In Jain Dharma, Navkar Mantra is not counted as “12 Navkar” in its meaning. The Navkar Mantra itself has 5 lines of obeisance, not 12.

If someone says “12 Navkar”, they usually mean:

1. Reciting the Navkar Mantra 12 times as a practice, or
2. Referring to 12 auspicious qualities / twelvefold spiritual reflection in some local usage, but that is not the basic definition of Navkar.

The real meaning of Navkar Mantra

It is a prayer of respect to:

• Arihants
• Siddhas
• Acharyas
• Upadhyayas
• All Sadhus

Why do some people count repetitions?

They repeat it 12 times, 108 times, or many more times for:

• concentration of mind
• inner purification
• developing devotion
• staying connected with right faith

So, Navkar is one mantra, and counting it 12 times is only a practice, not the mantra’s actual structure.

If you want, I can also explain why 108 is commonly used with Navkar Mantra.