Bhaktamara Darshan

Author(s): Rajyashsuri
Publisher: Jain Dharm Fund Pedhi Bharuch

Page 370

RAHASYA DARSHAN
(The nature of mantras, difference between mantras and vidyas, the total number of verses in The Bhaktamara Stotra, the significance of the stories that describe the efficacy of the verses of The Bhaktamara Stotra etc., will be dealt with in this section. The section begins with the question of the desirability of including the author's name in a work involving mantrajapa. See also 'stotrasrajam' sub-section of Gatha Rahasyartha for more information. Hence the chapter is titled 'Rahasya Darsan'. This English version is based on Hindi section of Rahasya Darsan but presented in a different order of arrangement. Four sub-sections appear in the form of questions and answers)
Who is the author of The Bhaktamara Stotra ?
The author of the efficacious Bhaktamara Stotra is the great Acarya Sri Manatunga Surisvarji. His influence over Jainism is immense. He is considered to be the successor-disciple of Acarya Sri Manadeva Surisvarji. The information that Sri Manatunga is the author of Bhaktamara is deduced from the 4th quartrain (pada) of the last verse of Bhaktamara "Tam manatunga mavasa samupaiti laksmih".
Does reference to one's own name as the author in such salutory works, not signify the desire for popularity? (name and fame).
AUTHORSHIP OF THE BHAKTAMARA STOTRA
Desire for popularity and historical information are two different things. From the view point of history, we do require such information as the authorship, lineage of instructors, date of composition etc. [Incidentally these details also help us to know the evolution of thought and make us understand the passages better). More over it will be better if the author himself were to indicate the number of slokas composed (which may guard the work from future interpolations). We should diligently protect the tradition of giving such personal information for the proper place in history and evaluation.
Was the tradition of referring one's name in the works, in vogue ?
Yes... Sri Umasvati also has made such a reference in his work "Sri Tattvartha Sutra Karikas". Sri Dharmadasa Gani, too had referred to his name in his work Sri Upadesamala with the beginning letter of words. (Acrostic)
Dhamta mani dama sasi gaya nihi (Gatha 53)
Many authors had even composed prasastis or panygyrics and the authors had done it at the end of their woks. This tradition has continued up to this day. People must be knowing that our grand-preceptor Sri Labdhisuriswarji has not only referred to his name but the name of his Guru Rev. Kamalasuriswarji and his Guru Rev. Atmaramji at the end of stavans like, "Bhavi bhave derasar avo" and "Janarum jay che jivan".
When did Sri Manatunga Suri flourish ?
In the works like "Pattavali Samuccaya" there is a reference to Sri Manatunga Surisvarji, who could be placed in the third century of Vikrama Samvat i.e., 144 AD to 244 AD period.
But the incidents referred to there pertain to 7th century of Vikrama Samvat i.e., up to 644 AD (Precisely the period of King Sriharsa...) But Quacken Bose an European scholar proved the untenability of 2nd CAD theory and he subscribed to 3rd C B C theory only.
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Scholars like Sri Hiralal Kapadia, Sri Dhirajlal Tokarsi, Sri Kalyana Vijayaji are of the opinion that Sri Manatunga must have lived in 5th 6th AD. Jainendra Siddhanta Kosa, a Digambara Jain publication refers to his date as 11th Circa VS i.e., (944 1044 AD). But it would be proper to take him as the disciple of the 18th generation teacher from Mahavira and lived in the third century V S i.e, he must have lived some 1800 years before.
Is there any other teacher by the name Mantunga Suri ?
If a person is popular or well-known or if the society feels indebted to him, then his name is invoked for generations in future. We have two Bhadrabahus and many Chandraguptas. The same is the case in west too. The name is carried over to the subsequent generations too as George I, George II etc. But we do not come across the name Manatunga before 3 C V S.
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Rahasya Darshan