Navakar_mantra

Namokâr Mantra, also called the Navakâr Mantra or the Namaskâr Mantra, is the most important mantra used in Jainism A Scientific Treatise on Great Namokar Mantra By Ravīndrakumāra Jaina, Kusuma Jaina Published 1993, Keladevi Sumatiprasad Trust : Sole distributor, Arihant International.

णमो अरिहंताणं

णमो सिद्धाणं

णमो आयरियाणं

णमो उवज्झायणं

णमो लोए सव्व साहूणं

एसो पंच णमोक्कारो, सव्व पावप्प णासणो

मंगलाणं च सव्वेसिं, पढमं हवइ मंगलं

It is in Prakrit language.

In the above Prakrit mantra, Jains salute the virtues of the Pancha Parmeshtin, or five spiritual masters: the Arihantas, Siddhâs, Âchâryas, Upadhyâyas, and normal monks. They do not pray to a specific Tirthankara or monk by name. By saluting them, Jains believe they receive the inspiration from them for the right path of true happiness and total freedom from the karma of their soul. Jains do not ask for any favors or material benefits from the Tirthankaras or from sâdhus and sâdhvis. This mantra simply serves as a gesture of deep respect towards beings they believe are more spiritually advanced and to remind followers of the Jain religion of their ultimate goal of nirvana or moksha.Jainism: The World of Conquerors By Natubhai Shah Published 1998 Sussex Academic Press

Arihantas

The word Arihanta is made up of two words: 1) Ari, meaning enemies, and 2) hanta, meaning destroyer. Therefore, Arihanta means a destroyer of the enemies. These enemies are not people like you, me, or any animal, or plant, etc. These enemies are inner desires known as passions. These includes anger, ego, deception, and greed. These are the internal enemies within us. Until we control our passions, the real nature or the power of our soul will not be realized or manifested. When a person (soul) wins over these inner enemies he/she is called Arihanta. When that happens, the person has destroyed the four ghati karmas namely Jnanavarniya (knowledge blocking) Karma, Darshanavarniya (perception blocking) Karma, Mohniya (passion causing) Karma and Antaraya (obstacle causing) Karma. These karmas are called ghati karmas because they directly affect the true nature of the soul. Arihanta attains: 1) Kevaljnan, perfect knowledge due to the destruction of all Jnanavarniya Karmas, 2) Kevaldarshan, perfect perception due to the destruction of all Darshanavarniya karmas, 3) becomes passionless due to the destruction of all Mohniya Karmas, and 4) gains infinite power due to the destruction of all Antaraya Karmas. Complete knowledge and perception means they know and see everything everywhere that is happening now, that has happened in the past, and that will happen in the future. Arihantas are divided into two categories: Tirthankar and Ordinary. Tirthankaras are special Arihants because they revitalize the Jain Sangh (four-fold Jain Order) consisting of Sadhus, Sadhvis, Shravaks (male householders), and Shravikas (female householders). During every half time cycle, twenty-four persons like us rise to the level of Tirthankar. The first Tirthankar of our time period was Lord Rishabhdev, and the twenty-fourth and last Tirthankar was Lord Mahavira, who lived from 599 BCE to 527 BCE. A Tirthankar is also called a Jina. Jina means conqueror of passions. At the time of nirvana (liberated from the worldly existence), Arihanta sheds off the remaining four aghati karmas namely 1) Nam (physical structure forming) Karma, 2) Gotra (status forming) Karma, 3) Vedniya (pain and pleasure causing) Karma and 4) Ayushya (life span determining) Karma. These four karmas do not affect the true nature of the soul; therefore, they are called Aghati karmas. After attaining salvation these Arihants are called Siddhas.

Siddhas

Siddhas are the liberated souls. They are no longer among us because they have completely ended the cycle of birth and death. They have reached the ultimate highest state, salvation. They do not have any karmas, and they do not collect any new karmas. This state of true freedom is called Moksha. Siddhas are experiencing unobstructed bliss (eternal happiness). They have complete knowledge and perception and infinite power. They are formless and have no passions and therefore are free from all temptations.

Acharyas

The message of Jina, Lord Mahavira the last Tirthankara, is carried on by the Acharyas. They are our spiritual leaders. The responsibility of the spiritual welfare, but not social or economical welfare of the entire Jain Sangh, rests on the shoulders of the Acharyas. Before reaching this state, one has to do in-depth study and achieve mastery of the Jain scriptures (Agamas). In addition to acquiring a high level of spiritual excellence, they have the ability to lead the monks and nuns. They know various languages with a sound knowledge of other philosophies and religions of the area and the world.

Upadhyayas

This title is given to those Sadhus who have acquired a special knowledge of the Ägams and philosophical systems. They teach Jain scriptures to sädhus and sädhvis.

Sadhus and Sadhvis

When householders become detached from the worldly aspects of life and get the desire for spiritual uplift (and not worldly uplift), they give up their worldly lives and become sädhus (monk) or sädhvis (nun). A male person is called sädhu, and a female person is called sädhvi. Before becoming sädhus or sädhvis, a lay person must observe sädhus orto understand their life style and do religious studies. When they feel confident that they will be able to live the life of a monk or a nun, then they inform the Ächärya that they are ready to become sadhu or sadhvi. If the Ächärya is convinced that they are ready and are capable of following the vows of sadhu or sadhvi, then he gives them Deekshä. Deeksha is initiation ceremony when a householders changes to a monk or a nun. At the time of Deekshä, the sadhu or sadhvi voluntarily accepts to obey following five major vows for the rest of his/her life:

1. Commitment of Total Ahimsa (non-violence)-not to commit any type of violence.
2. Commitment of Total Satya (truth)-not to indulge in any type of lie or falsehood.
3. Commitment of Total Asteya (non-stealing)-not to take anything unless it is given.
4. Commitment of Total Brahmacharya (celibacy)-not to indulge in any sensual activities
5. Commitment of Total Aparigraha (non-possessiveness)-not to acquire more than what is needed to maintain day to day life.

Some other things they observe are:

• They do not accept the food cooked specially for them;
• They do not eat before sunrise or after sunset;
• They drink boiled water;
• They walk bare footed and do not sit in a car, train, airplane or any other vehicle;
• They do not stay in one place for a longer time;
• They do not touch any person of the opposite sex even the children of opposite sex;
• They do not get involved in social or society affairs;
• Some monks wear no clothes while others wear white clothes;
• All nuns wear white clothes;
• They offer spiritual guidance to us, Self-discipline and purity is the part of their daily life.
• That is why Jain monks and nuns are unique. Their activities are directed towards the uplift of their souls to Paramätman (the state of liberation).

Digambars and Sthanakvasis regard the first five lines as the main mantra, the following two lines are explanatory. In inscriptions inside the Orissa Hathigumpha cave, a text corresponding to the first two lines are given.

References

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