Navkar Mantra (often called Namokar Mantra) is the central Jain prayer. It is a concise homage to the fivefold spiritual community and is recited at the start of many Jain prayers.

Core meaning (arth):

• It salutes the fivefold revered beings who guide the soul toward right conduct and liberation:

1) Arihants – those who have conquered inner enemies (kashayas) and have realized the true nature of reality. 2) Siddhas – liberated souls who have shed all karmas. 3) Acharyas – spiritual teachers who preserve and teach the Jain path. 4) Upadhyayas – teachers who initiate and train monks and nuns. 5) Sadhus (the fivefold sangh) – monks and nuns who follow the Jain code and help others practice.

There are very slight textual variations between Digambar and Shwetambar traditions, but the inclusive meaning remains the same: offering reverence to the enlightened and the spiritual teachers who uphold the Jain way.

Common form (five-line structure) and rough meaning for each line:

• Namo Arihantanam — Salutations to the Arihants (enlightened beings who have conquered inner passions).
• Namo Siddhanam — Salutations to the Siddhas (liberated souls).
• Namo Ayariyanam — Salutations to the Acharyas (spiritual leaders/teachers in the lineage).
• Namo Ujjujhayanam — Salutations to the Upadhyayas (preceptors/teachers).
• Namo Loe Mahavayanam — Salutations to all the Sadhus (the holy monks and nuns in the Jain order).

If you’d like, I can provide the exact verses in the original Prakrit (or Sanskrit) as found in Jain scriptures, and note any small variant differences between Digambar and Shwetambar recensions.