Jain Spirit 2003 12 No 17

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 58

HISTORY
BREAK ALL CHAINS
Devendra Kumar Jain explains why the Bhaktamar Stotra,
an epic poem is timeless
HAKTAMAR-STOTRA IS ESSENTIALLY A WORK | room was fastened with 44 strong cross bars. Then the R of devotion. Jains across the globe, irrespective of their Acharya started composing and reciting the Bhaktamar
sects or sub-sects, have high respect for it. The majority stotra. During the process, a miracle took place. All 44 of them believe that Bhaktamar-Stotra is a saviour of the last chains were broken and all forms of bondage and resort. It may not be an exaggeration to say that the Stotra hindrances were removed divinely. Seeing this great ranks first for its popularity among all the stotras of Sanskrit, miracle, the King became a Jain. Prakrit and Apabhransh. When Jina worship is viewed from Here I would like to introduce the alternative story of the Karma Theory of Jainism, the recitation of any devotional the Digambara tradition. King Bhoj of Ujjain (Dhaar) was hymn (with unity of emotion) can bring quantifiable benefits to very fond of learning and poetry. He patronised many great the worshiper. The process of recitation is considered to be scholars in his court and Vararuchi was foremost of them. Dharma Dhyan, which is capable of stopping the influx of Vararuchi's son-in-law, Duryash was initially an illiterate inauspicious karmas and can bring auspicious ones. and with the blessings of Goddess Kali, he became Kalidas.
Besides being popular among Jains, it equally attracts Kalidas was very famous for his Sanskrit poetry and intellectuals for the poetic beauty of classical Sanskrit. The scriptural knowledge. The King was highly influenced by subject matter is very impressive, too. The composition of the his wisdom and learning, and Kalidas became a prominent verses (Shlokas) is lucid and the literary genius is quite figure in the court of King Bhoj. apparent. The various symbols used in the composition are One fine day, Kalidas persuaded the King to have a unique and related to the attributes of a Jina, the first debate with Acharya Manatung. Accordingly, the King Tirthankara Adinath. Traditional stories about miracles invited Acharya Manatung in his court, which the Acharya associated with the Stotra have also contributed to its refused. The Acharya was summoned by the King but he popularity. All these facts have ensured the unanimous disregarded the summons outright saying that he was a acceptance of the Bhaktamar-Stotra among Jains. It was Muni (did not possess anything) and was not bound by any composed by Acharya Manatung. According to Prabhachandra summons by any person of any sort. This greatly annoyed Suri, he was born and brought up in Varanasi. His father was the King. As a result, he ordered the arrest of Acharya Dhanadev. Initially, he was a Digambara Muni Mahakirti. Manatung and put him behind bars (48 cross bars) fettered Subsequently due to some reason, he joined the Shvetambara with heavy chains of iron. He remained in the terrible tradition and was renamed as Manatung by Acharya Jit Singh. prison for three days and composed the Bhaktamar-Stotra. After this conversion, he composed the Bhaktamar-Stotra. On the fourth day, while reciting the Stotra, all 48 cross bars
Acharya Prabhachandra (a Digambara Archarya and were broken and the fetters fell off. He came out of prison commentator of the Kriya-Kalap text) has given another unhindered. The King and Kalidas both realised their version of Manatung's life. He writes that Manatung was mistake and tendered an apology to the Acharya. Both had initially a Shvetambara muni. Once, when he was suffering seen the divine powers of Acharya Manatung. from a dreadful disease, with the help of a Digambara Acharya It is presumed that since then, the Bhaktamar-Stotra has he got rid of that disease. Consequently he became the follower become a source of imponderable strength for the Jains. It of the Digambara tradition and composed the famous is also mentioned in the story that Goddess Chakreshwari Bhaktamar-Stotra. By subtracting the sectarian influence of Devi, who was benevolently associated with the career of both these versions, we can get a fair account of its accept- the first Tirthankara, the main deity of the Bhaktamarability in both traditions. That is the key point in both stories. Stotra, helped the Acharya with the miracle. These demi
The first story is based on the Prabhavak-charita text gods and goddesses (Yaksh and Yakshini) can be reached out (Shvetambara tradition). Mayur and Baan (two famous by imploring some complex procedures of Mantra-Vidya. Sanskrit poets) were patrons of King Sriharsh of Varanasi. The nomenclature of the Stotra is derived from the When the king was praising Brahmins for their superiority, one initial word of the first shloka of the stotra. In some minister added that the Jain Acharya Manatung had divine manuscripts, it is also referred to as the Adinath Stotra. In powers and in-depth knowledge. The king invited Acharya Jain hymnology, most stotras are named after the starting Manatung to his court and challenged him to prove his divine word, like the Svayambhu Stotra by Acharya powers. While complying with the King's order, he made Samantabhadra and the Kalyan-Mandir Stotra by Acharya himself a prisoner in a dark room fettered with iron chains. The Kumudachandra.
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Jain Spirit . December 2003 - February 2004
Jain Education Interational 2010_03