Digamber navkar mantra
Here is the Namokar/ Navkar Mantra as used in Jainism, with a brief Digambar/Shwetambar note and simple meaning.
Original text (Prakrit):
- णमो अरिहंताणं
- णमो सिद्धाणं
- णमो आयरियाणं
- णमो उवज्झायाणं ( Digambar: उवज्जायाणं )
- णमो लोए सव्वसाहूणं
- एसो पंच नमोकारो
- Savva-pavappanasano
- Mangalanam ca Savvesim
- Padhamam havai mangalam
Meaning (arth):
- Namo Arihantanam: I bow to the Arihants — beings who have conquered inner enemies and attained kevala jñāna.
- Namo Siddhaanam: I bow to the Siddhas — liberated souls who have ended their karmic bondage.
- Namo Ayariyaanam: I bow to the Āchāryas — the spiritual teachers who guide the order.
- Namo Uvajjhāyāṇam (Digambar: Uvajjhāyāṇaṁ): I bow to the Upādhyāyas — the preceptors/teachers of scriptures.
- Namo Loe Savva Sāhūṇaṁ (Digambar: Sāhūṇam phrasing may vary slightly): I bow to all Sādhu/Sādhinī (monks and nuns) who practice renunciation.
- Eso Pancha Namokkāro: These five venerations (bowings)
- Savva-pāvappaṇāsaṇo: destroy all sins
- Maṅgalaṇaṁ ca Savvesim: among all auspicious things, this is the foremost
- Padhamam havai mangalam: this Navkar Mantra is the supreme auspiciousness
Tradition notes:
- The five salutations are toward the guṇa (virtues) of the enlightened beings, not to individual gods. This is central to Jain practice.
- Minor spelling/voice variations exist between Digambar and Shwetambar recitations (for example उवज्जायाणं vs उवज्झायाणं, savva-sāhūṇaṁ vs sāhūṇaṁ), but the meaning and purpose remain the same.