Salutations to Ajita and Shanti
A Jain Hymn of Praise
This Jain hymn salutes the Tirthankaras Ajita and Shanti, praising their virtues and seeking help to cross the ocean of worldly existence.
Verses
I bow with devotion to the pair of supreme Jinas, Ajita and Shanti, who are the boat that ferries beings across the ocean of worldly existence.
Verse 1
To Ajita, the lord of Jinas, the best of Jinas, the abode of countless virtues, the raft that ferries across the ocean of samsara—I bow to you, praised by the king of gods.
Verse 2
To Shanti, the best of Jinas, worshipped by gods, humans, and celestial beings, the great blessed one, the raft that ferries across the ocean of samsara—I bow to you, praised by the king of gods.
Verse 3
I bow to Ajita, the lord of Jinas, the best of Jinas, the abode of countless virtues, the raft that ferries across the ocean of samsara—to the supreme Jina Vrishabha.
Verse 4
I bow to Shanti, the best of Jinas, worshipped by gods, humans, and celestial beings, the great blessed one, the raft that ferries across the ocean of samsara—to the supreme Jina Vrishabha.
Verse 5
To Ajita, the lord of Jinas, the best of Jinas, the abode of countless virtues, the raft that ferries across the ocean of samsara—I bow to the one worshipped by the best of gods.
Verse 6
To Shanti, the best of Jinas, worshipped by gods, humans, and celestial beings, the great blessed one, the raft that ferries across the ocean of samsara—I bow to the one worshipped by the best of gods.
Verse 7
I bow to Ajita, the lord of Jinas, the best of Jinas, the abode of countless virtues, the raft that ferries across the ocean of samsara—to the very best of Jinas, the supreme Vrishabha.
Verse 8
I bow to Shanti, the best of Jinas, worshipped by gods, humans, and celestial beings, the great blessed one, the raft that ferries across the ocean of samsara—to the very best of Jinas, the supreme Vrishabha.
Verse 9
To Ajita, the lord of Jinas, the best of Jinas, the abode of countless virtues, the raft that ferries across the ocean of samsara—I bow to the very best of Jinas, the supreme Vrishabha.
Verse 10
To Shanti, the best of Jinas, worshipped by gods, humans, and celestial beings, the great blessed one, the raft that ferries across the ocean of samsara—I bow to the very best of Jinas, the supreme Vrishabha.
Verse 11
Worship Guidelines & Chanting Benefits (Phalashruti)
Daily or auspicious lunar days (Ekadashi, Purnima, Pradosham)
Brahma Muhurta (4:00 AM – 6:00 AM) or Evening Dusk (Sandhya)
Ghee lamp (Deepa), Incense (Dhoopa), Fresh flowers & Water offering
- Peace of mind, spiritual upliftment, and harmonious energy in the home
Background
This Prakrit stotra (verses 1-11 presented here) is traditionally attributed to the Jain monk Acharya Nandisena, said to have composed it on pilgrimage at Shatrunjaya Giriraj. This hymn comes from the Jain tradition, which reveres 24 Tirthankaras — enlightened spiritual teachers who have crossed the ocean of rebirth and show others the path to liberation. The verses are in Prakrit, an ancient language closely tied to Jain scriptures. Traditionally, this stotra (a poetic hymn of praise) is recited by Jains during daily prayers or on holy days as a way to honor the Tirthankaras Ajita and Shanti and to seek their blessings for spiritual progress. While some later verses of the fuller stotra are of uncertain authorship, this opening portion belongs to the well-established genre of Jain devotional literature attributed to Nandisena.
About this Text
Composed by: Acharya Nandisena
Did You Know?
Two Tirthankaras
This hymn venerates a pair of Jinas from the current cosmic era: Ajitanatha, the second Tirthankara, and Shantinatha, the sixteenth. In Jainism, a Tirthankara is a spiritual teacher who has conquered the cycle of birth and death and shows the path to liberation. The verses repeatedly call each of them "vrishabha" (literally "bull"), an epithet meaning "the foremost" or "the best among Jinas" — not a reference to Rishabhanatha, the unrelated first Tirthankara who also carries that name.
Language of the Jinas
The verses are composed in Ardhamagadhi Prakrit, an ancient Indian language closely associated with the earliest Jain scriptures. Prakrit was chosen to reflect the original teachings of the Tirthankaras, who are believed to have preached in the common language of the people.
Metaphor of the Boat
The recurring phrase “भव-सायर-तारण-मत्तणो” (bhavasagara-tarana-mattano) means “the boat that ferries across the ocean of worldly existence.” In Jain thought, the cycle of rebirth (samsara) is often compared to a vast, dangerous ocean, and the Jinas are the compassionate guides who provide the means to cross it.
Structure of Devotion
The hymn consists of 11 verses, each a salutation (namo, namami, pannami) to the two Jinas, Ajita and Shanti, in alternating order. The repetition of their names in different orders is a common technique in Jain stotras (hymns of praise), intended to deepen focus and generate spiritual merit through the power of the name.
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