Answer

In Jain Dharma, the five colours connected with Panch Parmeshthi are commonly understoodated in the Namokar Mantra tradition as:

• Arihant Bhagwan – White colour
• Siddha Bhagwan – Red colour
• Acharya Bhagwant – Yellow colour
• Upadhyay Bhagwant – Green colour
• Sadhu / Sadhvi Bhagwant – Black or Blue colour

These colours are used especially in the Panglik / Navkar Mantra symbol and devotional representations.

Explanation

• White – Arihant Parmeshthi
  Arihants are the living enlightened beings who have destroyed the four destructive karmas and teach the path to liberation. White represents purity, peace, and spiritual radiance.
• Red – Siddha Parmeshthi
  Siddhas are liberated souls who have destroyed all karmas and reside forever at Siddhashila. Red represents supreme energy, completeness, and the highest state of the soul.
• Yellow – Acharya Parmeshthi
  Acharyas are the spiritual heads of the Jain Sangh. They guide monks, nuns, and laypeople according to Jain discipline. Yellow represents wisdom, discipline, and spiritual authority.
• Green – Upadhyay Parmeshthi
  Upadhyays are learned saints who study and teach Jain scriptures. Green represents knowledge, growth, learning, and scriptural understanding.
• Black or Blue – Sadhu Parmeshthi
  Sadhus and Sadhvis are renunciants who follow the path of self-control, non-attachment, and spiritual practice. Black or blue represents strength, depth, austerity, and the ability to absorb and overcome karmic impurities through tapa and sadhana.

Spiritual Understanding

The colours are not worshipped as separate deities. They help devotees remember the five supreme beings:

• Arihant – the perfected teacher
• Siddha – the liberated soul
• Acharya – the spiritual leader
• Upadhyay – the scripture teacher
• Sadhu / Sadhvi – the practicing ren-ragi saints

By bowing to Panch Parmeshthi, we bow to their qualities, not to any worldly personality.

Takeaway

The five colours of Panch Parmeshthi remind us of the five highest spiritual ideals in Jain Dharma: purity, liberation, discipline, knowledge, and renunciation.