Namokar Mantra (Navkar Mantra) – Jain mantra lyrics:
Namo Arihantanam,
Namo Siddhanam,
Namo Ayariyanam,
Namo Uvajjhayanam,
Namo Loe Savva-sahunam.
Eso Panch Namokaro,
Savva-pavappanasano,
Manglananch Savvesim,
Padhamam Havei Mangalam.
Namokar Mantra (Navkar Mantra) – Jain Mantra (Om Namo Arihantanam) translation in English:
I bow down to Arihanta,
I bow down to Siddha,
I bow down to Acharya,
I bow down to Upadhyaya,
I bow down to Sadhu and Sadhvi.
These 5 bowings downs,
Destroy all the sins,
Amongst all that is auspicious,
This Navkar Mantra is the foremost.
More information:
This Jain mantra is the most important mantra in authentic Jainism spiritual tradition. This is the first prayer chanted by the Jains while meditating or doing any spiritual exercises. Moreover, this pacifying mantra is also variously referred to as the Namaskara Mantra, Pancha Namaskara Mantra, Navakara Mantra. Amid chanting this mantra with sincere devotion and correct pronuntiation, the practitioner bows with respect to the Panch Parmeshthi (the Supreme Five) in order to purify their souls:
- Those who have cleared their ghati karmas (arihants).
- The fully liberated souls or saints (siddhas).
- The spiritual teacher in the world or Preceptors (acharyas).
- The upajjhayas (teachers).
- The sages or monks in the world.
The Mantra includes the main message of Jainism. The spiritual message is very clear to any individuals. If you want to be completely liberated from this world or Samsara, then you have to take the first step of renunciation by becoming a nun or a monk.
This is the first step and probably the most important. If you stay on the right path then we will proceed to a higher state of consciousness, Arihant, and ultimately proceed to Siddha after nirvana (liberation from Samsara, the cycle of birth and death). The goal or spiritual aspiration of every Jain devotee is, or should be, to become a Siddha.
Constantly reciting this mantra (without knowing its meaning) has little spiritual benefits. It is acknowledged by many spiritual teachers that the efficacy of the recitation of a sacred mantra can only come after the practitioner learns the mysterious meaning (of the words he chants).
Once we understand the real meaning behind the sacred mantra, then the efficacy of the mantra practice is increased accordingly with many other factors, such as: correct pronunciation, mental focus, body position or the time of the day.
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