Jain Legend Vol 2

Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana

Page 305

crya M natumga
After rya M na Deva,
rya M natumga was considered as a very influential c rya. He was the son of a merchant Dhana Deva, a Brahmin Ksatriya and an inhabitant of Varanasi. Once, some Digambara Jain monks camped in Varanasi. Listening to their sermons, M natumga got averted from the luxuries of worldly life and took initiation from C ruk rti. Later on, he took initiation into vet mbara sect from c rya Ajita Simha.
Once, King Har a impressed by the power of knowledge of the scholars May ra and B a, invited c rya M natumga to his court with due
respect.
c rya M natumga reached the royal palace. The king offered humble salutations and said, "O Reverend Soul! How great are these Brahmins! One Brahmin cured his leprosy by worshipping the Sun god, whereas the other (Ba) regained his severed arms and legs by worshipping goddess Ca dik. If you too have any such magical powers, please demonstrate them to me."
c rya M natumga replied, "O King! We are not householders who entertain the kings to earn cash and kind for the sake of children and wives. We work only for the ethical and spiritual upliftment of the public.
The annoyed King ordered, “Chain him and throw him into a dungeon”.
The soldiers chained him with 44 iron chains, threw him into a dark dungeon and locked him. c rya M natumga did not show even the slightest agitation; instead he impromptu started praying the primordial Lord V abha Deva .The said prayer became the famous Bhakt mara Stotra. No sooner did he complete the 44th sloka of the stotra, the locks and the doors opened automatically and his 44 chains broke open and he appeared in the royal court.
Impressed and delighted by his practice of detachment and penance, and the brilliance of his miraculous power, King Har a became an ardent devotee of c rya M natumga. The 'Bhakt mara Stotra' composed by
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