I’ll take your three questions one by one, in very simple language.

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1. “Tantra” in Jainism – what is it?

In Jain Dharma, the main path is not Tantra (like in some Hindu or Buddhist traditions). The main path is always:

• Right faith (samyak darshan)
• Right knowledge (samyak jnān)
• Right conduct (samyak chāritra)

with focus on ahinsā, aparigraha, tapas, dhyān etc.

About “tantra”:

• In other religions, tantra can mean a special system with secret rituals, mantras, yantras, etc.
• In Jain scriptures, there is no separate, official “Tantric path”.
• Some later Jain traditions sometimes use the word “tantra” loosely for:

- a method of chanting a mantra - or certain ritual/yantra practices

• But all major Jain traditions (Digambar and Shwetambar) agree that:

- Liberation never comes from occult powers, magic, or shortcuts - It comes only from destroying karma by right conduct, self‑control and inner purity ( jainknowledge.com)

So, if someone uses the word “tantra” in a Jain context, it usually just means a method or style of practice, not a separate mystical path.

You can read a bit more on how Jainism views mantra/yantra/tantra here:

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2. Why are there “eyes” on a Siddhachakra?

The Siddhachakra (Navpad/Siddhachakra Yantra) is a holy Jain diagram connected mainly with:

• the Navpad (9 supreme entities: Arihant, Siddha, Acharya, Upadhyay, Sadhu, Darshan, Jnān, Chāritra, Tapa)
• and devotion / meditation on them.

In many drawings or metal yantras, people see small shapes that look like “eyes.” These usually represent things like:

• Lotus petals or small circles/points, each standing for:

- a particular Pad (entity), - or auspiciousness and awareness

• They are not literal human/animal eyes; they are symbolic design elements.

Common traditional understandings:

• The “eye‑like” shapes remind us to keep drishti (inner sight) on:

- Arihant - Siddha - Guru - Dharma qualities (Darshan, Jnān, Chāritra, Tapa)

• They also express that these Navpad “see” everything with perfect, pure knowledge, and we seek that same purity.

Jain Dharma does not teach any deity “watching” in a fear‑based way. The Siddhachakra simply helps us remember and meditate on the highest tattvas.

For more on Jain yantras (including Navanu/99 yantra and related diagrams):

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3. Was Mallinath male or female?

Bhagwan Mallinath (Mallināth) is the 19th Tirthankar of the current time‑cycle. All Jains accept:

• Number: 19th Tirthankar
• Emblem (lanchhan): Kalash (water pot)
• Place of nirvana: Sammed Shikharji (Parasnath) ( jainknowledge.com)

The difference is only in gender, and it is between sects:

Shwetambar view

• Mallinath was female – called Malli Kumari / Malli Devi.
• She is remembered as the only female Tirthankar in this avasarpini (current half‑cycle). ( jainknowledge.com)
• Shwetambars say:

- A woman can attain keval‑jnān and moksha in a female body. - Malli Devi is their clear example.

Digambar view

• Mallinath was male.
• Digambar texts say all 24 Tirthankars in this era are male. ( jainknowledge.com)
• Their doctrine is that:

- A woman cannot attain moksha or become Tirthankar in a female body in this time‑cycle; - She would first take birth as a man, then attain Tirthankar‑hood.

Common spiritual point

Both traditions fully agree that:

• Mallinath is a Sarvajña (omniscient) Tirthankar.
• He/She taught the same Jain path:

- Samyak darshan, jnān, chāritra - Ahimsā, aparigraha, brahmacharya, tapas

• The soul is gender‑less; “male” or “female” is only a temporary body. ( jainknowledge.com)

You can read simple, traditional explanations of Mallinath’s story and the gender difference here: