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jainadinatharishabhanathatirthankara

பக்தாமர ஸ்தோத்திரம்

भक्तामर स्तोत्र

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

Also known as: bhaktamar stotra · bhaktamara stotram · bhaktamar stotram · adinatha stotra · manatunga bhaktamara

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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.

Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

भक्तामर-प्रणत-मौलि-मणि-प्रभाणा- मुद्योतकं दलित-पाप-तमो-वितानम्। सम्यक् प्रणम्य जिन-पाद-युगं युगादा- वालम्बनं भव-जले पततां जनानाम्॥

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

Meaning:வணங்கும் தேவர்களின் கிரீடங்களின் சூடாமணிகளின் ஒளியை மேலும் பிரகாசிக்கச் செய்து, பாவம் என்னும் இருள் கூட்டத்தை அழித்து, யுகத்தின் தொடக்கம் முதல் பிறவிக் கடலில் மூழ்குபவர்களுக்கு ஆதாரமாக இருக்கும் ஜினேந்திரரின் திருவடி இணைக்கு நன்கு வணங்கி:

Verse 2

यः संस्तुतः सकल-वाङ्मय-तत्त्व-बोधा- दुद्भूत-बुद्धि-पटुभिः सुर-लोक-नाथैः। स्तोत्रैर्जगत्-त्रितय-चित्त-हरैरुदारैः स्तोष्ये किलाहमपि तं प्रथमं जिनेन्द्रम्॥

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

Meaning:அனைத்து சாஸ்திரங்களின் அறிவால் தோன்றிய கூர்மையான புத்தி கொண்ட தேவலோக அதிபதிகள் (இந்திரன் முதலியோர்) மூன்று உலகங்களின் மனதைக் கவரும் உயரிய ஸ்தோத்திரங்களால் யாரைப் போற்றினார்களோ — அந்த முதல் ஜினேந்திரரை (ரிஷபதேவரை) நானும் போற்றுவேன்.

Verse 3

बुद्ध्या विनापि विबुधार्चित-पाद-पीठ! स्तोतुं समुद्यत-मतिर्विगत-त्रपोऽहम्। बालं विहाय जल-संस्थित-मिन्दु-बिम्ब- मन्यः इच्छति जनः सहसा ग्रहीतुम्॥

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

Meaning:ஓ தேவர்களால் வழிபடப்படும் திருவடி-பீடம் கொண்ட இறைவா! புத்தி இல்லாவிட்டாலும், வெட்கத்தை விட்டு உம்மைப் போற்ற நான் முற்பட்டேன். நீரில் பிரதிபலிக்கும் சந்திர பிம்பத்தை குழந்தையைத் தவிர வேறு யார் திடீரெனப் பிடிக்க விரும்புவார்?

Verse 4

वक्तुं गुणान् गुण-समुद्र! शशाङ्क-कान्तान् कस्ते क्षमः सुर-गुरु-प्रतिमोऽपि बुद्ध्या। कल्पान्त-काल-पवनोद्धत-नक्र-चक्रं को वा तरीतुमलमम्बु-निधिं भुजाभ्याम्॥

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

Meaning:ஓ குணக் கடலே! உம் சந்திரன் போன்ற ஒளிமயமான குணங்களை வர்ணிக்க பிருஹஸ்பதி போன்ற புத்தி கொண்டவரும் யார் வல்லவர்? ஊழிக் காலத்தின் கடும் காற்றால் கலங்கிய முதலைக் கூட்டம் கொண்ட கடலை கைகளால் யார் நீந்த முடியும்?

Verse 5

सोऽहं तथापि तव भक्ति-वशान्मुनीश! कर्तुं स्तवं विगत-शक्तिरपि प्रवृत्तः। प्रीत्यात्म-वीर्यमविचार्य मृगो मृगेन्द्रं नाभ्येति किं निज-शिशोः परिपालनार्थम्॥

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

Meaning:ஆயினும், ஓ முனீசரே! பக்தி வசப்பட்டு, சக்தியற்றவனாக இருந்தாலும் உம் ஸ்துதியில் நான் ஈடுபட்டேன். அன்பால் தன் பலத்தை எண்ணாமல், மான் தன் குட்டியைக் காக்க சிங்கத்தின் முன் நிற்காதா?

Verse 6

ह्रीं श्रीं ऋषभदेवाय नमः॥

Oṁ hrīṁ śrīṁ ṛṣabhadevāya namaḥ॥

Meaning:ஓம் ஹ்ரீம் ஶ்ரீம் ரிஷபதேவருக்கு நமஸ்காரம்.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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भक्तामर🔊bhakta-amarathe devoted celestial beings (gods who are devotees)
प्रणत🔊praṇatabowed down, prostrated
मौलि-मणि-प्रभाणाम्🔊mauli-maṇi-prabhāṇāmof the radiance of the crest-jewels (on their crowns)
उद्योतकम्🔊udyotakamthat which illumines / brightens further
दलित-पाप-तमो-वितानम्🔊dalita-pāpa-tamo-vitānamwhich destroys the spreading darkness of sin
सम्यक् प्रणम्य🔊samyak praṇamyahaving bowed down rightly and properly
जिन-पाद-युगम्🔊jina-pāda-yugamthe pair of feet of the Jina (Tirthankara)
युगादौ🔊yugādauat the beginning of the age / of the era
आलम्बनम्🔊ālambanamthe support, the refuge
भव-जले पतताम्🔊bhava-jale patatāmfor those falling into the ocean of worldly existence
जनानाम्🔊janānāmof the people, of beings
यः संस्तुतः🔊yaḥ saṁstutaḥHe who has been praised / well-eulogized
सुर-लोक-नाथैः🔊sura-loka-nāthaiḥby the lords of the heavenly realms (Indra and the gods)
प्रथमं जिनेन्द्रम्🔊prathamaṁ jinendramthe first Jinendra (Rishabhadeva / Adinatha, the first Tirthankara)
स्तोष्ये🔊stoṣyeI shall praise / I shall eulogize
विगत-त्रपः अहम्🔊vigata-trapaḥ ahamI, having set aside shyness / shame
इन्दु-बिम्बम्🔊indu-bimbamthe reflected disc of the moon
गुण-समुद्र🔊guṇa-samudraO ocean of virtues (an epithet of the Tirthankara)
मृगो मृगेन्द्रम्🔊mṛgo mṛgendrama deer towards a lion (king of beasts)
निज-शिशोः परिपालनार्थम्🔊nija-śiśoḥ paripālanārthamfor the sake of protecting its own young one
ऋषभदेवाय नमः🔊ṛṣabhadevāya namaḥsalutations to Lord Rishabhadeva (Adinatha)

Benefits of Chanting பக்தாமர ஸ்தோத்திரம்

Invokes the grace and protection of the first Tirthankara, Adinatha

Traditionally believed to dissolve fear, bondage, imprisonment and obstacles

Cultivates deep devotion (bhakti) and humility before the Jina

Recitation is said to remove afflictions, disease and misfortune

Calms the mind and brings inner peace and steadiness of faith

A complete poetic meditation on the virtues of an enlightened soul

How to Chant பக்தாமர ஸ்தோத்திரம்

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

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.

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