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INTRODUCTION
SRI MANATUNGASURI (Circa 7th Century A. D.)
We then come to Sri Manatungasūri who was a contemporary of Bana and Mayura and composed Bhaktamarastotra to show that the Jains also possessed magical powers. Mayura composed his famous hymn in praise of the Sun to remove leprosy from which he was suffering. Bāņa Vying with him composed his famous hymn Candisataka in praise of Candi through whose favour his hands and legs which had been got amputated were miraculously joined to his body as if nothing had happened to him. Manatungasūri was invited by the king to his Court at the instance of his minister who had informed the former that the Jains also possessed miraculous powers. Manatungasūri when requested in the Court to show some miracle said: "Like house-holders we do not do anything of the sort for money having taken a vow of poverty, but merely to show that Jains are not devoid of such powers I also shall perform a miracle." He asked the king to put him in a prison chained and locked with as many locks as he liked. It is said that 48 locks were put on the chains and he was locked up in a prison. He then commenced composing the famous hymn in praise of Lord Rṣabhadeva now known as Bhaktamarastotra which originally consisted of 48 verses. As he composed and recited each verse one of the locks broke open till all of them broke and the prison doors also flew open and he walked out amidst the applause of all. He has also composed the famous Bhayaharastotra popularly known as Namiuņa stotra. It contains the famous Cintamaṇimantra of Srī Pārsvanātha. It is intended to remove all kinds of fear and diseases. He has also composed the famous PancaParameşti stotra called 'Bhattibbhara' from its first words. This Acharya flourished in the 7th century of the Vikrama era being a contemporary of the King Sri Harṣa. The tendency to impress and win over kings through miraculous powers and by their friendship to propagate the Jain religion can be noted in Manatungasūri's biography. His performing the miracle mentioned above would not be justified
