Illustrated Namokara Mahamantra

Author(s): Shreechand Surana, Surendra Bothra
Publisher: Diwakar Prakashan

Page 43

= APPENDIX-13
VARIOUS APPLICATIONS OF THE NAMOKĀRA MANTRA Namokāra mantra is believed to be a great mantra. This is the root and origin of all mantras. The commentary of the book Pravacanasāroddhāra mentions :
'Sarva mantraratnānāmutpattyäkarasya kalpita padārtha karņāika-kalpadrumasya, vişa-vişadhara-śākini-dākini-yakinyadinigraha niravagraha svabhāvasya............'
This mahāmantra is like an ocean from where all the mantras originate. As many valuable things came out of the ocean, so out of this mahamantra have come numerous useful and potent mantras. This is a wish-fulfilling tree. Its practice fulfils all wishes. With the help of this mantra one can subdue poison, snake, sorceress, witch, conjuress, ghost, exorcist and all.
All the learned teachers of mantrology are unanimous in conveying that namokara mahamantra has, fused within it, such basic sounds (bija mantra) that form the foundation of the whole mantra system. With the help of this mantra, or its combinations with other mantras pacifying, potentive and supportive goals can be achieved. The basic mantra unit in the namokāra is formed by the five lines-"ņamo arihantāṇam, namo siddhāņaṁ.....
At the beginning of this mantra there is no bija-mantra (seed sounds) like Om, Hrin, Srim, etc. This is because namokāra itself is the origin of all bija-mantras. As it is a perfect mantra it does not require any support from any other mantra. The Mantrologist Ācāryas say:
Panava hariyariha i a mantaha bijādi sappahávani,
Sawesim tesim mūlo ikko vara navakura vuru munto. पणव हरियारिहा इअ मंतह बीजादि सप्पहावाणि । सबेसिं तेसिं मूलो इक्को वर नवकार वर मंतो ॥ The origin of pranava (Om), hrim, arham and other potent seed-sounds is this namokara mantra. Om, hrim, srim and other seed-sounds are fused within it. Ācārya Śrī Hemacandra says:
Mantrah pranavapurvoyam falamuihikumicchubhin, Dhyeyah pranavahinastu ninapada kanksibhih.
-Yogaśāstra-8/72 मंत्रः प्रणवपूर्वोयं फलमैहिकमिच्छुभिः । ध्येयः प्रणवहीनस्तु निर्वाणपद-कांक्षिभिः ॥ Those who strive for liberation should meditate on the ņamokara mahāmantra without 'Om'. And those who desire for mundane achievements should meditate with 'Om' ; e. g., 'Om namo .arihantanaṁ.
As per the rules of Kalikāla Sarvajña ācārya Sri Hemacandrasūri's grammarNamo arihantāṇam line is correct as also Namo arihantäņam'.
According to mantrology •Ņamo' sound is more effective. The sound Ņamo' is believed to have within it the eight siddhis (superhuman powers) like Anima.
Namokara mantra is the root of all mantras. It endows everything. As such it can be used, in its mantra configuration, for achieving success in every field of life. What is today accomplished with the aid of machines and medicines was done with the help of mantras by the ancient mantrologists.
For utilizing namokāra as a mantra first it has to be perfected through regular practice. The process of practice should be learned from the experienced seers.
ILLUSTRATED NAMOKĀRA MAHĀMANTRA : APPENDICES
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