''Jnātadhārmakathāh'' is the sixth of the 12 Jain Angas said to be promulgated by Māhavīra himself. Jnātadhārmakathāh translated as "Stories of Knowledge and Righteousness" is said to have been composed by Ganadhara Sudharmaswami ...

gives the story of Lord Mallinath, which is said to be composed by Ganadhara

Sudharmaswami Sudharmaswami ( or Sudharman; 607 BC – 507 BC) was the fifth ganadhara of Mahavira. All the current Jain acharyas and monks follow his rule. Life Sudharmaswami was the spiritual successor of Indrabhuti Gautama in religious order reorganise ...

. #''Mallinathapurana'' was written by

Nagachandra Nagachandra or Abhinava Pampa was a 12th-century poet in the Kannada language. Biography Nagachandra, a scholar and the builder of the Mallinatha Jinalaya (a Jain temple in honor of the 19th Jain tirthankar, Māllīnātha, in Bijapur ...

in 1105 CE.

Main temples

Mannargudi Mallinatha Swamy Jain Temple Mallinathaswamy Jain Temple (மன்னார்குடி மல்லிநாதசுவாமி ஜினாலயம்):ta:மன்னார்குடி மல்லிநாதசுவாமி ஜினாலயம் is a Ja ...

is a Jain temple in

Mannargudi Mannargudi () is a Municipality in Thiruvarur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Mannargudi Taluk, Mannargudi taluk. The town is located at a distance of from the district headquarters Thiruvarur, 12 ...

, an ancient town in the erstwhile

Chola Empire The Chola Empire, which is often referred to as the Imperial Cholas, was a medieval thalassocratic empire based in southern India that was ruled by the Chola dynasty, and comprised overseas dominions, protectorates and spheres of influence ...

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...

. *

Chaturmukha Basadi Chaturmukha Basadi is a symmetrical Jain temple situated in Karkala, Karnataka, India. It is one of the most famous monuments in Karkala. History The Chaturmukha Basadi, was built in the late 16th century by Immadi Bhairarasa Vodeya of the ...

is a famous

Jain temple A Jain temple, Derasar (Gujarati: દેરાસર) or Basadi (Kannada: ಬಸದಿ) is the place of worship for Jains, the followers of Jainism. Jain architecture is essentially restricted to temples and monasteries, and Jain buildings ge ...

located at Karkala in the Indian state of

Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...

. The temple is dedicated to ''Tirthankar

Aranatha Aranath''(Arnath)'' was the eighteenth Jain Tirthankar of the present half cycle of time ( Avasarpini). He was also the eighth Chakravartin and thirteenth Kamadeva. According to Jain beliefs, he was born around 16,585,000 BCE. He became a sid ...

'', ''Mallinath'' and '' Munisuvratnathswami''. *Sri Mallinath Jain Derasar, near Bhoyani,Viramgam Taluk,Gujarat. File:Chaturmukha Basadi.jpg, Chaturmukha Basadi File:Mannargudi Mallinatha Swamy Temple.png, Mannargudi Mallinatha Swamy Temple File:Jain Mandir from Hilltop - panoramio.jpg, Mallinath Temple, Kosbad

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