jainadinatharishabhanathatirthankara

Bhaktamara Stotra

Bhaktamara Stotra in English · English

🕉️ jain·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Early morning (Brahma Muhurta) after bath, facing east, before a Jina image or in the temple·📜 Bhaktamara Stotra (Jain devotional literature)

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

Bhaktamara Stotra is one of the most revered Jain devotional hymns, composed by Acharya Manatunga in praise of Rishabhanatha (Adinatha), the first Tirthankara. Written in the lyrical Vasantatilaka metre, its forty-four verses extol the Lord's infinite virtues and the protective power of his name. Tradition holds that Manatunga composed it while bound in chains, and as each verse was uttered a fetter broke, demonstrating the stotra's power to dissolve bondage and fear.

Origin & Story

Bhaktamara Stotra (Jain devotional literature) · Acharya Manatunga · c. 6th–7th century CE

Acharya Manatunga, a great Jain monk, composed the Bhaktamara Stotra as a paean to Adinatha, the first Tirthankara. According to the most popular legend, a king imprisoned him in chains to challenge the power of his devotion. Manatunga began reciting verses in praise of the Jina, and with the completion of each verse a fetter snapped, until he stepped forth wholly unbound. The hymn has since been cherished as a source of protection and liberation across both Shvetambara and Digambara traditions.

✦ As told in scripture

It is traditionally believed that Acharya Manatunga, fettered and imprisoned by a king who doubted Jain devotion, recited the Bhaktamara Stotra verse by verse — and that each successive verse caused one of the iron chains binding him to break apart, until he walked free, demonstrating the liberating power of devotion to the Jina.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

Bhaktamara-praṇata-mauli-maṇi-prabhāṇā- mudyotakaṁ dalita-pāpa-tamo-vitānam। Samyak praṇamya jina-pāda-yugaṁ yugādā- vālambanaṁ bhava-jale patatāṁ janānām॥

Meaning:Having rightly bowed to the pair of feet of the Jina — feet that further brighten the lustre of the crest-jewels upon the crowns of the prostrating gods, and that destroy the dense darkness of sin — feet that are the very support of beings sinking in the ocean of worldly existence since the dawn of the age:

Verse 2

Yaḥ saṁstutaḥ sakala-vāṅmaya-tattva-bodhā- dudbhūta-buddhi-paṭubhiḥ sura-loka-nāthaiḥ। Stotrairjagat-tritaya-chitta-harairudāraiḥ stoṣye kilāhamapi taṁ prathamaṁ jinendram॥

Meaning:That first Lord of the Jinas, who has been hymned by the lords of heaven — masters of eloquence sharpened by knowledge of all scripture, in noble hymns that captivate the minds of the three worlds — Him, that First Tirthankara, even I shall now venture to praise.

Verse 3

Buddhyā vināpi vibudhārchita-pāda-pīṭha! stotuṁ samudyata-matirvigata-trapo'ham। Bālaṁ vihāya jala-saṁsthita-mindu-bimba- manyaḥ ka ichchhati janaḥ sahasā grahītum॥

Meaning:O Lord whose footstool is worshipped by the wise! Though wanting in true wisdom, I, casting off shame, have set my mind to praise You. For who but a child would rashly reach out to seize the disc of the moon reflected in water?

Verse 4

Vaktuṁ guṇān guṇa-samudra! śaśāṅka-kāntān kaste kṣamaḥ sura-guru-pratimo'pi buddhyā। Kalpānta-kāla-pavanoddhata-nakra-chakraṁ ko vā tarītumalamambu-nidhiṁ bhujābhyām॥

Meaning:O Ocean of virtues! Who is able to recount your moon-bright qualities — even one with the intellect of Brihaspati, preceptor of the gods? Who can swim across the ocean, churning with crocodiles stirred up by the storm-winds of the age's end, with his two arms alone?

Verse 5

So'haṁ tathāpi tava bhakti-vaśānmunīśa! kartuṁ stavaṁ vigata-śaktirapi pravṛttaḥ। Prītyātma-vīryamavichārya mṛgo mṛgendraṁ nābhyeti kiṁ nija-śiśoḥ paripālanārtham॥

Meaning:Yet even so, O Lord of sages, though devoid of power, I am moved by devotion to compose your praise. For out of love, not measuring its own strength, does not even a doe turn to face the lion to protect her little fawn?

Verse 6

Oṁ hrīṁ śrīṁ ṛṣabhadevāya namaḥ॥

Meaning:Om Hrim Shrim — salutations to Lord Rishabhadeva.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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bhakta-amara🔊the devoted celestial beings (gods who are devotees)

praṇata🔊bowed down, prostrated

mauli-maṇi-prabhāṇām🔊of the radiance of the crest-jewels (on their crowns)

udyotakam🔊that which illumines / brightens further

dalita-pāpa-tamo-vitānam🔊which destroys the spreading darkness of sin

samyak praṇamya🔊having bowed down rightly and properly

jina-pāda-yugam🔊the pair of feet of the Jina (Tirthankara)

yugādau🔊at the beginning of the age / of the era

ālambanam🔊the support, the refuge

bhava-jale patatām🔊for those falling into the ocean of worldly existence

janānām🔊of the people, of beings

yaḥ saṁstutaḥ🔊He who has been praised / well-eulogized

sura-loka-nāthaiḥ🔊by the lords of the heavenly realms (Indra and the gods)

prathamaṁ jinendram🔊the first Jinendra (Rishabhadeva / Adinatha, the first Tirthankara)

stoṣye🔊I shall praise / I shall eulogize

vigata-trapaḥ aham🔊I, having set aside shyness / shame

indu-bimbam🔊the reflected disc of the moon

guṇa-samudra🔊O ocean of virtues (an epithet of the Tirthankara)

mṛgo mṛgendram🔊a deer towards a lion (king of beasts)

nija-śiśoḥ paripālanārtham🔊for the sake of protecting its own young one

ṛṣabhadevāya namaḥ🔊salutations to Lord Rishabhadeva (Adinatha)

Benefits of Chanting Bhaktamara Stotra

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Invokes the grace and protection of the first Tirthankara, Adinatha

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Traditionally believed to dissolve fear, bondage, imprisonment and obstacles

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Cultivates deep devotion (bhakti) and humility before the Jina

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Recitation is said to remove afflictions, disease and misfortune

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Calms the mind and brings inner peace and steadiness of faith

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A complete poetic meditation on the virtues of an enlightened soul

How to Chant Bhaktamara Stotra

Repetitions1times

Best TimeEarly morning (Brahma Muhurta) after bath, facing east, before a Jina image or in the temple

Recite with a calm, pure mind and sincere devotion, ideally seated before an image of Adinatha. The full stotra has 44 verses; many devotees recite the complete text daily, while others begin with the opening verses given here. Pronounce each word clearly in the flowing Vasantatilaka metre. Conclude with the seed-mantra salutation to Rishabhadeva. Maintaining cleanliness, non-violence and a vegetarian discipline strengthens the practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Bhaktamara Stotra written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It was composed by Acharya Manatunga (around the 6th–7th century CE) in praise of Rishabhanatha, also called Adinatha — the first of the twenty-four Tirthankaras in Jainism.

The hymn opens with the word 'Bhaktamara', meaning the devoted immortals — the gods (devas) who bow at the Tirthankara's feet. By tradition, hymns are often named after their first word.

Tradition relates that King Bhoja (or in some accounts another king) had Manatunga bound in chains to test the power of Jain faith. As Manatunga recited each verse of the Bhaktamara, one lock or chain fell away, until he was completely freed — showing the stotra's power to break bondage.

The Shvetambara tradition counts 44 verses and the Digambara tradition 48. This entry presents the celebrated opening verses; the full text is widely recited in both traditions.