In the context of Jainism, "Panhar" refers to the ritual or practice of drawing a symbolic protective line or boundary—often with sacred substances such as water, rice, or sandalwood—around a space, object, or person. This is done to invoke spiritual protection and to keep away negative influences or impurities, especially during important religious ceremonies, pujas, or while reciting holy texts.

The belief is that such a boundary helps maintain the sanctity of the area and ensures that the activities performed within are pure and undisturbed. The practice of Panhar is observed in both Svetambara and Digambara Jain traditions, especially during key rituals like Paryushana, Pratikraman, or while establishing a temporary shrine at home.

The specifics of how Panhar is done and the accompanying prayers may vary between sects and regions. However, the core idea remains to safeguard the spiritual environment in alignment with the Jain principles of purity (shuddhi) and non-violence (ahimsa).