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He was an exceptionally intelligent Jain monk and was considered as a conqueror of all religious cum philosophical debates with renowned scholars of all religions. He was thus known as Vādirāja or the king of debaters'. He belonged to the Cālukya kingdom (King Jai Singh 1st in 12th century AD. Even though he was inflicted with leprosy, he had a very large following of disciples. One day in the court of King Jai Singh some courtiers made fun of Vădirāja as a leper and ridiculed all the Jain naked monks. Angered by such statements, the treasurer who was a staunch follower of Vādirāja said that Vădirāja has a body of gold and the courtier is lying. The king decided to visit Vādirāja next day.
Immediately the treasurer went to Vădirāja and told the entire episode to him. Vādirāja consoled the treasurer and asked him not to worry. At night Vādirāja composed the devotional poem known as Ekībhāvastotra and had his body completely free from leprosy. Next day the king visited Vādirāja and was amazed to see the lustrous golden body of Vādirāja. He ordered the courtiers who defamed Vādirāja to be punished. However Vādirāja asked the king to forgive all by introducing the king to the Jain doctrine of karma, devotion, right faith etc. The king became a firm believer of Jain doctrine and forgave all the culprits. Ekābhāvastotra is to date also considered like a panacea for eliminating all the diseases including leprosy by Jains. I give below two stanzas which talk about leprosy.
Your thoughts pervading the mind, the tears of happiness and happy recitation of the mantras during the prayers result in the departure of deeply entrenched dreadful diseases and leave the body healthy and happy34
The touch of the wind (flowing after touching Lord's body) causes all the diseases from the body disappear. When the mind is meditating on Thee, there is nothing impossible which cannot be cured.35
34 Ananda ansū vadana dhoyen jo tuma cit äne/
Gadgada sura son suyasa mantra padhi pūjä thanain/ Take bahuvidhi vyadhi vyala cirakāla niväsil Bhajen thanaka choda deha bambai ke väsill3|| 35 Prabhutana parvata parasa pavana ura men nibahain hail
Täso tatachina sakala rogaraja vāhiar hainl Jäke dhyanāhūta baso ura ambuja mahinl Kona jagat upakāra -kārana samaratha so nahinll1011
STUDY NOTES version 5.0
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