English translation of navkar mantra
Here is the English translation of the Navkar Mantra (Namokar Mantra), which is the foundational Jain prayer:
- Namo Arihantanam — I bow to the Arihants (the enlightened beings who have conquered inner enemies and attained omniscience).
- Namo Siddhanam — I bow to the Siddhas (the liberated souls who have attained Moksha).
- Namo Ayariyanam — I bow to the Acharyas (the heads of the religious order and spiritual teachers).
- Namo Ujjhayanam — I bow to the Upadhyayas (the teachers who impart sacred knowledge).
- Namo Loe Savvasahunam — I bow to all Sadhus and Sadhvis (monks and nuns) in the world.
Eso Pancha Namokaro — These five salutations. Savva-pavappanasano — Destroy all the sins. Mangalanam cha Savvesim — Among all that is auspicious, this is most auspicious. Padhamam Havei Mangalam — This Navkar Mantra is the foremost auspicious.
Notes:
- The meaning above reflects the traditional Jain understanding: reverence to the five kinds of supreme beings, and the mantra’s claim to destroy sins and be auspicious.
- There are minor spelling variations between Digambar and Shwetambar traditions (for example, Ayriyanam vs Äyariyänam, Ujjhayanam vs Uvajjhāyānām, etc.), but the essential meaning remains the same.