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FOREWORD
The inner force (the power of the soul) is the most vital force the human beings have. Meditation, repetition, chanting, eulogising, devotion, veneration, etc., are all instruments for awakening that infinite force. With the help of the God, the Guru, a mantra or other such sources we may develop and sharpen our inner powers. All miracles have their source in the developed and intense inner powers.
Namokara Mahamantra is an extraordinary mantra. It is aimed at visualisation, remembrance, pondering, meditation and realisation of the fully developed and the developing pure forms of the soul and not at some personified deity. That is why this mantra is eternal and perpetual.
The common mantras give mundane benefits only, but the extraordinary mantras give mundane as well as spiritual benefits. As such the Namokara Mantra is believed to be the all-fulfilling unique spiritual mantra. Reading what is available in the Jain literature about the inconceivable powers of this Mahamantra the mind is flooded with faith and belief. Every pore becomes full of elation and there arises a strong desire to depend on this Mahamantra absolutely.
So much has been written about the greatness, form, practices, experiments and other such topics that it is impossible to read in one life time. But still the demand for new books from the devotees continues.
It is probably for the first time that such a beautiful and live-illustrated publication of the Namokara Mahamantra has been done. Thus it is unique and unparalleled.
Illustrations have their own utility and meaningfulness. Illustrations make it easy to understand quickly and naturally a subject that is difficult to grasp even with the help of volumes of books, serious discourses or long discussions. The process of stabilising mind with the help of visualisation of a thing has been termed as pinḍasthadhyana (on physical objects), padasthadhyana (on syllables or sounds), and rüpasthadhyana (on the divine form) in the Yogakastra.
Plenty of detailed and probing study, pondering and analysis of many related works has been put in while conceptualising and layingout the illustrations of this book. There are numerous problems in giving form to the formless. I have tried my best that the overall form, methods of meditation, process of chanting, chromatology and the multifaceted uses and benefits of the Namaskara mantra are presented with the help of imaginative and attractive illustrations so that millions of Jains, having faith in the Namokara mantra, may understand this deep subject. Thousands of Jain youth may easily understand the concepts of Arihanta, Siddha, Acarya, Upadhyaya and Sadhu and may take interest in the meditation and chanting of the supreme venerables.
They will also be able to utilise the miraculous effects of the Namokara Mahamantra in solving the economic, family, social and psychological problems that mostly arise out of mental feebleness.
For example see the 'The Self Protection Shield' (Illustration)
The security, of life and wealth is the most important subject in modern life. Everyone is worried about his security. The self-protection shield constituted with Namokára is an astonishing and miraculous solution of this problem. This shield increases our inner power and self confidence and any attack, blow or accident is automatically avoided.
We hear of many incidents of removal of ailments, poverty, fears, and torments of many a people with the help of Namokara repetitions. Experiences of wish-fulfillment have also been heard of. As such, without any doubt it can be accepted that the Namokara mantra is helpful in tackling the problems, difficulties, worries, and hurdles of life; in fact it is the most effective help for the soul.
Jain Education International
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