Vijay Vvallabhsuri Smarak Granth

SR No.: 012060
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Mahavir Jain Vidyalaya Mumbai
Publisher: Mahavir Jain Vidyalay
Publication Year: 1956
Total Pages: 756
Language: Hindi, Gujarati, English
Classification: Smruti_Granth & Articles
File Size: 24 MB

Page 699

A RARE SCULPTURE OF MALLINATH Dr. UMAKANT PREMANAND SHAH, M.A., Ph.D.
The Provincial Museum, Lucknow preserves a unique Jaina sculpture (size 1-4" x 1-74") of black stone. It is a headless statue (No. J. 885) of a Tirthankara sitting in the padmāsana, dhyāna mudrā, (see plate attached). The central part of the seat probably contained a small representation of the cognizance of the Tīrthankara, but the lāñchana is now defaced.
The open palm of the right hand placed in dhyāna mudră shows a lotus-mark but there is no Śrī-vatsa mark on the chest. However, the developed breasts are so prominent that it is natural to regard this as a female figure. The nineteenth Tirthankara Mallinātha was a princess according to Svetāmbara Jaina traditions represented in the Nāyādhammakahão and other texts like the Trişastiśalākāpuruşacarita of Hemacandra. The Digambara sect does not advocate belief in the liberation (mukti or nirvāṇa) of women. Hence, according to the Digambaras, Mallinātha was a Prince and not a Princess.
According to Svetämbara Jaina tradition, all other Tirhankaras except Mallinātha were males. Hence we must identify this sculpture as representing the nineteenth Tirthankara Mallinātha according to the Svetāmbara traditions.
Almost all the other known sculptures of Mallinātha in Svetāmbara temples represent the Jina without developed breasts and hence looking like a male. Thus this is a unique sculpture faithfully following the Śvetāmbara Jaina traditions.
The usual cognizance of Mallinātha is the water-jar. The central part of the seat of the Jina shows a very defaced figure of the water-jar (not clearly visible in the photograph). The identification of the Jina is unmistakable. The sculpture is assignable to early mediaeval period.1
1. I am thankful to the Curator, Provincial Museum, Lucknow for a photograph of
this sculpture.