Cassettes Received

Summary

The ‘Cassettes Received’ section lists devotional audio recordings produced by the Vardhaman Bharati International Foundation; an organisation headquartered at 12 Cambridge Road; Bangalore and dedicated to disseminating Jain spiritual literature and music. The recordings feature vocal performances by Professor Pratap Kumar Toliya; a noted musician and scholar of Jain liturgical music. The first cassette contains two compositions: the ‘Maṅgalaṣṭaka’; a Sanskrit hymn traditionally recited to invoke auspiciousness; and the ‘Ratnākara Paccisī’ in Gujarati. Ratnākara Paccisī is a popular Jain prayer composed in honour of the twenty‑third Tirthaṅkara Pārśvanātha; it comprises fifty‑two stanzas praising his virtues and is often sung in Gujarati Jain households and temples. The second cassette offers a Hindi rendition of the same Ratnākara Paccisī; making the text accessible to devotees who are more comfortable with Hindi than Gujarati. The third cassette; titled ‘Meri Bhāvnā & Anubhav Vāṇī’; contains eight Hindi devotional songs that blend personal reflection with praise of the Tirthaṅkaras. The first side includes ‘Navkār; Guru Vandana’; a metrical recitation of the Navkār Mantra—Jainism’s fundamental prayer that honours the Panch Parameshthi (supreme spiritual beings)—followed by ‘Meri Bhāvnā’ (My Sentiment); ‘Ham‑to Kabahu Nā’ (I Never Do); and ‘Samkit Sāvan Ayo’ (The Rain of Right Faith Has Arrived). The second side continues with songs such as ‘Anubhav Nāth‑ko Jagāve’ (Awakening Lord Anubhav); ‘Tum Sang Morī Lagan Lāgī’ (My Love Is Attached to You) and ‘Apnā Rūp Jab Dekhā’ (When I Saw Your Form). These compositions express devotion to the Tirthaṅkaras and emphasise ethical virtues like right faith and detachment. The fourth cassette; ‘Jain Rās Garbā’; presents a collection of traditional Garbā songs in Gujarati and Sanskrit. Garbā is a circular dance associated with Navaratri celebrations; and Jain communities have adapted it to celebrate their own festivals. Side A includes ‘Kalyāṇa Pada Paraman’; a Sanskrit hymn glorifying auspicious qualities; followed by Gujarati songs such as ‘Kṣatriya Kuṇḍ‑mā Pragatiyā Re’ (A Noble Being Has Appeared in Kṣatriya Kuṇḍ); ‘Hālo Mahāvīrji‑ne Melo’ (Come to the Fair of Lord Mahāvīra); and ‘Mandar‑mā Pāras Prabhu’. Side B features ‘Cundarī Re’; a folk song praising virtuous conduct. The fifth cassette; ‘Rās Garbā’; subtitled ‘Nūtan‑Purātan’; includes new and old Garbā songs performed by Smt. Sumitra Toliya. This collection highlights how Jain devotional music draws from regional folk traditions while incorporating scriptural themes. Together these cassettes represent a multi‑lingual repertoire—Sanskrit; Gujarati and Hindi—and illustrate the efforts of Jain institutions to preserve and popularise spiritual music through modern media. They cater to diverse linguistic audiences and provide resources for both personal devotion and community gatherings.