________________
Mantras and Yantras Associated with the Sixth Recitation, The Ajit Shanti
4/6 Stotra
Generally people would not look at this stotra to find any mantra or yantra. This particular stotra is very different from all the other stotras in our study. The stotra is unique in one sense because it praises two Tirthankaras in alternate sets of verses. It is also unique in the sense that the stotra provides a lot of information as regards the cultural aspects of the people living during the time of the composition. The towns and villages, the people, their beliefs, their singings and musical instruments, all are mentioned in this stotra and therefore it is a treasure house of information. I have dealt with this aspect in Part 1, and therefore we will see what mantras or yantras can be found in this hymn.
It is said that every hymn sung in praise of a Tirthankara is as good as a mantra, and if it is sung with complete devotion will bring the desired results.
Bhadrankar Vijayji and Kalyan Prabh Vijayji, two famous monks have said:
'The poet of this stotra, Nandishena, bows down with utmost respect and says in verse No.3: I bow down to Ajit and Shanti (both Tirthankaras) as they (1) remove all misery, (2) remove all sins and (3) they are unconquerable (Ajit), and givers of peace (Shanti). These wordings are as good as mantras and if chanted properly, they are capable of removing all obstacles"
The two monks further say that if we look at verse No.3 of this recitation, it is made up of three sentences or three mantras, which are:
Namo Savva-dukha-ppasantinam Ajiya Santinam (I bow down to Ajitnätha and Shäntinätha as they remove all miseries)
Namo Savva-pava-ppasantinam Ajiya Santinam (I bow down to Ajitnätha and Shäntinätha as they destroy all sins)
Namo Saya Ajiya Santinam Ajiya Santinam (I bow down to Ajitnätha and Shäntinätha as they are unconquerable and givers of peace)
Apart from this mantra there is very little in terms of a mantra in this hymn. Also, there is no yantra associated with this stotra.
The diagram given below is not a yantra but one, which shows the beauty of the poem. This type of diagram is called the chitra-bandha. To understand the chitrabandha, let us see verse No 4.
The original verse is:
Ajiya-Jina Suhappavattanam Tava purisottama nama kittanam taha ya dhii-mai-ppavattanam
161
