Nav Smarana

Author(s): Vinod Kapashi
Publisher: Vinod Kapashi

Page 94

merely removed four verses. They further say that the total number of yantra diagrams discovered is forty-eight and not forty-four. Even the Shvetämbaras have accepted forty-eight diagrams. This proves that the Bhaktämara had forty-eight verses and not forty-four.
One cannot arrive at a certain definite conclusion on these arguments. Both the Shvetämbaras and Digambaras almost worship the Bhaktämara Stotra and to suggest that one of the two sects has altered it, is enough to be branded as having a partiality towards any one sect.
Whatever the fact, there is no harm in having the Bhaktămara Stotra of forty-eight verses. This, like the Kalyan Mandir Stotra, makes it the Stotra of the eight pratihäryas. The other four verses in the Digambara version are also quite beautiful and glorify the pratihäryas aspect in a style, which befits the whole objective.
It may be noted here that the Sthänakväsi Sect also believes that the Bhaktämara Stotra contains forty-eight verses.
2/1.4
Types of Fear in the Bhaktämara Stotra
We have discussed types of fear in Part No 1. The following eight fears have been mentioned in the Bhaktämara Stotra
1. Fear of elephants. 2. Fear of lions. 3. Fear of fire. 4. Fear of snakes. 5. Fear of war. 6. Fear of water (travelling by boat). 7. Fear of disease. 8. Fear of imprisonment.
Mäntungächärya has composed both the Bhaktämara and the Namiuna Stotras. But the types of fear mentioned in both these stotras are not the same. Seven of the eight fears are common to both stotras. However the Namiuna Stotra (The fifth recitation in our study) mentions the fear of thieves and robbers whereas the Bhaktämara Stotra has mentioned the fear of imprisonment as the eighth fear.
There may be reasons for that. Both the stotras were composed at a different time in different places. People's feelings always vary from place to place and time to time. This may be the reason why different fears have been enumerated in the stotras.
There is another strong reason for mentioning the fear of imprisonment or binding in chains in the Bhaktämara Stotra. It is recorded in many places that Mäntungacharya composed the Bhaktämara Stotra to free himself from the chains, which were binding him. This way freedom from the chains had to be mentioned. In the case of the Namiuna Stotra, it is said that Mäntungächärya composed this Stotra to get rid of his own disease. He was not tied or imprisoned by anybody. Therefore he did not mention imprisonment as one of the eight fears. The Bhaya-hara Stotra mentions the