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Stories Of The Sadhu
Jain Education International
Jain Society of Greater Detroit
PRATISHTHA MAHOTSAV JUNE 27-JULY 6 1998 ARS
MANTUNGSURI (V.S. 6)
III
Mantungsuri
was the most influential person of his era and was therefore invited by King Bhoj to his kingdom of Dhara Nagri. The pandits of Dhara came to welcome him with a pot filled to the brim with ghee, suggesting that there was no room for yet another scholar. The Suriji put a stick in the pot, conveying to them that he would be making a place for himself amongst the pandits of the dharmasabha. The king was most impressed with the pandits Ban and Mayur and he challenged Mantungsuri to show some special powers. Suriji was locked in a jail cell with 44 shackles. Through his worship of Aadeshvarji, he created the "Bhaktamar Sutra" and as he wrote, a shackle broke for each stanza he created. Upon finishing the 44th stanza of the sutra, and with the help of Chakreshvaridevi, he was free, impressing the king, the pandits and all the subjects of the kingdom. This everlasting "Bhaktamar Sutra" is one of the most frequently recited, even today.
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