Navkar Mantra is the central prayer in Jainism, but there is no canonical rule that it must be chanted exactly 160 times. The standard practice across many Jain communities is to chant or recite Navkar in various commonly used counts (for example 7 times in some daily routines, 108 times in others, or larger counts on special occasions). The important thing is the reverent intention and mindfulness, not a fixed number. Some events or sanghs may choose large numbers for collective prayers (e.g., world peace campaigns or special observances), but 160 is not a universally prescribed number in Jain scriptures or core tradition. You can read more about common counts and the idea of Navkar in Jain teachings here .

Key points about Navkar Mantra:

• It venerates the five supreme beings (Arihant, Siddha, Acharya, Upadhyaya, Sadhu) and emphasizes humility, non-attachment, and reverence for true spiritual qualities.
• It is recited by Jains of all sects and is often the first prayer taught to children.
• Counts vary by tradition and occasion; the spiritual focus is on sincerity and purification rather than a fixed number.

If you’d like, I can point you to a specific JainKnowledge page that explains Navkar in more detail.