The Ṇamōkāra mantra, also variously referred to as the Navakār Mantra, Namaskār Mantra or the Pancha Parameshti Namaskār, is the most significant mantra in Jainism. This is the 1st prayer recited by the Jains while doing Samayik. While reciting this mantra, the devotee bows with respect to the humans who have cleared their gati karmas (arihants), the fully liberated souls (siddhas), the spiritual leaders (acharyas), the teachers (upajjhayas) and the monks.
There is no mention of any particular names of the gods. The prayer is done towards the guna, or the good qualities of the gods, teachers and the saints. Jains do not ask for any favors or material benefits from the Tirthankaras or from sadhus and sadhvis. This mantra simply serves as a gesture of deep respect towards beings they believe are spiritually ahead and to remind the people of their ultimate goal of nirvana or moksa.
Digambaras and Sthanakvasis regard the first five lines as the main mantra, the following two lines are explanatory.
History
A 162 BCE inscription, the Hathigumpha inscription mentions the Namokar Mantra and Jain monarch Khārabēḷa.
The Ṇamōkāra Mantra
| Ṇamō Arihantāṇaṁ | I bow to the arihants. |
| Ṇamō Siddhāṇaṁ | I bow to the Siddhass. |
| Ṇamō Ayariyāṇaṁ | I bow to the Acharyass. |
| Ṇamō Uvajjhāyāṇaṁ | I bow to the Upadhyays. |
| Ṇamō Lōē Savva Sāhūṇaṁ | I bow to all the Sadhus & Sadhvis. |
| Ēsōpan̄caṇamōkkārō, savvapāvappaṇāsaṇō Maṅgalā ṇaṁ ca savvēsiṁ, paḍamama havaī maṅgalaṁ | This five-fold bow (mantra) destroys all sins and obstacles and of all auspicious mantras, is the first and foremost one. |
Jain Prakrit:
- णमो अरिहंताणं
- णमो सिद्धाणं
- णमो आयरियाणं
- णमो उवज्झायाणं
- णमो लोए सव्व साहूणं
- एसोपंचणमोक्कारो, सव्वपावप्पणासणो
- मंगला णं च सव्वेसिं, पडमम हवई मंगलं
Tamil:
- அருகரை வணங்குகிறேன்;
- சித்தரை வணங்குகிறேன்;
- ஆசாரியரை வணங்குகிறேன்;
- உபாத்தியாயரை வணங்குகிறேன்;
- சாதுக்கள் எல்லாரையும் வணங்குகிறேன்;
- இந்த ஐவர் வணக்கம் எல்லா தீமைகளையும் ஒழிப்பது.
- இம் மங்கலம் எல்லா மங்கலங்களிலும் முதன்மை ஆனது.[6]
Kannada:
- ಓಂ ಣಮೋ ಅರಿಹಂತಾಣಂ
- ಣಮೋ ಸಿದ್ಧಾಣಂ
- ಣಮೋ ಆಯರಿಯಾಣಂ
- ಣಮೋ ಊವಜ್ಜಾಯಾಣಂ
- ಣಮೋ ಲೋಯೆ ಸವ್ವ ಸಾಹೂಣಂ
- ಯೆಸೊ ಪಂಚ ನಮೊಕಾರೋ ಸವ್ವ ಪಾವ ಪಣಾಸಣೋ
- ಮಂಗಳಾಯ ಚ ಸವೆಸಿಮ್, ಪಡಮಮ್ ಹವಹಿ ಮಂಗಳಂ
English :
- Namo Arihantanam
- Namo Siddhanam
- Namo ayariyanam
- Namo Uvajjhayanam
- Namo Loe Savva sahunam
- Esopancanamokkaro, savvapavappanasano
- Mangalanam e savvesim, padamama havai mangalam