Navkar Mantra
નમો અરિહંતાણં
નમો સિધ્ધાણં નમો આયરિયાણં નમો ઉવજ્ઝાયાણં નમો લોએ સવ્વ સાહૂણં એસો પંચ નમુક્કારો સવ્વ પાવપ્પણાસણો મંગલાણં ચ સવ્વેસિં ૫ઢમં હવઈ મંગલં |
Namo Arihantanam
Namo Sidhdhanam Namo Ayariyanam Namo Uvajzhayanam Namo Loay Savva Sahunam Eso Panch Namukkaro Savva Pava Panasano Mangalanam cha Savvesim Padhamam Havai Mangalam |
I bow down to Arihants
Arihants are awakened souls who have gained keval jnana (enlightenment). They are victorious - conquerors or destroyers of karmas like ego desire, greed and anger. They are illuminated in knowledge. In this state of spirituality they no longer generate any new karmic ties. They live out their old (prarabdha) karma - both good and bad - before they can move on to the next stage and become fully liberated - or Sidhdhas. I bow down to Sidhdhas Sidhdhas are the souls who have attained moksha - the ultimate spiritual goal of freedom and liberation. They are free from the shackles of karma and the birth-rebirth cycle. I bow down to Acharyas Acharyas are the spiritual leaders / heads / chief preceptors who lead the sangha. They uphold the key tenets of Jainism. (like the Pope is to the Roman Catholic Church). I bow down to Upadhyayas Upadhyayas are the spiritual teachers who impart knowledge from the Jain scriptures or Agams. I bow down to all Sadhus in the universe Sadhus (and sadhvis) are those who have made the commitment and embarked on the spiritual path to liberation. The five-fold obeisance We humbly / selflessly / without ego bow down to the Panch-Paramesthi (five types of supreme beings - the Sidhdhas, Arihants, Acharyas, Upadhyayas and Sadhus) with the greatest of reverence and respect. These are our mentors who are way ahead of us on the spiritual path to the ultimate goal of liberation. We aspire to attain their level. All the sins annihilates / Destroys all sins Of all that is auspicious / Amongst all auspicious things This [prayer / five-fold salutation] is supreme - the most auspicious Note: This five-fold salutation is not directed to any specific person or individual. It is for the attributes (virtues/qualities) that the Panch Paramesthi embody. Together there are 108 attributes (12 for Arihants, 8 for Siddhas, 36 for Acharyas, 25 for Upadhyayas and 27 for Sadhus) - equivalent to the 108 beads on the Jain mala (rosary). |