Reverse Navkar (Ulta Navkar) means chanting the 5 main lines of Navkar Mahamantra from last to first. Text is the same — only the order is reversed.

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1. Full Reverse Navkar – in order

In Ardhamāgadhī (standard Navkar text), reverse order is:

1. णमो लोए सव्वसाहूणं
2. णमो उवज्झायाणं
3. णमो आयरियाणं
4. णमो सिद्धाणं
5. णमो अरिहंताणं

Shwetambar / Digambar both accept this form; only small pronunciation/spelling differences occur (like “सव्व” / “सब्ब”, “साहूणं” / “साहूणं”). Essence is the same.

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2. Line–by–line pronunciation (broken down)

I’ll write each line, then break it into easy parts with English-style sounds.

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(1) णमो लोए सव्वसाहूणं

Transliteration: Ṇamo loe savva sāhūṇaṁ

Breakdown:

• णमो = Ṇa–mo

- Ṇa = “Na” with tongue slightly curled back (retroflex N) - mo = like “mo” in “more” (short ‘o’)

• लोए = lo–e

- lo = “lo” in “low” (do not drag too long) - e = like “e” in “they” (a clear “ay”) → Together often sounds like “lo–e” or soft “loe”

• सव्व = sav–va

- sav = “sav” as in “suffer” (short a) - va = “vuh” (soft ‘v’)

• साहूणं = sā–hū–ṇaṁ

- sā = “saa” (long aa, like in “father”) - hū = “hoo” (as in “who”) - ṇaṁ = “num” with retroflex N and very light ‘m’ at end

Put together slowly: Ṇa‑mo lo‑e sav‑va sā‑hoo‑ṇam

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(2) णमो उवज्झायाणं

Transliteration: Ṇamo uvajjhāyāṇaṁ

Breakdown:

• णमो = Ṇa–mo (same as above)

• उवज्झा = u–vaj–jhā

- u = “u” in “put” (short) - vaj = “vuj” (like “judge” but with ‘v’ at start) - jhā = “jhaa” (like “jh” + long “aa”)

• याणं = yā–ṇaṁ

- yā = “yaa” (as in “yarn”) - ṇaṁ = “num” with retroflex N and light ‘m’

Together: Ṇa‑mo u‑vuj‑jhā‑yaa‑ṇam

Common smooth recitation: “Namo uvajjhāyāṇam” → “Na‑mo u‑vaj‑jhaa‑yaa‑ṇam”

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(3) णमो आयरियाणं

Transliteration: Ṇamo āyariyāṇaṁ

Breakdown:

• णमो = Ṇa–mo

• आय = ā–ya

- ā = long “aa” - ya = “ya” in “yard”

• रि = ri

- ri = “ri” in “river” (short i)

• या = yā

- yā = “yaa”

• णं = ṇaṁ

- “num” with retroflex N and light ‘m’

Together: Ṇa‑mo aa‑ya‑ri‑yaa‑ṇam

Natural flow: “Namo āyariyāṇam” → “Na‑mo aa‑ya‑ri‑yaa‑ṇam”

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(4) णमो सिद्धाणं

Transliteration: Ṇamo siddhāṇaṁ

Breakdown:

• णमो = Ṇa–mo

• सिद्धा = sid–dhā

- sid = “sid” (as in the name “Sid”) - dhā = “dhaa” (soft ‘dh’ with long aa)

• णं = ṇaṁ

- “num” with retroflex N

Together: Ṇa‑mo sid‑dhaa‑ṇam

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(5) णमो अरिहंताणं

Transliteration: Ṇamo arihantāṇaṁ

Breakdown:

• णमो = Ṇa–mo

• अ = a

- a = short “uh”

• रि = ri

- ri = “ri” in “river”

• हं = haṁ

- ha = “huh” (short) - ṃ (anusvār) = very soft nasal, like a hint of “ng/m”

• ता = tā

- tā = “taa” (long aa)

• णं = ṇaṁ

- “num” with retroflex N

Together (grouped by sense): Ṇa‑mo a‑ri‑han‑taa‑ṇam

Many people smoothly say: “Namo arihantāṇam” → “Na‑mo a‑ri‑han‑taa‑ṇam”

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3. Important points about traditions

• Text: Same five lines in both Digambar and Shwetambar traditions.
• Differences: Only very small sound/spelling shifts:

- “savva / sabba” - slight change in nasal “ṃ” placement

• Meaning & spiritual effect: Accepted as identical; no difference in essence.

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4. Simple way to practice correct reverse pronunciation

1. First learn forward Navkar with correct uchchhāra (pronunciation).
2. Then, for reverse:

- Recite each line slowly, syllable by syllable as above. - Focus on: - clear long / short vowels (a vs ā, i vs ī, u vs ū) - gentle retroflex “ṇ” (tongue slightly back) - soft nasal at the end of “ṇं / णं” (not a heavy “M”).

1. After it becomes clear and steady, you can chant in normal speed.

You can read more about the purpose of reverse Navkar and its use in tapa and removing obstacles here