First Steps to Jainism Part 1

Author(s): Sancheti Asso Lal, Manakmal Bhandari
Publisher: Sancheti Trust Jodhpur

Page 97

The Five Worships 83
Namo Nannassa - I bow to knowledge. Namo Dassanassa - I bow to vision. Namo Charitassa - I bow to conduct. Namo Tavassa - I bow to penance.
(c) (d)
It needs no mention that knowledge, vision, conduct and penance mean right knowledge, right vision, right conduct and right penance dealt with under the chapter "Three Jewels" and there is no need of repetition of their importance. However, it should again be clear that these also involve worship of the qualities and not individuals which only reiterates the catholicity of the prayer.
13. As an abbreviated form this mantra is recited as "A" SI "AA" "U" "SA" and still further as Om , which is claimed to be the Navkar Mantra in the shortest form as explained in the next paragraph.
A
14. The first letter of the five worships is given below
C : One form
Second form (i) Arihanta
A (ii) Siddha
Si (Also known as A
Ashariri-Bodyless) (iii) Acharyas
АА
AA iv) Upadhyaya
U (v) Shadhu or Muni
M for muni
U
Sa
The short form emerging from column B is A (3), Si, (PA) AA, (371) U, (3) SA () i.e. ASIAA USA. (31431157). From column C we find A-A-AA-U -M means Om, (5) the crescent and star on top indicating the liberated soul. Both these abbreviated forms are called beeja mantra and are frequently used for meditation.
15. As stated earlier, recitation of this mantra is a must for every Jain, morning and evening. He may not know anything else but a Jain will know the Namokar Mantra. Elaborated this mantra contains not only the Jain theology but also the Jain metaphysics and ethics. It is, therefore, rightly claimed that Namaskar mantra