Answer

Yes — in the Śvetāmbara Jain tradition, the 19th Tīrthaṅkara, Mallinātha, is considered to have been female. In the Digambara tradition, however, all 24 Tīrthaṅkaras are regarded as male, and Mallinātha is accepted as male.

Explanation

This is one of the well-known differences between the two main Jain traditions:

• Śvetāmbara view: Mallinātha was a female Tīrthaṅkara.
• Digambara view: A woman does not become a Tīrthaṅkara, so Mallinātha was male.

So the answer depends on which Jain tradition is being followed.

Spiritual Understanding

In Jain Dharma, the soul is beyond gender. Liberation depends on right faith, right knowledge, right conduct, and deep spiritual purification — not on the body alone. This is why both traditions emphasize the soul’s inner spiritual progress.

Takeaway

So, yes, according to Śvetāmbara Jainism, one Tīrthaṅkara was female; but according to Digambara Jainism, none were female.