भय-निवारण — Bhaktamar
Texts that tradition names for times of fear and anxiety.
The context of fear
The later part of the Bhaktamar describes the forms of fear at length — elephant, lion, fire, serpent, battle, ocean, disease and imprisonment. The tradition calls these the eight great fears, and this is the most frequently recited portion of the stotra.
These verses do not deny fear. They say that for one whose mind rests in remembrance, fear loses its hold. The change is inward, and that is where the emphasis lies.
How these were selected
Gathered here are the verses in which fear, danger or calamity is named directly — chiefly the section describing the great fears.
The tradition prescribes these for times of travel, danger or uncertainty, and this collects them in that spirit.
14 verses
- कल्पान्तकाल-पवनोद्धत-वह्निकल्पं
- रक्तेक्षणं समदकोकिल-कण्ठनीलं
- वल्गत्तुरंग-गजगर्जित-भीमनाद-
- कुन्ताग्रभिन्न - गजशोणित - वारिवाह-
- अम्भोनिधौ क्षुभितभीषणनक्रचक्र-
- उद्भूतभीषणजलोदर-भारभुग्नाः
- आपाद-कण्ठमुरुशृंखल-वेष्टितांगाः,
- मत्तद्विपेन्द्र-मृगराज-दवानलाहि-
- स्तोत्रस्रजं तव जिनेन्द्र! गुणैर्निबद्धां,
- सोऽहं तथापि तव भक्तिवशान्मुनीश!
- अल्पश्रुतं श्रुतवतां परिहासधाम,
- त्वत्संस्तवेन भवसन्तति-सन्निबद्धं,
- मत्वेति नाथ! तव संस्तवनं मयेद-
- आस्तां तव स्तवनमस्तसमस्त-दोषं
How the reading is done
In a moment of fear or uncertainty these may be recalled wherever one happens to be; the tradition prescribes no particular place or time for that.
For regular recitation the morning is held suitable, with emphasis on clear pronunciation.