Bhagwan Mallinath

SR No.: 201043
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee
Publication Year: 2010
Total Pages: 4
Language: English
Classification: Article, Jaina_Education, & 0_Jaina_education_Story
File Size: 1 MB

Page 2

TIRTHANKARS
During this time King Kumbha was ruling over the city of Mithilä, India. He had a Queen named Prabhävati. She was pregnant and saw 14 (16 by the Digambar tradition) pious dreams indicating the arrival of a Tirthankar soul. Since Mahäbal had earned the Tirthankar-Näm-Karma and a female gender his soul descended into the womb of Prabhävati and was born as Princess Malli. (The Digambar tradition believes that Tirthankar Mallinäth was male and rejects the acquisition of female gender Karma). A few years later, Queen Prabhävati had a son named Malladin.
The six friends of Mahäbal were reborn as princes in different kingdoms and in due course became powerful kings of the cities of Hastinapur, Ayodhyä, Champa, Käshi, Kämpilypur, and Shrävasti. All these cities were located in the present states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
King Kumbha and Queen Prabhävati lovingly raised their children Malli and Malladin. Princess Malli was exceedingly charming and beautiful and grew up to be a very attractive girl. Malladin respected his elder sister. King Kumbha wanted to give them the best education and therefore entrusted their training to highly respected teachers who taught them all the required arts and crafts. Princess Malli mastered all the fine arts and became a very talented and accomplished princess. Malladin learned all the martial arts and became a bold and brave youth.
King Kumbha decided to establish an art gallery in Mithilä. A marvelous building was constructed for this purpose and all the well-known artists were invited to make their artistic contribution to the gallery. An artist from Hastinapur had an exceptional ability and possessed a special power to prepare an accurate portrait of anyone by merely seeing one part of his or her body. He once happened to see the toe of princess Malli and from that, he drew an accurate portrait of princess Malli on the wall. The portrait was excellent and displayed every minute detail of the princess. It was so lifelike that when prince Malladin came to see the gallery and looked at the portrait he felt as if his sister was standing there and actually folded his hands as a token of respect.
When he realized that it was merely a portrait, he was puzzled as to how the artist had obtained such minute details of his sister's body. He was told of the special power and the talent that the artist possessed. It was no doubt a very rare accomplishment. However, the prince foresaw the dangers of such talent. He therefore wanted to prevent the use of that special power. The artist was asked to abandon his art in return for a suitable reward. The artist refused and insisted upon his freedom of artistic expression. In order to prevent the misuse of the artist's talents the prince ordered that the thumb of the artist be cut off. The artist was very angry and displeased and decided to take revenge.
The angry artist returned to Hastinapur without one thumb. He found another artist who could draw a portrait of princess Malli according to his instructions. In time he prepared a yet more attractive portrait of Malli and presented the portrait to the king of Hastinapur (who was once Malli's close friend in their previous life). The king was very impressed by the portrait. He fell in love with Malli and decided to make princess Malli his wife. He sent a marriage proposal to King Kumbha of Mithilä.
In the same manner the kings of Ayodhyä, Champa, Käshi, Kämpilypur and Shrävasti also learnt of the exceptional beauty of princess Malli and all of them sent their proposals to marry her. After considering these proposals, King Kumbha did not find any of the proposals suitable for Malli and rejected them all. This angered the six kings and they decided to conquer the city of Mithilä in order to get princess Malli. King Kumbha boldly faced them with all his might but he could not withstand the combined strength of the invading forces. He retreated back to his kingdom and closed the gates of the city. The invading forces
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