Bruhat Shanti Stotra

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided text from the "Bruhat Shanti Stotra" in English:

The "Bruhat Shanti Stotra" is a highly revered and influential hymn within the Jain tradition. It was composed by Acharya Shri Shantishuri, a prominent figure from the 11th century, also known as Vadi Vetal (meaning "Vetal of Debate").

The text acknowledges that there are significant differences between the currently popular recitations of this Stotra and those found in palm-leaf manuscripts. It is suggested that the original composition might have been shorter, and additions may have been made over time. Notably, the currently prevalent recitation begins with a verse in the Mandakranta meter starting with "Bho Bho Bhavya" (Oh, auspicious ones!) and concludes with "Shivamastu" (May there be peace). The verses like "Nrityanti Nrityam" and "Aham Tirthkaramay" are not present in the currently circulated version, which is an important observation.

The printed recitation presented here is derived from a palm-leaf manuscript (numbered 125) found in the Shri Shantinath Ancient Palm-leaf Repository in Khambhat. This manuscript is estimated to have been written in the early 16th century, according to Muni Punyavijayji. This suggests that the text, as presented, was in circulation during the 16th or possibly even the 15th century.

The "Brihat Shanti Path" (Great Peace Recitation) begins with an invocation that describes a celestial event:

• It begins with the proclamation, "Bho Bho Bhavya Lokaa!" (Oh, auspicious people!).
• It details how, after the birth of all Tirthankaras (Jinas) in India, without any disruption, Saudharmendra, the king of the gods, along with all other gods and demons, comes to the divine birthplace.
• They reverently lift the great Acharya (Bhattaraka) and take him to the summit of Kanakadri (Mount Meru).
• There, they perform the birth consecration ceremony and announce peace.
• The speaker then declares their own adherence to this tradition ("Nato aham kritanukar iti kritva") and, identifying with the multitude ("Mahajano yena sangatah sa pantha" - The path followed by the majority is the correct one), joins with the auspicious people.
• They then perform a ritual bath (snatra) on a sacred platform and proclaim peace.

The Stotra then proceeds with a series of invocations for peace and well-being, which can be summarized as follows:

• Praise of the Tirthankaras: It calls for the Tirthankaras (Jinas) from Rishabh (Adinath) to Vardhaman (Mahavira) to bestow peace. It specifically lists the 24 Tirthankaras by name: Rishabh, Ajit, Sambhava, Abhinandan, Sumati, Padmaprabha, Suparshva, Chandraprabha, Suvidhi, Shital, Shreyans, Vasupujya, Vimal, Ananta, Dharma, Shanti, Kuntthu, Arnath, Mallinath, Munisuvrata, Nami, Arishtanemi, Parshva, and Vardhamana.
• Protection: It prays for the monks and great monks to protect the listeners from enemies, destruction, famine, and wilderness.
• Blessings for Prosperity: It invokes blessings of Shri, Hri (modesty), Dhriti (fortitude), Kirti (fame), Buddhi (intellect), Lakshmi (wealth), Medha (memory), and Vidya (knowledge) for success in new ventures and residences, acknowledging the greatness of the victorious Jinas.
• Peace for the Sangha: It prays for peace for the entire Chatur-varna (fourfold community) of the Jain Sangha, including Acharyas, Upadhyayas, monks, and nuns.
• Peace for Celestial Bodies and Deities: It calls for peace from the celestial bodies (Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu, Ketu) and the Lokapalas (guardians of the directions) like Soma (Moon), Yama (Death), Varuna (Water), Kubera (Wealth), Vasava (Indra), Skanda (Kartikeya), and Vinayaka (Ganesha). It also invokes peace from village and city deities.
• Well-being of Rulers and Subjects: It prays for the rulers (Narapatayaha) to have inexhaustible wealth and treasuries, and for them, along with their sons, brothers, friends, wives, relatives, and kin, to be perpetually filled with joy and delight.
• Overcoming Afflictions: It specifically prays for the cessation of diseases, calamities, suffering, sorrow, and mental anguish for all beings residing in this earthly realm, including Sadhus, Sadhvis, Shravaks, and Shravikas (male and female householders).
• General Blessings: It wishes for increase, satisfaction, nourishment, prosperity, and auspicious celebrations to be constant. It also asks for sins to be destroyed, troubles to subside, and enemies to turn away (expressed with "Svaha").
• Salutation to Shantinath: It offers salutations to the glorious Shantinath, the bestower of peace, who is worshipped with the crowns of the kings of the three worlds.
• Further Declarations of Peace: Two verses further emphasize that Shantinath is the giver of peace, and those who have peace in their homes will always have peace. Another verse states that by removing afflicted and malevolent planetary positions, bad dreams, and inauspicious omens, prosperity is achieved through peace.
• Peace for Various Groups: The text explicitly requests peace for the entire Sangha, cities, provinces, kingdoms, and the leaders of assemblies.
• Universal Well-being: It concludes with wishes for peace for the Sangha, for the rulers, and for the provinces. It declares, "Shivamastu Sarva Jagataḥ" (May there be peace for all the world), and prays for all beings to be benevolent and for all flaws to be destroyed, leading to happiness for everyone everywhere.

The text ends by stating the "Shanti Mantra" (peace mantra) is complete and notes the manuscript has 25 pages of text.