Jinendra Stavana

It was in 1997 that I presented a paper at the 35th International Congress of Asia and North African Studies, at Budapest (Hungary), on the "Invocatory Sanskrit verses of Jaina Inscriptions in Karnataka". Later a revised version of the above paper was published in the Sambodhi (Vol. XXII of 1998-99), a Journal of the L.D. Institute of Indology, Ahmedabad. Some scholars of Sanskrit studies suggested that the useful material could be published in a book form. This is an enlarged and re-revised text of the version published earlier in the SAMBODHI (Eds: J.B. Shah and N. M. Kansara). Few have heard of these Sanskrit stanzas of the medieval period, known as invocatory verses in popular parlance. The hymn-like verses of spiritual import are revered by the faithful in deep veneration as repositories of jnana, wisdom, transmitting the essential teachings of the Holy Prophets. Devotion and piety a popular sentiment, is the common theme. Since the verses are supplications for grace and enlightenment, some of them are promptly recited whenever members congregate for ritual prayers. These verses of Prayer fuse heart and mind, and share the moments of grace.