________________ PANCHA PARAMESTHI Chapter 01 - Pancha Paramesthi Namo Arihantanam: I bow down to Arihanta, Namo Siddhanam: I bow down to Siddha, Namo Ayariyanam: I bow down to Acharya, Namo Uvajjhayanam: I bow down to Upadhyay, Namo Loe Savva-Sahunam: 1 bow down to Sadhu and Sadhvi. Eso Pancha Namokkaro: These five fold reverence (bowings downs), Savva-Pavappanasano: Destroy all the sins, Manglanancha Savvesim: Amongst all that is auspicious, Padhamam Havai Mangalam: This Navakar Mantra is the foremost The Navakar Mantra is the most important mantra in Jainism and can be recited at any time. While reciting the Navakar Mantra, we bow down to Arihanta (souls who have reached the state of non-attachment towards worldly matters), Siddhas (liberated souls), Acharyas (heads of Sadhus and Sadhvis), Upadhyays (those who teach scriptures and Jain principles to the followers), and all (Sadhus and Sadhvis (monks and nuns, who have voluntarily given up social, economical and family relationships). Together, they are called Pancha Paramesthi (The five supreme spiritual people). In this Mantra we worship their virtues rather than worshipping any one particular entity; therefore, the Mantra is not named after Lord Mahavir, Lord ParshvaNath or Adi-Nath, etc. When we recite Navakar Mantra, it also reminds us that, we need to be like them. This mantra is also called Namaskar or Namokar Mantra because in this Mantra we offer Namaskar (bowing down) to these five supreme group beings. Recitation of the Navakar Mantra creates positive vibrations around us, and repels negative ones. The Navakar Mantra contains the foremost message of Jainism. The message is very clear. If we want to be liberated from the cycle of life and death, we need to renounce worldly affairs by becoming a monk or a nun. This is just the beginning. If we stay on the right path, we will progress to a higher spiritual state, Kevali or Arihanta, and ultimately proceed to become Siddha after nirvana (liberation from the cycle of birth and death). The goal of every soul is to become a Siddha. Arihantas The word Arihanta is made up of two words: 1) Ari means enemies, and 2) Hant means destroyer. Therefore, Arihanta means a destroyer of enemies. The enemies referred to here are internal: inner desires and passions. The passions include anger, ego, deceit, and greed. Until we eliminate these passions, the real nature or the power of our soul will not be realized or manifested. When a person (soul) wins over these inner enemies he/she is called a Kevali (omniscient) and Jina (victor). JAIN PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE Jain Education International Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org