Mantungasuri - Book Summary | JainGPT

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, focusing on Acharya Mantungasuri and briefly touching upon Acharya Jinvhadhragani Kshamashraman and Acharya Jinvdasagani Mahattar:

Mantungasuri: A Beacon of Jainism

This text primarily discusses the life and achievements of Acharya Mantungasuri, a highly influential figure in the Jain tradition, renowned for his devotional poetry, particularly the Bhaktamara Stotra.

Early Life and Dual Initiation:

Acharya Mantungasuri was born in Varanasi to Dhanadeva, a member of the Brahmakshatriya lineage. His family was religiously inclined, and he received good spiritual upbringing from his father.
A pivotal moment in his life was hearing the discourse of Digambara Jain monks, which led to his renunciation of worldly life. With his parents' permission, he took diksha (initiation) as a Digambara monk, receiving the name Mahakirti.
During his monastic life, while on gochari (alms rounds) at the house of Seth Lakshmidhar (his sister's husband), his sister, a follower of the Shvetambara tradition, described the Shvetambara monastic practices.
Inspired by this, Acharya Mantungasuri sought out the Shvetambara Acharya Jinsinghasuri. He was deeply impressed by his teachings and renounced his Digambara initiation to embrace the Shvetambara monastic path. Upon becoming a Shvetambara monk, he was given his original name, Mantungamuni.

Ascension to Acharya and Encounter with King Harshadeva:

Acharya Mantungasuri studied the Jain Agamas with great concentration under his guru and soon became a distinguished scholar. His guru recognized his merit and appointed him as an Acharya, leading to his fame as Mantungasuri.
During his time, Varanasi was ruled by King Harshadeva, who greatly respected scholars and poets. The text mentions the renowned poets Mayur and Ban, who were highly honored in the king's court for their extraordinary abilities.
The King's Jain minister advised him to invite Acharya Mantungasuri to the court, stating that Jain scholars also possessed miraculous powers and could fulfill the king's curiosity.
When invited, Acharya Mantungasuri initially declined, stating that monks detached from worldly desires have no need for such displays. However, the minister persuaded him, emphasizing that showcasing such abilities would elevate the prestige of Jainism.

The Miracle of the Bhaktamara Stotra:

Acharya Mantungasuri accepted the invitation to the royal court. King Harshadeva, influenced by accounts of Brahmins performing miracles, challenged Mantungasuri to demonstrate his own powers. He recounted how one Brahmin cured a skin disease by worshipping the Sun, and another reattached severed limbs by worshipping Chandika Devi.
Mantungasuri reiterated his detachment from worldly displays and his focus on spiritual liberation. This response prompted King Harshadeva to have him bound with 44 iron chains and imprisoned in a dark cell.
Though unwilling to display his powers for worldly gain, Mantungasuri was moved to act for the glory of the Jain faith. He became engrossed in reciting praises of the Jineshwara. He composed 44 verses of the Bhaktamara Stotra, each verse filled with immense devotion.
As he recited each verse, the iron chains and locks miraculously broke, freeing him. He then proceeded to the royal court and addressed the king with gentle words.
The king was profoundly impressed by this miraculous event and Acharya Mantungasuri's composure and devotion. He declared himself fortunate and pledged to accept Mantungasuri's teachings, requesting his guidance.
Under Acharya Mantungasuri's guidance, King Harshadeva undertook many initiatives for the advancement of Jainism and ultimately embraced the faith himself.

Legacy and Literary Contributions:

Acharya Mantungasuri is remembered as a brilliant Acharya who greatly illuminated the Jain faith. He imparted profound teachings to his disciples, making them capable.
He attained siddhigati (liberation) through ingini anashan (a specific type of fasting) after entrusting his position to his disciple Gunakar.
His poetic talent was unparalleled, with each of his verses exuding deep devotion.
His known compositions are the Bhaktamara Stotra and the Bhayahara Stotra.

The Bhaktamara Stotra:

Named for its opening word, this stotra is composed in the Vasantatilaka meter and praises Lord Rishabhadeva. Each verse is an embodiment of extraordinary devotion.
The text notes the clear influence of Acharya Siddhasen Divakar's "Kalyanmandir Stotra" on the Bhaktamara Stotra.
This stotra remains popular today, with countless monks, nuns, and lay followers reciting it regularly. Many scholars have written commentaries and translated it into various languages.

The Bhayahara (Namishran) Stotra:

This is a Prakrit composition by Acharya Mantungasuri, consisting of 21 verses praising Lord Parshvanatha.
Its creation is linked to a significant event where Mantungasuri fell ill. Believing his illness would not subside, he decided to fast. He then invoked Lord Dharanendra, who appeared and gave him an 18-syllable mantra. Based on this mantra, Mantungasuri composed the Bhayahara Stotra, which helped him recover from his illness. This stotra is also extant today.

Chronological Context:

According to the Prabhavak Charitra, Acharya Mantungasuri was a contemporary of King Harshadeva of Kashi, whose coronation is dated to 608 CE. Therefore, Acharya Mantungasuri is estimated to have lived in the 12th century of the Vir Nirvana era (7th century of Vikram era).

Brief Mention of Other Acharyas:

The text also briefly mentions:

Acharya Jinvhadhragani Kshamashraman: Described as a distinguished commentator, holding a significant place among commentators. His nine works are listed, including the Visheshavashyak Bhashya and Nishith Bhashya. He was born in 1011 VS, attained the position of Yugapradhan in 1025 VS, and passed away in 1115 VS at the age of 104. He began writing a Sanskrit commentary on the Visheshavashyak Bhashya, which was completed by Acharya Kettya after his demise.
Acharya Jinvdasagani Mahattar: A renowned commentator of the Churni literature and a prominent scholar in the Shvetambara tradition. His fame rests on his Churni works. His guru was Gopalagani Mahattar, and his vidya guru was Pradyumna Kshamashraman. The text details his family background and uses a complex encoded method to reveal his father's name. His prominence in literature is as a Churnikara, with Churni literature being extensive, written in prose, and in a Sanskrit-mixed Prakrit language.

In essence, this text serves as an informative account of the life, philosophical stance, and miraculous feats of Acharya Mantungasuri, highlighting his paramount contribution to Jain devotional literature and the spread of Jainism.