Kamal Panchshatika Stotram

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Kamal Panchshatika Stotram":

The "Kamal Panchshatika Stotram" is a remarkable work of Sanskrit poetry, dedicated to praising five Jain Tirthankaras. Its unique and defining feature is the ingenious integration of the word "Kamal" (lotus) into every single pada (verse/line) of each of its 130 padyas (verses). This is not a mere repetition; the word "Kamal" is used 512 times in total (128 verses x 4 padyas per verse), with each instance carrying a distinct and varied meaning.

The author, Pandit Harshakul Ganik, who historians place in the 16th century of the Vikram era, was a disciple of Gachhadhipati Shri Hemvimal Suri. He was a prolific scholar and composer, having authored numerous other works, including commentaries on the Sutrakritanga Sutra ('Dipika' tika), Mugdhabodha-Auktika, Kavikadruma, and a commentary on Kavyaprakasha.

The "Kamal Panchshatika" showcases the author's exceptional linguistic prowess, employing shlesh (puns and double meanings) and other literary devices to weave the word "Kamal" with diverse significations into the verses. This masterful use of language makes the title "Kamal Panchshatika" (meaning "A Hundred and Fifty Verses of Lotus") truly apt.

A noteworthy aspect of this stotram is that the author has also composed four verses (from 121 to 124) in Prakrit, further demonstrating his linguistic versatility by using the word "Kamal" in each line of these Prakrit verses as well.

The text is presented based on a xerox copy of a manuscript preserved in the Shri Kantivijayji Shastra Sangraha. This manuscript consists of 8 leaves, with annotations throughout. While the manuscript lacks a specific writing date, its script and certain colophons suggest it might be an original or a copy made under the author's direct supervision.

The "Kamal Panchshatika" serves as a collective hymn of praise for five Tirthankaras: Adinath, Shantinath, Neminath, Parshvanath, and Mahavir Swami. The author even suggests at various points to read the names of the other four Tirthankaras alongside the mention of one Tirthankara, enriching the devotional experience.

An excerpt of this stotram, likely comprising about 25 verses, is also recalled as having been compiled by Sarabhai Nawab in his collection of ancient Jain hymns. However, Nawab was unaware of the complete work.

The provided text includes the stotra itself, with detailed explanations and the meanings of the word "Kamal" in different contexts, often indicated by footnotes. The stotra extols the virtues, glory, and compassionate nature of the Tirthankaras, portraying them as sources of liberation, dispellers of suffering, and exemplars of spiritual perfection. The recurring "Kamal" often refers to auspiciousness, beauty, purity, divine power, and the Tirthankaras themselves, connecting them to the imagery of the lotus.

In essence, the "Kamal Panchshatika Stotram" is a testament to the intricate artistry and profound devotion of Jain literature, demonstrating how a single word can be artfully manipulated to praise the divine and convey multifaceted spiritual meanings.