Bahotteriona Padono Sangraha

The book "Bahotteriona Padono Sangraha" (Collection of Songs of the Seventy-Two) is a compilation of devotional songs and verses attributed to two prominent Jain spiritual figures, Mahamuni Shri Anandghanji and Shri Chidanandji.

Published by Shravak Bhimsinh Manek in Bombay in 1915 (Samvat 1971), this is the fourth edition of the work. The publisher, Shravak Bhimsinh Manek, and the printer, Ramchandra Yesu Shedge from Nirnaya Sagar Press, aimed to make this collection accessible and beneficial to the Jain community.

The preface highlights the universal appeal of devotional music and the power of music to uplift the spirit and provide solace. It mentions that people from various faiths, including Jainism, Vishnuism, and Buddhism, find joy and solace in devotional singing. The songs in this collection are noted to be set in various traditional Indian ragas like Bhairavi, Malkosh, Dhanyashri, Sarang, and Kalyan, and are suitable for accompaniment with instruments like the sitar and harmonium.

The compiler, Shravak Bhimsinh Manek, emphasizes his effort to gather and present these poems by Shri Anandghanji and Shri Chidanandji with accuracy and clarity. The collection contains a total of 177 poems, covering themes of knowledge (Jnana), devotion (Bhakti), detachment (Vairagya), dharma (righteousness), spirituality (Adhyatma), and self-realization (Svanubhuti). The preface expresses the hope that reading these poems will bring immense joy and inspire devotion to the divine.

The book also includes a section dedicated to the 24 Jinas (Tirthankaras), suggesting a focus on the core principles of Jainism. The compiler mentions that this edition has been revised, presented in larger print, and made more accessible, with the original price maintained to encourage wider readership.

The book concludes with a Kshamapan (request for forgiveness), acknowledging any errors that might have occurred due to limitations in transcription or eyesight, and asking for the readers' understanding and corrections.

The table of contents is extensive, listing the poems categorized by the ragas (musical modes) they are intended to be sung in. This detailed index provides a comprehensive overview of the collection's structure and content, with each poem listed by its number, name, and page number. The sheer volume of ragas and poems suggests a rich and varied devotional repertoire.

In essence, "Bahotteriona Padono Sangraha" is a significant compilation of Jain devotional poetry intended to inspire spiritual growth, devotion, and inner peace through the medium of music and contemplative verses.