Jain Dharma ke mutabik is vishay me do mukhya drishtikon hote hain:

• Digambara tradition (nude mendicants): Tirthankar ke ruup me sirf purush ko maana jaata hai. Isliye Digambara siddhant ke anusar aisa maana jaata hai ki stri ko moksha ya Tirthankar-hood directly nahi milta; use pehle manushya janm paana hota hai, phir hi aage ki dharma yatra mil sakti hai. Isi drishtikon ki wajah se “patni” ya “mahila” ko Tirthankar banne ki sambhaavna nahi mani jaati. You can read more here . ( jainknowledge.com)

• Śvetāmbara tradition (dressed monks, aur Malli/Mallinātha ki kathā): yeh manata hai ki 19th Tirthankar Mallīnātha mahila thi (Mallī Devi). Is anusar mahilāen bhi moksha ya Tirthankar honay ki shamta rakhti hain, aur Malli ki kahani is baat ko darshata hai ki strī bhi pūrva karma ke anusar Tirthankar ban sakti hain. Isliye is drishtikon me “mahila Tirthankar” ki sambhaavna ko’m pavitra dharma ke roop me svikaar kiya jaata hai. You can read more here . ( jainknowledge.com)

• Saar yeh hai ki Jaina soul (jiva) gender-less hai; karmo ke phal se hi Tirthankar banne ki sambhaavna hoti hai. Is half-cycle (Avasarpini) me 24 Tirthankara hua, unki purush-rokhi ya mahila hone ki soch sect ke hisaab se alag hoti hai. Digambara aur Śvetāmbara ke beech is maamle me mukhya antar hai ki Digambara kehte hain ki Tirthankar hamesha purush hote hain, jabki Śvetāmbara Mallīnātha ko mahila maante hain. Aap is vishay ki aur vyakhya jaan sakte hain: aur Mallinātha ki kahani ke bare me yahan: . ( jainknowledge.com)

Note: dono dharmo me mukhya siddhant yeh hai ki jiva ke karm, tapasya aur jñān se moksha milti hai; gender ke roop se spiritual greatness ki seema nirdharit nahi hoti.