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the world of trees. Look. How many big and expansive trees are there standing for thousand years and more. Yet the new plants do not shy away from sprouting". Sri Manatunga by the word "vigatatrapah" declares, that no need exists for him to feel shy and withdraw in the face of influential and great stotras written by great poets. Bhaktamara is such a work written with great self-confidence. He was prepared for its composition. So there was no need for him to feel the sense of shame. When people say 'I am afraid of', he really does not fear or shy away from the world but is only not sure of his preparedness. So lacks self-confidence.
Why should we lack self-confidence. People have not come here fully prepared. People have not become successful at the first attempt. Even Tirthankaras have not attained moksa in the same birth, in which they attained samyaktva (perfection). They acquire tirthankara-nama-gotrakarma in three previous births before becoming Tirthankaras. But surely they get moksa in the third birth. "If one moves one will definitely reach his destination", so goes the proverb.
When a successful man was quipped as to the secret of his success, he immediately replied that he became more confident with every failure. Yes, "failure is the stepping stone to success".
Sri Meghavijayaji makes this clear in his commentary on the word vigatatrapah. It must not be interpreted that he feels shy to take up a work when he does not feel competent enough to take up the work. One should not interpret "shyness" as effect and the commencement without sufficient qualification as the cause. In fact it is the other way round. Commencement without sufficient preparation (buddhya vinapi) is the effect and the absence of fear or shyness [vigatatrapah) is the cause. If one were to be diffident or shy away due to the fear of loss of image, one will never be in a position to complete such a kavya. Sri Meghavijaya had not only commented on Bhaktamara but also revealed the secret of Manatunga (which we can call Manatungi-maha-siddhi] not once but many times. "Shying, one fades away". But why does not one get such a self-confidence? The secret of confidence is selflessness. He who obstructs his development, cheats himself can not have such a confidence nor develop it. He who respects himself, feels high, alone can have and develop the feelings of courage, steadfastness and confidence. One must go on making efforts. One should not shy away from failures. One can never get success without such a confidence.
Sri Manatunga Suri was a great poet and The Bhaktamara Stotra was his Magnum Opus. He has the robust optimism, running into his arteries. The composition of The Bhaktamara Stotra is the expression of his supreme self-confidence. Had he been confused, or diffident, would it have been possible for him to accept the challenge of getting released from iron-chains in King's Court? If he were to entertain the thoughts, "The magics are performed by deities; I am meditating upon paramatman; if for some reasons, the deities were not to present themselves, what would happen ?" and get disheartened; his confidence would have vanished. He would be fumbling like a tennis player facing a formidable opponent after loosing sets. A great stotra like this a great inspiration and influence of Jainism - would not have appeard at all.
The phrase 'vigatatrapo'ham' must never be interpreted as 'without a sense of shame'. It should not also be interpreted as a 'shameless sinner or offender'. But it means 'getting rid of confusion, diffidence, and hesitation', and consequently, the meaning will be master of supreme self-confidence and robust optimism.
7. STOTRASRAJAM
The Bhaktamara Stotra is a timeless work, and is similar to the carvings on stone. Seeds of many thoughts and ideas remain embedded in this work, in the form of suggested or (inner) deep level meanings. (And there is an idea to bring these out in a companion volume to this work]. This section will be incomplete without the analysis of the last verse. It appears that if the feelings of heart are able to find correct and proper expressions at the hands of a poet, they become eternal creations, as it were.
The commentators of The Bhaktamara Stotra, appear to have been entranced by the two words "stotra-srajam", and "laksmih". It appears that no commentary anterior to Gunakaravrtti
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| SR No. | 002588 |
| Book Title | Bhaktamara Darshan |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Rajyashsuri |
| Publisher | Jain Dharm Fund Pedhi Bharuch |
| Publication Year | 1997 |
| Total Pages | 436 |
| Language | Sanskrit, English, Hindi |
| Classification | Book_Devnagari & Literature |
| File Size | 50 MB |