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NAVKAR MANTRA IN JAIN RELIGION
The three significant teachings of Jain religion are described in the following shloka.
"Vitrag samo Devo, Shatrunjay samo Giri Namaskar samo mantra, na bhuto na bhavishyati"
Chandrakant Mehta 5 Lucille Drive, Parsippany, NJ 07054
cbmehto 2002@yahoo.com
There is no God in the universe like Vitrag Dev (Tirthankar). Vitrag is the one who has reached the state of non-attachment towards worldly matters. Secondly there are many holy mountains in the world. Shatrunjay is the holiest because infinite souls were liberated on this mountain and it will stay forever.
Thirdly among all holy mantras Namaskar mantra is the holiest. No such thing in comparison to these three, Vitrag Dev, Giriraj Shatrunjay, and Namaskar mantra, had happened in the past nor will they occur in the
future.
Chandrakant Mehta has been giving discourses
on Jainism for the past nineteen years.
He is a well-respected Jain scholar who has provided a remarkable contribution by giving lectures, arranging
Samayiks, and Shibirs in many Jain centers of USA, Canada, Singapore, and Bangkok. He holds
a Masters degree in Physics from India and a Masters degree in nuclear engineering
from USA He retired in 2005 to devote more time for religious activities.
Navkar mantra is also known as Namaskar mantra or Namokar mantra. We recite Navkar mantra everyday. Mantra is an energy. There are thousands of Mantras in Jain religion. The greatest Mantra of all mantras is Navkar mantra due to some special characteristics and attributes.
1. There is neither demand nor any expectations from Navkar mantra. All
other mantras have some form of hidden ambition or demand. For example, most mantras use phrase such as "mama Vanchitam","Vancha Purni","Prasid prasid", "bhave bhave tumh chalananam", "Bhave bhave pas Jinchand", etc. In simple terms we ask for a favor to fulfill our ambitions by reciting other mantras. Navkar mantra does not have any word that begs for something. All ambitions automatically dissolve in Navkar mantra.
2. In Navkar mantra, the namaskar (bow) is not towards any individual.
For example it does not say "namo Mahaviranam" or "Namo Hemchandracharya" or "Namo Kundkundacharya". The namaskar is towards the five supreme beings. This type of namaskar has no boundary. It doesn't matter which Bhagvan you bow as long as he is Vitrag. The same is true for any Acharya, Upadhyaya or Sadhu. No particular name is mentioned. It does not matter which religion Sadhu belongs as long as he follows the path shown by Vitrag Parmatma.
3. All other mantras are extinguishable while Navkar mantra is permanent.
4. It is the holy nectar that is produced by squeezing all Aagams. So it
is called the cream of fourteen purvas.
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