Answer

Yes, you may use the same rudraksha mala for doing Nam Jap of the Navkar Mantra, if your intention is pure and respectful.

In Jain Dharma, the main importance is given to:

• Bhav — inner feeling and devotion
• Shraddha — faith
• Shuddhata — purity of mind, speech, and body
• Ekagrata — concentration

The mala is only a helpful tool for counting and focusing. The spiritual power of Navkar Mantra comes from reverence toward the Arihant, Siddha, Acharya, Upadhyay, and Sadhu, not from the material of the mala.

Explanation

Rudraksha is commonly associated with Shaiv tradition, while in Jain practice people often use different types of malas such as:

• Chandan mala
• Sphatik mala
• Tulsi mala in some communities
• Simple counting mala

But Jain Dharma does not teach that Navkar Mantra becomes invalid if counted on a mala previously used for another mantra.

If you feel mentally uncomfortable because the same mala was used earlier for “Om Namah Shivaya,” then for your own peace of mind you may keep a separate mala only for Navkar Mantra. This is not compulsory, but it may help your concentration and devotional feeling.

Spiritual Understanding

Navkar Mantra is not a prayer to one individual deity. It is a salutation to the highest spiritual qualities:

• Complete knowledge
• Freedom from karma
• Right conduct
• Renunciation
• Liberated consciousness

So while doing Navkar Mantra jap, the most important thing is to keep the mind humble, pure, non-violent, and focused.

Takeaway

You can use the same rudraksha mala for Navkar Mantra jap. But if you want to maintain a separate mala only for Jain mantra practice, that is also a good and respectful choice. The main thing is pure bhav and sincere devotion.