Namokar Mantra

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Namokar Mantra
Namokar Mantra/Navkar Mantra
Ṇamōkāra mantra / Navkar Mantra
Information
ReligionJainism
LanguageArdhamagadhi Prakrit
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The Ṇamōkāra mantra is the most significant

upadhyaya
and all the ascetics.

History

Hathigumpha inscription by King Khāravela at Udayagiri Hills

A short inscription (dated 200 BCE to 100 BCE) found in

Kalinga kingdom.[3][4][5] According to historian M. A. Dhaky, these two lines were originally used as mangala (auspicious opening lines) in written works and rituals then.[3]

The Namaskara Mantra with all Pañca-Parameṣṭhi (five supreme souls) was first mentioned in the auspicious opening lines in the condensed edition of Vyākhyāprajñapti. This version also replaces Ardhamagadhi नं with Maharashtrian Prakrit णं.[3] In condensed edition of Avashyakasutra (dated circa last quarter of 5th century), the नं is also replaced with णं as well as अरहंत (Arahant) with अरिहंत (Arihant). Shatkandagam (circa 475–525 CE) and later Visheshavashyakbhashyavritti (circa 725 CE) and Anuyogadwarasuchi shows नमो (Namo) replaced with more Prakit णमो (Namo). However, most Śvetāmbaras still use नमो (Namo) as the Śvetāmbara canon states that Tirthankaras' sermons are in Ardhamagadhi Prakrit, so they prefer the version with नमो (Namo) as they consider it to be the original form of the mantra. Digambaras, on the other hand, believe that Tirthankaras do not speak after attaining Kevala jnana and that there is no specific language in their sermons. Most Digambaras, therefore, prefer reciting the newer version of the mantra written in Maharashtri Prakrit with णमो (Namo).

Composed around the beginning of the Common Era, Chattarimangalam Stotra mentions only Arhat, Siddha, Sadhu and Kevalipragnapti Dharma (Dharma as prescribed by Omniscients) as four chief auspicious. So the three lines regarding Acharya, Upadhyaya and Sadhu must have been added later. The last four lines about phala-prashashti (benefits of chanting) are not older than 6th century CE and are not found in any older works, according to Dhaky.[3] The importance of it as a mantra in texts, traditions, rituals and meditation arose thereafter.[3]

The Ṇamōkāra Mantra

Prakrit Transliteration Meaning
णमो अरिहंताणं Ṇamō Arihantāṇaṁ I bow to the Arihants
णमो सिद्धाणं Ṇamō Siddhāṇaṁ I bow to the Siddhas.
णमो आयरियाणं Ṇamō Ayariyāṇaṁ I bow to the Acharyas.
णमो उवज्झायाणं Ṇamō Uvajjhāyāṇaṁ I bow to the Upadhyayas.
णमो लोए सव्व साहूणं Ṇamō Lōē Savva Sāhūṇaṁ I bow to all of the Sages of the world.
एसो पंच णमोक्कारो, सव्व पावप्पणासणो Ēsō pan̄ca ṇamōkkārō, savva pāvappaṇāsaṇō This five-fold salutation completely destroys all the sins.
मंगला णं च सव्वेसिं, पढमं हवई मंगलं Maṅgalā ṇaṁ ca savvēsiṁ, paḍamama havaī maṅgalaṁ And, of all auspicious mantras, (it) is indeed the foremost auspicious one.

Abbreviations

Further information: Om § Jainism, and Jain symbols § Om

The Namokar Mantra may abbreviated to Oṃ Namaḥ Siddhanam (6 syllables), Om Nhi (2 syllables), or just Om (1 syllable) in Jain literature.[6]

Meaning

Below is the meaning of the Namokar Mantra line by line, wherein the devotee first bows to the five supreme souls or Pañca-Parameṣṭhi:

The miniature depicts the Pancaparameṣṭhi on Siddhaśilā. Folio from the Saṁgrahaṇīratna by Śvetāmbara ascetic Śrīcandra in Prakrit with interlinear Gujarati commentary, 17th century (British Library Or 2116C)

There is no mention of any particular names of the gods or any specific person. The prayer is done towards the guṇa (the good qualities) of the gods, teachers and the saints. Jains do not ask for any favors or material benefits from the tirthankaras or monastics. This mantra simply serves as a gesture of deep respect towards beings whom they believe are spiritually evolved, as well as to remind the people of their ultimate goal i.e. moksha (liberation).[8]

Meditation

Obeisance to Pañca-Parameṣṭhi (five supreme beings)

According to

Jain text:

Meditate on, recite or chant the sacred mantras, consisting of thirty-five, sixteen, six, five, four, two and one letter(s), pronouncing the virtues of the five supreme beings (Pañca-Parameṣṭhi). Besides, meditate on and chant other mantras as per the teachings of the Preceptor (guru).[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ Voorst 2015, p. 107.
  2. ISBN 81-7277-029-4
    .
  3. ^ a b c d e f Dhaky, M. A. (2002). "ઐતિહાસિક પરિપ્રેક્ષ્યમાં 'નમસ્કાર-મંગલ'" ['Namaskara-Mangala' in Historic Perspective]. In Shah, Jitendra B. (ed.). Nirgranth Aitihasik Lekh-Samucchay નિર્ગ્રંથ ઐતિહાસિક લેખ-સમુચ્ચય. Shreshthi Kasturbhai Lalbhai Series, Book 4 (in Gujarati). Vol. 1. Ahmedabad: Shreshthi Kasturbhai Lalbhai Smaraknidhi. pp. 7–18. Retrieved 15 November 2021 – via Jain eLibrary.
  4. ^ Rapson, "Catalogue of the Indian coins of the British Museum. Andhras etc...", p XVII.
  5. ^ Full text of the Hathigumpha Inscription in English Archived 17 November 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ von Glasenapp 1999, pp. 410–411.
  7. ^ Jain 1917, p. 61.
  8. ISBN 1-898723-31-1
    .
  9. ^ Jain 2013, p. 173.

Sources

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