What you are doing is very much in line with Jain bhāv (inner feeling) of ahiṁsā and jīva-dayā.

I’ll explain in a simple, step-by-step way:

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1. What is actually happening when you do this?

Situation: You see a small creature (mosquito, cockroach, honeybee, etc.):

• already dying, badly injured, or in its final moments
• you don’t kill it, you just keep your hand near it and recite Navkār Mantra with compassion

So there are two main parts:

1. External act (dravya):

- You are not increasing violence. - You are not torturing, playing, or experimenting on it. - You are physically calm and non-harmful.

1. Internal state (bhāva):

- You feel karuṇā (compassion) for a suffering jīva. - You remember the Pañcha-Parameṣṭhī through Navkār Mantra. - You may be wishing: “May its pain reduce, may it get better life ahead, may it move toward liberation.”

According to Jain Dharma, bhāva (inner intention) is more important than external show.

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2. Does it help that insect?

In Jainism, two things are separate:

1. Your bhāva (intention, purity of heart).
2. The insect’s own karma and life-span (āyu-karman).

What can your chanting not do?

• You cannot magically cancel or cut the āyu of that jīva.
• The exact moment of its death is decided by its own past karma, not by our wish.
• You cannot “transfer” your puṇya into that soul like a gift that changes its fixed karmas.

So we should not imagine: “I chanted, so now his death stopped,” or “Now surely he got human birth.” Such guarantees are not given in Jain scriptures.

Then what good can it do for that jīva?

According to Jain viewpoint, your behaviour can still have subtle effects:

• You do not add new hiṁsā to that soul’s suffering.

(e.g., you are not pressing, burning, cutting, etc.)

• You create a peaceful, non-violent environment around a dying jīva.

Disturbance, fear, and extra pain are not added.

• Your non-harmful presence means:

- Less new painful karma is bound by that jīva due to extra fear/anger. - Its death can be a little calmer compared to if it was crushed or tortured.

In simple words: You cannot rewrite its past karmas, but you can avoid increasing its misery and your own karmic burden.

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3. How does it help you?

This is where the benefit is very clear and very strong:

1. Reduction of pāpa (sinful karmas)

- You are not killing. So: - No new gross violence karma from your side. - You are remembering Navkār, so: - You are bowing to Arihant, Siddha, Āchārya, Upādhyāya, Sādhu. - This pure reverence is said to destroy sinful karmas and create puṇya. (Eso pañcha namokkāro, savva pāvappaṇāsano...)

1. Strong cultivation of ahiṁsā-bhāva

Every time you stop and care for a tiny jīva: - Your heart becomes softer and more sensitive to all life. - The ego of “my comfort is everything” slowly reduces. - You start seeing soul instead of “just an insect”.

1. Growth of samyaktva-like qualities

- Remembering Navkār Mantra in real-life situations (not only in temple) is a sign that: - Dharma is entering your daily reactions, not just your lips. - Such repeated practice supports: - more awareness - more equanimity - less anger/fear/disgust toward lower forms of life.

1. Formation of very good saṁskārs (impressions)

Over time, this becomes your natural nature: - To protect rather than kill. - To chant rather than panic or hate. This is very powerful for future births also, because: - Sanskārs of compassion and Navkār remembrance travel with the soul.

So spiritually, you are helped greatly.

You can read more about Navkār Mantra and its benefits here

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4. Is there anything to correct or be careful about?

A few gentle points to keep your practice fully in line with Jain Dharma:

1. Do not hold them in a way that causes more pain.

- If touching or lifting makes them struggle more, it may increase their distress. - Best is often to: - Keep a little distance, - Avoid sudden movements, - If needed, very gently move them away from obvious danger (like fire, water, fan).

1. Avoid attachment or over-sentimental guilt.

- Compassion is good; - But deep emotional attachment, crying, or extreme guilt can create inner disturbance in you and sometimes also around the dying jīva. - Aim for calm compassion (śānta karuṇā), not restless sorrow.

1. Right understanding of Navkār Mantra

- When you chant, remember: - “I am bowing to the highest purity of soul (Pañcha-Parameṣṭhī). May I also walk on that path. May all jīvas, including this one, ultimately move toward such purity.” - Don’t turn it unconsciously into: - “Now Bhagwān must save it exactly as I wish.” Jain Navkār is vandana of virtues, not a command for miracles.

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5. Summary in very simple words

• What you are doing is good, gentle, and Jain-minded.
• It definitely helps you:

- You avoid himsā, - You gain puṇya, - You strengthen compassion and Navkār-smaraṇ.

• For the insect:

- You cannot change its fixed life-span, - But you avoid adding extra pain and fear, - And create a more peaceful atmosphere for its last moments.

If you quietly stand or sit near it, with a soft heart, reciting Navkār Mantra and wishing well for all souls, that is a beautiful practice of jīva-dayā in daily life.