Pt. Dhyanat Rai (1676-1726)

Spiritualist and Devotional Poet

Greatly spiritualist and devotional poet Pt. Dhyanat Rai was born in 1676 at Agra where his ancestors had settled from Lalpur. He received education in Urdu, Persian and Sanskrit. His compositions are mainly influenced by Sanskrit.

He was married at the age of fifteen, lived in poverty and family life was also not happy. Pt. Man Singh and Bihari Das, good Jain scholars of the time at Agra, were his religious teachers.

He composed several Jain Pujas in Hindi of which Dev Shastra Guru, Bis Tirhankar, Videh Chhetra, Panchmeru, Dash Lakshan Dharma, Solahkaran Bhavna, Rattnatrya, Nirwan Chhetra, Nandishwar Dweep, Ashtahnika, Sidha-Chara and Saraswati Pujas are more popular.

His Swayambhu Stotra and Paraswanath Stotra are original compositions and Eki-Bhave Stotra is translation of the Sanskrit work of Shri Vadirajsuri.

He composed five Araties viz. Ihi Vidhi Mangal Arati Kije, Arti Kije Shri Muniraj Ki, Karo Arati Atamram.

He composed Samadhi Maran, Dharma Pachhisi and Adhyatma Pacnasika. His other poetic works known so far are 108 Mamon Ki Gunmala, Dashsthan Chaubisi and Chhaidhala.

Dharma Vilas compilation of which was completed by him in 1723 soon after his settlement at Delhi has collection of all his compositions including 333 poems, pujas and writings on 45 other subjects.

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Source : From 'Progressive Jains' Authored By Mr. Satish Kumar Jain

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Mail to : Ahimsa Foundation
www.jainsamaj.org
R2191