Suri mantra (Sūri-mantra) is a special ritual diagram (yantra) used in Śvetāmbara Jain tradition. It is inscribed with mantras and symbols that honor Jinas, teachers, and other sacred concepts. It is tied to the highest monastic rank called "sūri" and is especially used when a monk is being consecrated to that rank or during certain ritual occasions.

Key points:

• The sūri-mantra-paṭa is a circular or square cloth with concentric rings of formulas and symbols.
• It is primarily used by Śvetāmbara monks, particularly in the Kharatara-gaccha and related lineages, to mark the elevation to the title of sūri and to guide worship and meditation.
• The practice is traditionally considered secret or transmitted orally within lineages, and many textual ritual handbooks describe its use and recitation.
• Digambara Jain monks do not typically use the sūri-mantra-paṭa in their practices.

Arth (meaning) in brief:

• It represents devotion to the Jinas, reverence for teachers, and the invocation of spiritual powers to aid meditation and virtuous conduct.
• It serves as a structured focal aid for worship and for embodying the ideal of a sūri—the leader and exemplar for the monastic order.

If you’d like, I can share more about how the sūri-mantra-paṭa is used in a specific ceremony or its typical contents, keeping to traditional Jain explanations.