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F01 Story Tirthankars
04 - Bhagwän Mallinäth
Hence, the physical appearance of the idols of all the Tirthankars is the same without any indication of male or female gender.
Moral:
This body is a mere vessel that holds the soul. Upon death, the soul simply moves to another body unless one attains liberation from the cycle of birth and death. One needs to realize that this veil of skin and flesh is mortal. Physical beauty is deceptive and temporary. Princess Malli made this point through the statue and the rotten food. The importance of our human life is that it is a means of attaining liberation from the cycle of birth and death. One needs to rise above the physical aspects of life and use this life to progress spiritually so that the soul can attain liberation.
Highlights:
Last life King Mahäbal, with 6 close friends
Born to King Kumbha and Queen Prabhävati; brother Malladin
Six friends reborn as kings who desired to marry her; showed them temporal quality of worldly life through statue with food inside.
Compendium of Jainism - 2015
Page 309 of 398
