Book Title: Nav Smarana
Author(s): Vinod Kapashi
Publisher: Vinod Kapashi

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Page 120
________________ This story has an element of rivalry that prevailed between the Buddhists and Jains in the period around the first century AD. The incident narrated here can also be found in the Pattävali, a historic document on the chronology of Jain monks. That shows that the monk Khaputächärya did exist during first century AD. The story is similar. however, one important thing that what Khaputächärya managed to do was achieved due to recitation of verse No 22 of the Bhaktämara Stotra, which is not mentioned in the Pattävali. The incident is as follows: One Buddhist scholar by the name of Bahukar was defeated by a scholarly Jain monk (Bhuvanmuni) in the interpretation of religious matters. Bahukar died with the feelings of inferiority and with feelings of revenge for his defeat. He was born as a yaksha and was instrumental in causing obstacles to Jains. Some Jains went to Khaputächärya and requested him to save them from the continuous harassment caused by the yaksha. Khaputächärya went to the temple where an idol of the yaksha was installed. Khaputächärya did not pay his respects to the idol but there on the floor he lay down in a manner that his feet were touching the idol of the yaksha. On seeing this sign of utter disrespect, some angry people complained to the king of the town. The king ordered his servants to wake Khaputächärya up and teach him a lesson. The servants tried to wake the Achärya but were not successful as Khaputachärya was only pretending that he was fast asleep. The servants then in anger started beating the Acharya with sticks but nothing happened to him. Meanwhile the king got a report from his palace that his queens were in pain as if someone had hit them with sticks. The king at once knew that in fact nothing had happened to Khaputächärya but the sticks due to miraculous power hurt his own queens. The king went to see the Ächärya and bowed to him. The king also requested the Acharya to get rid of the evil yaksha from the temple. The Acharya by his power, which was achieved due to the Bhaktämara Stotra, managed to remove the yaksha from the temple. Story No 11 (About Verse No 23) This story too pertains to the accomplishment by Khaputächärya. By worshipping with the 23rd verse he made Chakreshvari appear before him, and she gave him the boon to drive away the evil spirits. Story No 12 (About Verse No. 20-25) The story deals with Jitasatru, King of Sauryapura. The queens in his harem were possessed by ghosts and goblins. However, the queens were freed from the spell of ghosts by using the water consecrated by a Achärya called Shäntisuri. It is said that verses Nos. 20 to 25 are called the Soori-Mantra or those verses contain the Soorimantra. Some believe that the hidden mantra in these verses is called the Chintämani mantra. The greatness of the Chintämani-mantra is described in the Namiuna Stotra, 120

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