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INTRODUCTION
Sri Gautamaswami the first Ganadhara of Sri Mahaviraswami. Of course the tradition also connects it with the first Lord, Sri Rsabhadeva and his Ganadhara Sri Pundarika as shown further on. There are references to Sūrimantra in all the three works above mentioned, viz. Nirvānakalikā, Vardhamāna-Vidyākalpa as well as Anubhavasiddhamantradvātrimsikā. The reference in the last named work is as Ganabhrd
-vidya (See Chapter I verse 12). It states that it originated from the mouth of Gaṇabhțd. The connection of Sri Gautama with Sūrimantra * is amply evidenced by the hymn in praise of Sūrividyā published as Appendix 29 to this work. It also states that all the numerous deities presiding over Sūrimantra make obeisance to Sri Gautama and worship his feet; and that Sri Gautama should be contemplated as seated in a golden thousand-petalled lotus possessing miraculous powers and that one who repeats the Vidyā one lac times or the Mantrarāja three lac times would be another Gautama. T stotra is included in the work containing Devendrasūri's Sūrimantrakalpa published by Sri Prītivijayaji and ascribed to Sri Māndevasūri. There is however nothing therein to connect it with Sri Mānadevasūri.
The Sūrimantra stotra by Sri Mānadevasūri (author of Laghuśānti published in Appendix 31 of this work) is historically very important. It is, however, not yet printed. We therefore give it in appendix A hereto. At the end of it occurs the name of Sri Mānadevasūri as its author. It shows that Sūrimantra with all its five Pithas or sections or divisions was practically the same in the time of Sri Manadevasūri (3rd century of Vikrama era, he having died in
* Śri Jinaprabhasūri in his hymn to Sri Gautama refers to him as 'Vidyamantraprabhava' or the source of Vidyas and Mantras. (Kavyamālā Pt. VIII P. 112).
There are several Sūrimantrakalpas by different Achäryas. One by Sri Simhatilakasūri called Mantrarājarahasya is hereafter discussed in details. Two others by Sri Jinaprabhasūri and some Achårya of Pūrņamiyaka gaccha have been published by Sri Pritivijayaji which, perhaps because printed from a single manuscript, very much lack correction.
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