Panca-Paramesṭhi-Stuti (in Apabhramsa)
By R. M. Shah
Summary
R.M. Shah’s article ‘Pañca‑Parameṣṭhī‑Stuti (in Apabhraṃśa)’ presents a critical examination of a devotional hymn from the Apabhraṃśa mahākāvya Vīrasavai‑kathā, composed by Siddhasena Śabaraka. The hymn, recited by the hero Sanatkumar, praises the five supreme beings of Jainism: Arihanta, Siddha, Ācārya, Upādhyāya and Sādhu. Shah reproduces the text and translation, analyses its metre and identifies theological themes. He notes that the hymn highlights Jain ideals such as the destruction of karma, the attainment of perfect knowledge, the role of teachers and the virtues of monks. Shah argues that the use of Apabhraṃśa indicates an intent to reach lay audiences and underscores the richness of Jain vernacular literature.
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Conclusion
Shah concludes that the Pañca‑Parameṣṭhī‑Stuti exemplifies the power of Apabhraṃśa devotional literature to convey core Jain ideals to a broad audience, underscoring the importance of preserving vernacular texts.