Jaina Method Of Curing

Author(s): Manju Jain
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 27

Evidentual Story - 4
Deep Devotion & Faith in Child's Case
Shree Mantung Acharya took an oath to create stotras. He says that Jinendra Dev is the supreme God. The devas worship the stool where his feet rests. One should undertake a task which is with in his power. Otherwise one may have to leave it half way and become a laughing stock. “But I am so eager to worship you that I have ignored my capability".The beautiful reflection of the moon appears in water. An intelligent person would not try to go after it. But an innocent child tries to hold the reflection. My eagerness for you is just like the creator of the stotra Acharya Mantungji describes the lotus feet of Shri Adinath Bhagwan. Jewels of the crown of the devotees who bow down at the Sri Jineshwar Dev start child's. Although the Acharya is an able scholar and poet yet he considers himself small. The great glittering heavenly, due to the rays emanating from the nails of his divine feet. One crore deities (devas) are constantly at the devoted service of Jineshwar Dev, secondly the divine feet destroy sin. It means that the darkness of sin is dispelled as soon as a person bows at His feet. To purify the mind there is no more better and beautiful means than service at the Jinfeet Thirdly the divine feet are like a beautiful strong boat to carry the devotees who take refuge in them across the ocean of Samsara. Stotra creator Acharya Shri says that saints or Devas with great powers also bow reverently at the lotus feet, then who are we ordinary mortals ? A devotee wants to attain the supreme place. Namaskar comes first in this bhakti, we should not forget that
In this pad, the creator of the stotra first prostrates at the feet of his beloved first Tirthankar, Shri Adinath Bhagwan Deva where Devis also sing his glory. People never talk big because by being nothing or small we reach God whereas by feeling great (considering oneself great) God is realised much later. The Acharya further says that “Oh Adishwar you are peaceful like the virtuous ocean. Your virtues shine like the moon. Even Lord Brahaspati cannot glorify (praise) your virtues, then who am I to sing your glory ?Who can swim across a stormy ocean full of crocodiles meaning thereby who can do the impossible task, no one !Speech can not glorify even a single virtue of the tirthankar. Stavan (worship ?) is the main feature of bhakti.
Testimonial
I was in the Capri in the midst of mediterranean sea. We had hired a yacht and all of us were sailing in the middle of sea. Suddenly my friend had sea sickness and I started chanting this shloka and within few minutes her nausea stopped and she did not vomit. I was thinking in all the evidential stories a goddess devi appears whenever the devotee is chanting shloka but in my case when will goddess appear. Suddenly the guide said the boat will be passing under the arch where goddess of Capri lives and you can ask for any wish which will be fulfilled. This is the amazing power of chanting bhaktambar shloka.