Bidspirit auction | Jain Altar of Tirthankara Mallinatha

Jain Altar of Tirthankara Mallinatha with Silver Inlays - Jain Altar of Tirthankara Mallinatha with Silver Inlays India, probably 12th century, 1134. Copper alloys (brass / bronze), silver, West India. Weight: 450 g. H. 13 - 14 cm. Condition: Signs of age and wear. An expert appraisal from Sotheby's, stating a value of 5,000 USD, is available. Provenance: From a North German private collection. Depiction: Mallinatha in meditative posture (Padmasana) on a throne (Simhasana) supported by lions, with a silver shrivatsa on the chest. Silver eyes. The jina is identified by the elephant, the distinguishing mark (cihna) of the fifth tirthankara. He is surrounded by axis-symmetrically paired jina and yak-tail whisk bearers. Inscription on the back, dated Samvat 1198, dating according to the Vikram Samvat calendar, the year 1191 Vikram Samvat corresponds to the year 1134 AD in the Gregorian calendar. In the Digambara tradition, all Tirthankaras are depicted as male, as it is believed that women can only attain liberation after rebirth as men. Mallinatha is the only Tirthankara who is revered as a woman in some traditions – particularly in the Shvetambara tradition. She is considered the 19th Tirthankara and was born as a princess, daughter of King Sureshvara and Queen Prabhavati in the city of Vidisha. Mallinatha's story emphasizes compassion, non-violence (Ahimsa), and inner purity. Her symbolism stands for spiritual equality and shows that enlightenment is possible regardless of gender.