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Role of Bhaktamara : The recitation of this Stotra plays an important role in destroying the bad karma and samskaras accumulated in the past births. The use of the two words 'entire darkness' (asesam andhakaram) and 'destruction-quickly' (asu-nasam) by the author of the Stotra in the verse quoted is significant in this regard. The author hopes that the entire darkness, of people who recite it daily, will be destroyed and will be filled by light.
The binding karmas alone are referred to as darkness. The jnanavaraniya-karma which obstructs knowledge and covers the light of knowledge too is referred to by the word darkness (andhakara). The feelings of 'T' and 'mine' too are darkness only. Indiscriminateness, failure, hopelessness, poverty and every such thing can be conceived as darkness from ordinary human angle. The greatness of Bhaktamara is such that its worship will destroy in no time, any darkness
FAITH AND CONFIDENCE
We come across many guidelines in the sacred literature regarding the worship of Bhaktamara. The commentators and ritualists have left us enough guidelines to be followed. All of them stress the one indispensable trait viz., the faith in the worshipped. Faith and confidence are the essential elements of any worship. Regarding faith and confidence a story is doing the rounds in religious circles.
A devotee of Rama used to recite the name of Rama and used to throw stones in the water and they floated. On hearing it Rama became curious and wanted to test it. He threw a stone. It drowned. The devotee told him, "You are Ram and your name also is Ram. But you are curious to know the power your name commands. But you don't have faith and you don't have the unshakable confidence that it will get us things done. The stone floats not because of Ram but because of faith in Ram. i.e., not just by the worshipped but by the faith in the worshipped".
Unshakable faith in Adinatha is the secret of the worship of Bhaktamara. What is the use of recitation if the devotees do not have the feeling that "I'm the Soul" and resolve and desire to become paramatman ? The conviction "I'm the Soul" will strengthen our faith in jiva-ajiva, punya, papa, asrava, bandha and the resolve that "I should become paramatman develops the faith in samvara, nirjara and moksa and a confidence that he will get it. Thus when one is able to feel all the nine categories in oneself then the worship really becomes a happy augury. No worship done with doubts as to its efficacy or with curiosity or to test the same can bear fruit.
Faith and confidence are the central pillars of any worship. (cf. So'ham tathapi tava bhakti-vasan munindra kartum stavam - verse-5) The strengthened confidence in the emotion filled mind takes the form of devotion. When faith and confidence manifest itself in practice with a pleasant mind with unswerving words and a steadfastness then the devotion will be manifest. With the manifestation of higher instinct of devotion, faith gets confirmed and appears as if speaking. The devotion does not remain just passive. It becomes manifest. That is why the author says the God does not expect anything other than devotion to praise Him.
This statement "I have commenced (with devotion alone as qualification) though not competent" (verse-7), is the clarion call of this work. The devotees and readers of Bhaktamara will never say, "what can I do', 'I'm not strong', 'I don't have facilities', 'people now-a-days are weak', 'How can I worship', 'The times are bad" and such other weak-kneed arguments.
A beautiful example of what love and devotion can make one do is given in the verse. The e.g., of a deer. A faultless unsuspect unsupported deer. But see how it dares the lion. Indeed he who had a chance to look at such a scene in the forest must be fortunate one.
The heart of the person who tries to understand the significance of this verse will definitely wake up to the idea of fearlessness. And whom the devotee is afraid of ? Is he afraid of death? Even a wild deer is not afraid of it. Thus the author exhorts the devotees to live with confidence as a life without self-confidence is reduced to mere existence only and the man can not be said to be living
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