Answer

While doing Upwas, if you are allowed to drink water according to your vow, you may chant the Navkar Mantra once before drinking water from a bottle or glass.

There is no universally fixed rule in Jain Dharma that it must be chanted a specific number of times before every sip or glass of water.

Explanation

In Jain practice, chanting the Navkar Mantra before drinking water is done with devotion, mindfulness, and purity of thought.

Commonly, people may chant:

• 1 time before drinking water
• 3 times if they wish to do it with more devotion
• More times as per personal bhavna or family/guru tradition

If you have taken a specific pratyakhyan or vow, then you should follow the instruction given by your Guru Maharaj, Sadhvi ji, or knowledgeable elder.

Spiritual Understanding

The purpose is not only the number of chants, but the inner feeling:

• To drink with awareness
• To avoid carelessness during Upwas
• To remember the Panch Parmesthi
• To keep the mind calm and pure

Takeaway

Chanting Navkar Mantra once before drinking water is generally sufficient, unless your guru or family tradition has instructed a specific number. Mindfulness and purity of bhavna are most important.