The Svayambhu Stotra is the gold standard for Jain devotional texts. All the fundamental teachings of the Jains are covered in this devotional poem which sequentially expresses devotion towards each of the 24 Jinas.
Along with Acarya Kundakunda, Acarya Samantabhadra is the most influential Digambara Jain author of the post-Agamic period. His writings in the field of spirituality, devotion, philosophical reasoning, formal logic and lay conduct are seminal and have inspired exhaustive commentaries from both traditions - Digambara as well as Shvetambara.
Acarya Samantabhadra wrote the following original texts:
आप्त मीमांसा Apta Mimamsa
युक्त्यानुशासन Yuktyanushasana
स्वयंभू स्तोत्र Svayambhu Stotra
स्तुति विद्या Stuti Vidya
रत्नकरण्डक श्रावकाचार Ratnakarandaka Shravakacara
And one commentary on the तत्त्वार्थसूत्र Tattvarthasutra known as:
गन्धहस्ति महाभाष्य Gandhahasti Mahabhasya
Of his original works, the first two lay down the foundations of formal logic in Jainism. The next two set the template for Jain devotional works that followed. The fifth one is the definitive and earliest Jain text on ideal lay conduct. His commentary on the Tattvarthasutra, said to be the earliest from the Digambara Jain tradition, has unfortunately been lost.
What makes Samantabhadra’s writings stand out is his absolute fidelity to the Jinas’ teachings while dealing with disparate subjects like formal logic, devotion and normative lay conduct. Not only that but also his ability to weave all this clarity of thought and loyalty to the Jina’s teachings into the most beautiful and pleasing Sanskrit poetry.
SVAYAMBHU STOTRA By Acarya Samantabhadra
Sanskrit text + Hindi translation + English translation
Hindi & English translations and 2 Appendices by Vijay Kumar Jain
2014 23 x 16 cm 254 pages Hardcover