समृद्धि — Bhaktamar

The context of prosperity

Prosperity in the Jain tradition does not mean wealth alone. Earning is not forbidden to a householder, but its basis must be just — the idea of wealth justly acquired is fundamental to the householder’s conduct. Wealth got by injustice is not counted as prosperity at all.

Seen that way, recitation for prosperity is not a device for money but an exercise in contentment and discernment. Setting one’s own limit on accumulation is among the twelve vows of a householder.

How these were selected

Gathered here are the verses describing splendour, abundance and the extent of the Lord’s glory — the Bhaktamar describes the assembly and majesty at length, and that is the basis of this selection.

The tradition prescribes these at the start of new work, a new business, or entering a new home.

11 verses

• Verse 10नात्यद्भुतं भुवनभूषण! भूतनाथ!
• Verse 11दृष्ट्वा भवन्तमनिमेषविलोकनीयं
• Verse 12यैः शान्तरागरुचिभिः परमाणुभिस्त्वं
• Verse 13वक्त्रं क्व ते सुरनरोरगनेत्रहारि
• Verse 14सम्पूर्णमंडल-शशांककलाकलाप-
• Verse 15चित्रं किमत्र यदि ते त्रिदशांगनाभि-
• Verse 16निर्धूमवर्तिरपवर्जित-तैलपूरः
• Verse 17नास्तं कदाचिदुपयासि न राहुगम्यः,
• Verse 18नित्योदयं दलितमोहमहान्धकारं
• Verse 19किं शर्वरीषु शशिनाह्नि विवस्वता वा?
• Verse 20ज्ञानं यथा त्वयि विभाति कृतावकाशं

How the reading is done

The prescribed practice is recitation in the morning at the beginning of new work, joined with a clear resolve — the intention should be settled for the recitation to be complete.

Here too the full stotra is held best; these verses are simply gathered by occasion.