Here is clear, simple information about the Navkār (Navkār / Namokār / Namaskār) Mantra.

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1. Original Navkār Mantra (traditional text)

In Ardhamāgadhī Prakrit:

णमो अरिहंताणं । णमो सिद्धाणं । णमो आयरियाणं । णमो उवज्झायाणं । णमो लोए सव्वसाहूणं ।

ए’सो पंच णमोक्क्कारो, सव्व पावप्पणासणो । मंगलाणं च सव्वेसिं, पडह्मं हवई मंगलं ॥

Transliteration:

Namo Arihantāṇam Namo Siddhāṇam Namo Āyariyāṇam Namo Uvajjhāyāṇam Namo Loe Savva Sāhūṇam

Eso pancha Namokkāro, savva pāvappaṇāsano Maṅgalāṇaṃ cha savvesiṃ, paḍhamaṃ havai maṅgalaṃ

You can read more here

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2. Simple meaning (arth) – line by line

1) णमो अरिहंताणं – Namo Arihantāṇam I bow to the Arihants – living perfected beings who have destroyed inner passions like anger, pride, deceit, and greed, and have attained keval-jñān (omniscience).

2) णमो सिद्धाणं – Namo Siddhāṇam I bow to the Siddhas – fully liberated souls, who are free from all karmas and from birth and death, residing at the top of the universe (Siddha-śilā).

3) णमो आयरियाणं – Namo Āyariyāṇam I bow to the Āchāryas – heads of the Jain ascetic order, who guard and guide the path of right conduct (samyak-chāritra).

4) णमो उवज्झायाणं – Namo Uvajjhāyāṇam I bow to the Upādhyāyas – teachers of scriptures and spiritual discipline, who help others understand and practice dharma.

5) णमो लोए सव्वसाहूणं – Namo Loe Savva Sāhūṇam I bow to all Sādhus and Sādhvīs – all Jain monks and nuns in the universe who follow vows and practice self-discipline.

Concluding gāthās:

6) ए’सो पंच णमोक्क्कारो, सव्व पावप्पणासणो This five‑fold salutation destroys all sins (karmic defilements).

7) मंगलाणं च सव्वेसिं, पढमं हवई मंगलं Among all auspicious things, this is the foremost auspicious.

Essence:

• We are not asking for money, health, or worldly favors.
• We are saluting the highest spiritual qualities of these five supreme beings (Pañcha‑Parameṣṭhi).
• By remembering and bowing to these guṇas (virtues), our own soul becomes purer and karmas are shed.

You can see a simple explanation here

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3. Why it is called “Navkār / Namokār / Navakār”

• “Nam” / “Namo” means bowing / salutation.
• “Namokār” = the mantra of bowing (namaskār).
• “Navkār / Navakār” is the common Gujarati/Hindi-style name; the meaning is the same.

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4. Importance in Jain Dharma

• It is the most basic and most sacred mantra for all Jains.
• It is universal – no individual name, no sect, no caste.
• It is recited:

- in the morning and night - before starting any good work - in pratikraman, samayik, fasting, paryushan, etc.

• It helps:

- calm and focus the mind - develop humility and respect - reduce attachment and passions - destroy pāp (bad karmas) and create puṇya (merit) in a spiritual way

More details are given here

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5. Digambar and Shvetāmbara – any difference?

• Both traditions fully accept the Navkār Mantra.
• Minor differences are only in pronunciation:

- e.g. “Loe” vs. “Logo”, small sound changes.

• The five salutation lines are the same in meaning and status.
• The two concluding maṅgal gāthās (“Eso pancha Namokkāro…”) are:

- commonly recited in Śvetāmbara practice, - in Digambar practice, sometimes only the five main lines are recited, but the same sense of “most auspicious” is accepted.

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6. Main spiritual points to remember

• We bow to qualities, not bodies or names.
• This mantra is a path‑reminder:

- From Arihant → Siddha (goal), - guided by Āchārya and Upādhyāya, - and followed in life by all Sādhus/Sādhvīs.

• Reciting with right faith (samyaktva), understanding, and peaceful mind slowly:

- weakens anger, ego, greed, etc. - supports progress towards moksha.

If you want, you can now start by chanting it slowly 9 times daily, thinking of each line’s meaning as given above.