Dinesh Z. Shah
Jain Vishva Bharati London has been holding recitation of Bhaktaamara Stotra every Sunday morning since moving to the new centre last year. As the time passed and the classes became popular, the participants requested Samani Pratibha Pragya and Samani Punya Pragya to start an in depth study of Bhaktaamara Stotra. This study was incorporated with the Sunday morning programme and has become very popular. The Samanijis then felt that it is an opportune moment to perform an “Akhand” recitation of Bhaktaamara Stotra at the new centre. It was therefore decided to perform this on the week ending of Saturday, 15 July 2006.
At the auspicious time of seven o’clock on Saturday morning after performing a prayer for the first Tirthankar Lord Adinath, the recitation of Bhaktaamara Stotra started and was concluded 24 hours later at seven o’clock on the Sunday morning. During this period the number of participants who took part in the recitation of the stotra fluctuated from hour to hour. However, the peak for the number of participants reached around 9pm on Saturday night with all the devotees reciting the stotra in unison. To enhance the spirit of the occasion a duet was also performed between male and female devotees!
It was a very emotional event for the devotees who were present at the time of the conclusion of the “Akhand Paath”. While it is not unusual to perform “Akhand Jaaps” of Navkar Mantra, and other shorter stotras, it is not known that Jain devotees in the United Kingdom have ever performed an “Akhand” recitation of Bhaktaamara Stotra. The Jain community in London will always remember this mammoth feat in which nearly 500 devotees participated. Samani Pratibha Pragya and Samani Punya Pragya are to be congratulated in organising this vigil.
Bhaktaamara Stotra was composed as a homage to Lord Adinath by Shri Acharya Mantunga in 4/5 CE. It consists of 48 stanzas in Sanskrit and is held in high esteem by Jains of all the different sects.
Addendum
On behalf of the Jain community, the Samanijis prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls in the Mumbai blasts, quick recovery of the injured and consolation to the bereaved families. The congregation prayed for peace in the world and better understanding of humanism and non-violence amongst the perpetrators of violent acts.
Editors