Is there any female teerthankar
Yes, according to Jain tradition:
- Among the 24 Tirthankars of this current time-cycle, Lord Mallinath (19th Tirthankar) is considered female in the Shwetambar tradition.
- In the Digambar tradition, however, all Tirthankars of this current cycle, including Mallinath, are regarded as male.
So:
- Shwetambar view: There is one female Tirthankar – Bhagwan Malli (Mallinath).
- Digambar view: There are no female Tirthankars in the present 24; women can attain very high spiritual stages but not Tirthankarhood in this era.