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Great Hymn of Obeisance : A Contemplation
The Great Hymn of Obeisance' (Namokar Mahamantra) is the most respected and universally accepted Great Hymn of the Jain Community. All sects of Jains accept this hymn and chant it daily.
Three hymns/treatise of Jain religion are accepted equally by all sects of Jains. The foremost amongst these is 'Namokar Mahamantra (Great Hymn of Obeisance), 'Bhaktamar Satotra' occupies the second place and the third place goes to the great treatise 'Tattavartha Sutra' which is also known as "Moksha Shastra' (treatise of liberation)
Here, the primary focus of our contemplation is 'Namokar Mahamantra' (Great Hymn of Obeisance). This is being called eternal "Mahamantra' because the panch permeshti' (five categories of venerable souls) whom obeisance has been paid in this hymn have been in existence since eternity and would continue to exist forever and those who have been paying obeisance to them have also been in existence since eternity and would exist forever. Whosoever might have presented this Great Hymn in the present form, sentimentally it is without any beginning or end.
Here a question is possible as to what is so special about this 'Namokar Mahamantra' (Great Hymn of Obeisance) that every Jain chants it at least nine times, if not one hundred and eight times, every moming?
Every Jain remembers this Great Hymn, which is acceptable to the entire Jain community equally, at least at the time of distress; it is also remembered at the beginning of each auspicious activity. Every guardian teaches this Great Hymn to his children at the age of two-three years. In this manner every child of Jain community remembers it.
In the above context, it is important to note that this hymn contains obeisance to 'panch permeshti' and nothing else.
