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5. Any person lying on the death bed is considered very fortunate if he
can listen Navkar mantra. Even a Monk/Nun would love to listen or recite Navkar mantra during last moments of his/her life.
6. You may recite Navkar mantra anywhere and at any time. It will not
harm you. If you do not recite other mantras at the right place and at the right time, they may harm you.
7. Jains memorize Navkar mantra right from childhood because it's
meaning and pronunciation is very simple. However its spiritual meaning is so deep that a span of human life is not enough to tell its attributes.
8. Of all Panchpermesthi (Arihant, Siddh, Acharya, Upadhyaya, and Sadhu)
four of them are humans. This indicates the value of human life. Therefore Indra from heaven wishes to be born as human.
while reciting the
Navlear Mantra, we are 9. In most mantras either Dev or Devi becomes center of attraction. They howina down with respect
control everything. You can please them by reciting the mantra properly. It is just the opposite in Navkar mantra. Devs and Devis are worshippers
to Arihantas (souls who like humans. It is said that 1008 devis sit on each letter of Navkar have reached the state of mantra. By reciting Navkar mantra you remember 68,500 (68x1008) non-attachment towards devis.
worldly process), 10. Navkar mantra has been accepted by all sects of Jainism. In fact many
siddhas (liberated non jains also love to recite Navkar mantra. Other mantras of Jain reli- souls), Achäryäs (heads gion are accepted by either Shwetamber or Digamber tradition but not both.
Upädhyäyas (those who 11. In Navkar mantra we worship Panchpermesthi who are five supreme
teach scriptures to spiritual people. They are Vitragis (have reached the state of non-attach sadhus and sadhvis), ment towards worldly matters or liberated souls) and Vairagis (have
Sådhus (monks, who renounced worldly affairs by becoming monk). In other mantras we worship to those who are Ragis (can be pleased or displeased).
have voluntarily given
up social, economical and 12. In this mantra the word "Namo" is repeated five times. The meaning of family relationships)
"Namo" is exactly opposite to "Ego". So by reciting Navkar mantra we and sädhvis nuns. whe eliminate our ego.
have voluntarily given 13. The Navkar mahamantra is from time immemorial, it has no beginning up social, economical and
and no end. The word "loye" (namo-loye) represent three lokas of the family relationships). universe. And the word "savva" (savva-sahunam) means it has no boundary. This mantra has limitless energy. Its recitation has been ongoing in the whole universe and it will continue forever.
In closing, just as all rivers flow and end into ocean, the hidden energy of all mantras flow into Navkar mantra.<>
14th Biennial JAINA Convention 2007
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PEACE THROUGH DIALOGUE
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