Rare Sculpture of Mallinatha

Author(s): Umakant P Shah
Publisher: Z_Vijay_Vallabh_suri_Smarak_Granth_012060.pdf

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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'-7}") of black stone. It is a headless statue (No. J. 885) of a Tirthankara sitting in the padmasana, dhyana mudra, (see plate attached). The central part of the seat probably contained a small representation of the cognizance of the Tirthankara, but the lanchana is now defaced. The open palm of the right hand placed in dhyana mudra shows a lotus-mark but there is no Sri-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 Mallinatha was a princess according to Svetambara Jaina traditions represented in the Nayadhammakahao and other texts like the Trisastisalakapurusacarita of Hemacandra. The Digambara sect does not advocate belief in the liberation (mukti or nirvana) of women. Hence, according to the Digambaras, Mallinatha was a Prince and not a Princess. According to svetambara Jaina tradition, all other Tirhankaras except Mallinatha were males. Hence we must identify this sculpture as representing the nineteenth Tirthankara Mallinatha according to the svetambara traditions. Almost all the other known sculptures of Mallinatha in Svetambara temples represent the Jina without developed breasts and hence looking like a male. Thus this is a unique sculpture faithfully following the Svetambara Jaina traditions. The usual cognizance of Mallinatha 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. I am thankful to the Curator, Provincial Museum, Lucknow for a photograph of this sculpture.