________________
monkhood. In time they became the knowers of the fourteen p rvas and thereafter, becoming keval s became liberated and emancipated. This way, founding the four-fold order, Lord Mallin tha became known as T rthamkara.
The first disciple and principal Ga adhara of Lord Mallin tha was Bhi aka and the preceptor of the entire group of female-monks was Bandhumat who was also the Lord's first female disciple. Before and after Mallin tha all T rthamkara had only one council. But Lord Mallin tha had an internal council (pari ada) of female-monks and an external pari ada of monks. Lord Mallin tha wandered across many regions inspiring people on the path of religion and benefiting them for 54900 years. In the end the Lord reached Sammeta ikhara. There, with her 1000 monks – female-monks she observed penance with one month of fasting without food and water. In a tranquil and pure manner the Lord destroyed the four non obscuring karmas and completing her 55thousand years of life-span, on the fourth day of the bright fortnight of Caitra month on the midnight hour, under Bhara constellation, completing one month of fasting, attained nirva along with thousand monks-female-monks.
The congregation of Lord Mallin tha comprised of 28 ga as and 28 Ga adharas, 3200 omniscient, 800 telepaths, 2000 clairvoyants, 600 fourteen-p rvadh rs, 3500 vaikriyalabdhidh r s. 1400 v ds, 40000 monks, 55000 female-monks, 2000 anuttaropap tika monks, 184000 votaries and 365000 female-votaries.
*****
151
