Manatunga Acharya Shrine

• Bhaktamar Stotra’ ('Bakth' + 'Amar') having 48 Chhanda (Verse), s is very popular Stotra among Jains, daily recited in so many families. 
• It is supposed that every verse (Chhanda) of this Stotra has the power of Mantra and is helpful in getting the dreams materialized.

True story depicting the miracle of Bakthamar stotra-

• King Bhoj seated on the throne of Dhara Nagari (presently city of Dhar) in year 1100 AD. 
• Great poet ‘Kalidas’ was one of the members of his assembly – Royal Court. 
• One Jain poet ‘Dhananjaya’ was also becoming famous those days in the city. 
• One day King Bhoj called Dhananjaya in his royal court and get introduced with him and praised him for his poems & wisdom.
• Shri Dhananjaya told the king very politely that his all wisdom & knowledge was due to his teacher (Guru) Acharya Mantunga – a Jain Muni (Saint), he said that all the knowledge is due to the blessings of Acharya Mantunga. 
• After knowing about the praise worth Acharya Mantunga, King Bhoj desired to meet with Acharya. King Bhoj ordered his servants to bring Acharya Mantunga to his royal court with honor.
• At that time Acharya were staying at Bhojpur and doing Tapa (Penance) for self – realization – purification. 
• Servants of King Bhoj reached there, prayed Acharya again & again to go with them to city of Dhara to meet their King Bhoj. 
• But ascetic saints have no purpose in meeting with King or any other persons. So Acharya gave no reply to servants and engrossed in deep Tapa or meditation. 
• Servants returned to King and told about their failure. So the King Bhoj became angry and he ordered to bring the Acharya forcefully in his royal court. 
• Servants do the same and thus Acharya were brought before King Bhoj. The king praised Acharya and requested to give some religious precepts to the audience present there. 
• But up to that time looking unfavorable situations, Acharya decided to remain silent during such conditions. 
• So all the prayers & requests of King were all in vain, so King became angry and he ordered to his soldiers to place the Acharya in prison. Thus Acharya were placed in prison.