Answer

Bhagwan Mallinath is understood differently in the two main Jain traditions:

• Śvetāmbara tradition: Bhagwan Mallinath was female.
• Digambara tradition: Bhagwan Mallinath was male.

Explanation

So, there is no single answer accepted by all Jain traditions. The difference comes from the sect-specific traditional understanding of Mallinath’s life.

Spiritual Understanding

In Jain Dharma, the focus is on the soul’s purity, not on gender. Whether understood as male or female, Bhagwan Mallinath is revered as a Tirthankar who showed the path of liberation.

Takeaway

If you are asking from Śvetāmbara Jain tradition, Mallinath was female. If you are asking from Digambara Jain tradition, Mallinath was male.