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FOREWORD
This work, "Bhaktamara Darshan", is the result of the long time labour, and even a command of our preceptor. I can say it is a childhood dream too. Yes, my mind goes to the days of my stay at Ideal school, situated in Maganbaug, Bombay. I was doing fifth standard at that time. The very first day the Sanskrit teacher taught us the rhyme
Bho! bho! balah samskrtabhasa sulabha Kim va durbodha va ? Sulabha sulabha na ca durbodha bala evam vidhina pathita. When we children recited the verse in houses our parents asked us, "Is Sanskrit that easy ?" A few of us, I remember well even now, who were together answered in a loud chorus, "Yes".
Yes. Sanskrit is not at all difficult. Educationists and politicians may continue to debate over its need or otherwise. But it is the language of Indian culture and civilisation and once a lingua franca of our motherland. and its importance can never be exaggerated for a clear understanding of our culture, religion and philosophy. The rhyme which I learnt at the very young age exercised an influence over me and I wanted to prosecute my studies further. The Metriculation syllabus of Board of Secondary Education, Bombay contained sections of Bhavadeva Suri's Sri Parsvanathacarita, stories of Parvamitra, Nityamitra etc. The board used to prescribe such stories every year. The selection was so good, the teachers taught us so well, that I remember them even now and use them in my discourses. The stories enthused me to learn more about these stories, the literature and more Sanskrit. The foundation for my future Sanskrit and jain studies was laid in my school days. I offer my thanks to my teachers.
The desire to know more about Jainism and Sanskrit led me to my senior schoolmates for discussions and for the first time I heard the name Bhaktamara then. The subhamuhurat in which I had heard the name, has brought me to this day to edit a work on Bhaktamara and present it to you. The Bhaktamara Stotra is such a great work that it attracts all, high and low, rich and poor, learned and illiterate to it. Attracted by the lilting beauty of Bhaktamara I memorised it in no time.
However sonorous the words may sound, enchanting the beauty of metre, a knowledge of the sense and an understanding of the meaning of any work will make it all the more easier to memorise the work. It also helps the people remember it for long. Any recitation done with the knowledge of sahitya is altogether a different experience. I could experience the joy of Bhaktamara recitation in the Motisha temple at Byculla in Bombay during my first caturmasa as a sadhu. My Rev. preceptor Sri Vikramasurisvarji used to recite this during his Navsmaran japa. If by any chance if he were not in a position to do it, made some one recite navsmarana in the evening and attended it.
Geeeeeeee........ 6ēēēēē6000
I did not get a chance to discuss with my Guru why he was attracted so much towards Bhaktamara though he paid equal attention all the texts of Navasmaran. He used to recite the verse, "kuntagrabhinna" during the
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Jain Education Infernational 2010 04
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