Answer

As per the Śvetāmbara Jain tradition, a woman may mentally remember or chant the Navkār Mantra during menstruation, because the Navkār Mantra is a pure form of devotion and inner remembrance of the Pañca-Parameṣṭhī.

However, during menstruation, many Śvetāmbara households and temple traditions observe certain maryādās such as:

• Not entering the temple or derāsar
• Not touching murtis, scriptures, pūjā items, or religious vessels
• Not performing dravya-pūjā or rituals involving physical religious objects
• Maintaining personal rest and physical care

But bhāv-pūjā, inner devotion, reflection, repentance, and mental chanting of Navkār Mantra are generally considered appropriate.

Explanation

In Jain Dharma, the Navkār Mantra is not a prayer to one individual being; it is reverence to the highest spiritual qualities:

• Arihant
• Siddha
• Āchārya
• Upādhyāya
• Sādhu-Sādhvī

So remembering the Navkār Mantra with faith, humility, and purity of intention is spiritually beneficial at any time.

The restrictions during menstruation in Śvetāmbara practice are mainly connected with external religious conduct and ritual purity, not with stopping inner devotion. Jain Dharma gives great importance to bhāv — the inner state of the soul.

Spiritual Understanding

Menstruation is a natural bodily process. From a spiritual point of view, the soul itself is separate from the body. Therefore, inner remembrance of the Pañca-Parameṣṭhī is not spiritually wrong.

At the same time, Śvetāmbara tradition also values maryādā, discipline, and respect for temple customs. So a balanced approach is:

• Chant Navkār Mantra mentally or softly at home
• Do not touch religious objects if your family or temple follows that maryādā
• Avoid derāsar entry during those days if that is the accepted local practice
• Maintain devotion through reflection, forgiveness, and peaceful thoughts

Takeaway

As per Śvetāmbara Jain tradition, chanting or remembering Navkār Mantra during menstruation is acceptable as inner devotion, but one should respectfully avoid physical temple rituals and religious objects according to family, guru, and local derāsar maryādā.