15 Ma Shatak Ma Be Navprapta Stotro

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "15 ma Shatak ma Be Navprapta Stotro" by Muni Krutpunyasagarji, based on the provided PDF excerpts:

This scholarly work, edited by Muni Krutpunyasagarji, presents two newly discovered devotional hymns (stotras) from the 15th century. The hymns were transcribed from a manuscript dated Samvat 1513 (CE 1457) and have been meticulously corrected for grammatical and stylistic errors with the assistance of Sanskrit scholars Pandita Mrigendranath Jha and Shri Amrut Patel. Shri Patel further refined them by comparing them with another manuscript, cataloged as No. 29444.

The author suggests that both hymns likely originated from a single muni (ascetic) belonging to the lineage of Acharya Somasundarsuri, a prominent figure of the Tapagachchha sect. Both stotras are characterized by "yamakam," a poetic device involving the use of the same word with different meanings or pronunciations.

The First Hymn: Shri Parshvajinastotra

• Subject: This hymn is dedicated to Parshvanatha, the 23rd Tirthankara.
• Structure: It is composed in an "ashtaka" format (eight verses) written in the "Vanshastha" meter. An additional ninth verse, in the "Shardulavikridita" meter, is appended as a concluding note.
• Attribution: While the author's name is not explicitly stated in the main body, the concluding note mentions Guru Somasundar. The inscription below the date of writing clarifies this further: "Shri Somasundarsuri's disciple, Shri Mahopadhyaya Shri Somadevasuri, has composed this."
• Content: The verses praise the physical and spiritual qualities of Parshvanatha, highlighting his role as a protector and bestower of happiness and liberation. The hymn emphasizes the devotion and reverence he commands from all beings, including deities like Indra. It also contrasts the futility of worldly knowledge with the supreme wisdom gained through devotion to the Tirthankara.

The Second Hymn: Shri Ranpur-Chaturmukha-Yugadi-Deva-Stavam

• Subject: This hymn is dedicated to the renowned Chaturmukha Vihara (also known as Dharan Vihara) at Ranakpur, specifically to Adinatha (Rishabhanatha), the first Tirthankara, who is the deity enshrined in this temple.
• Structure: This hymn is also in an "ashtaka" format, but composed in the "Arya" meter.
• Attribution: The inscription accompanying the date of writing states: "Composed by Shri Somadevasuri, disciple of Shri Mattar Prabhu Shri Somadevasuri, who is the disciple of Shri Somadevasuri." This reinforces the attribution to Somadevasuri. The ninth verse mentions "Somasundara-prabha" and "Jayachandra," hinting at a possible disciple named Jayachandra, but the primary attribution remains with Somadevasuri.
• Content: The verses describe the grandeur and significance of the Ranakpur temple and its presiding deity, Adinatha. They speak of the spiritual benefits derived from visiting and worshipping at this sacred site, emphasizing the attainment of liberation and the dispelling of sins. The hymn portrays the temple as a magnificent abode of spiritual radiance and a source of immense merit.

Overall Significance:

The publication of these two newly discovered stotras is a significant contribution to Jain scholarship. They shed light on the devotional literature produced during the era of Acharya Somasundarsuri and his disciples. The hymns can be considered alongside other devotional works by Somasundarsuri's disciple, Ratnashekharsuri, who also composed a hymn to the Ranakpur Chaturmukha temple around the same period. These newly found stotras enrich our understanding of the extensive body of praise and devotional hymns created by Acharya Somasundarsuri and his prominent disciples, further illuminating this important period in Jain history.