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Iconography of 24 Tirtharkaras
159 Kankali Tila show that they belong to an age when Digambara-Svetambara schism had not much advanced even if it had already started.
V.S. Agrawala describes Mathura Mu. no. 1388 thus: "Pedestal (ht. 8") consisting of crossed legs of a Jaina Tirthankara. On the front side between two crouching lions is a symbol composed of minamithuna heads with open mouths from which a string is pendant. The sign of fish is according to the Digambaras the cognizance of the Tirthankara Aranātha, the eighteenth Jaina Arhat ... Judging from its style the pedestal belongs to the Gupta period. Obtained in the Bajna Excavations in January 1918."*226
No. 861 in the Lucknow Museum, from Sahet-Mahet (ancient Sravasti), U.P. shows the fish cognizance on the pedestal. Niraj Jain has noted that a big standing image of this Jina with the fish lañchana dated in 1145 A.D. exists at Navagadh (Tikamgadh), M.P.227 In temple no. 1 on Madanpur hill there is a standing figure of this Jina inscribed in 1053 A.D., according to Darbarilal Kothia. 228 There is also a standing Aranatha in temple 2 at the same place and dates from 1147 A.D. Niraj Jain has also noted a standing Aranätha at Bajrangagadh, dated in 1179 A.D.229 All the images belong to the Digambara tradition. An epigraph from Gudar in the Shivpuri district, dated in 1206 V.S.=1149 A.D., refers to the installation of images of Santinātha, Kunthunātha and Aranātha. We have already referred to the images of these three Jinas installed in the sanctum of the Jaina temple at Arang, M.P.
At Deoli, Purulia district, there was a pañcāyatana group of temples. From this area was discovered a life-size statue of Aranåtha. 230
In the Barabhuji and the Mahāvīra Caves at Khandagiri, Orissa, we find figures of Aranatha sitting in padmāsana with the fish symbol shown in the centre of the simhāsana.231 All the sculptures in these caves belong to the Digambara tradition.
In Karnataka images of Aranātha are found in the sets of 24 Jina-images at Sravana Belagola, Mudabidure and Venür. In the Madras Museum (no. 2499) is a sculpture of Jina sitting in padmasana with the fish symbol in the centre of the pedestal. The Jina figure represents Aranātha.
19. NINETEENTH TIRTHANKARA: MALLINĀTHA
There are two different Tirtharkaras bearing the title of Mallinātha--one is a male while the other is a female. Unlike the Svetämbaras, the Digambaras do not believe that a woman can obtain moksa or kevalajñāna and hence the nineteenth Jina Mallinātha, a female in the Svetambara traditions, is worshipped as a male by the Digambaras. It is indeed difficult to decide which tradition is older and more reliable, but if the tradition of Nayadhammakahão is to be accepted as more ancient and authentic, then the nineteenth Tirthankara was a female. According to the Nayadhammakahão, Malli was one of the most beautiful princesses of her age.232 Nāyādhammakahāo is a canonical text acknowledged by the Svetämbaras; modern research shows that this canonical text, as available today, is not earlier than c. fourth century A.D., the age of the Mathura council under the leadership of Arya Skandila.
According to the Digambara traditions, Mallinātha was the son of king Kumbha and queen Prajavati of Mithila in the Vanga country. He descended on this earth from Aparăjita Vimana, his birth took place in the Asvini naksatra. He was golden in complexion and kalasa (water-pot) was his dhvaja or cognizance. Uttarapurana says that he was called Malli as he had conquered the wrestler (malla) in the form of infatuation.233
Mallinātha obtained kevalajñāna under an Asoka tree (Jhonesia Ashoka). He had a following of 28 ganadharas with Visakha at their helm while Bandhusena led the community of nuns of his tirtha. Mallinātha obtained moksa on Mt. Sammeta. Kubera and Aparajitā (Varuna and Vijay, according to Tiloyapannatti) were his yaksa and yakşini respectively. In the Svetämbara tradition they are known as Kubera and Vairotyä or Dharanapriya.
In the Svetāmbara traditions, Malli is said to have been the princess of king Kumbha and queen Prabhavati of Mithila, born in the Asvini naksatra. Except the sex, almost all other details about Malli given above are common in both the Jaina traditions.
In the Svetambara tradition, several kings are said to have attacked Mithila with their armies in order
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