Nav Smarana

Author(s): Vinod Kapashi
Publisher: Vinod Kapashi

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bhavtiti.). In addition, according to mantra science in the Jain tradition, the word ' anmo' when recited is said to have certain powers. This power is that of becoming smaller and is called aṇimä siddhi . It does not mean physically becoming smaller, but means being more humble and polite. The word anmo consists of two separate syllables an and mo or it can be divided as anm + o. The letter 'n' has the special power (animä siddhi) because of the letter' an' in the word animä.1
According to the system of yoga and a book called the Yoga-shästra, written by an 11th century Jain Ächärya called Hemchandra, there are five types of 'winds' in a person's body. One of the 'winds' in a person's body is said to be called the Udän väyu. The Udän väyu is said to live in a persons heart, throat, palate, and in the middle of the eyebrows and head. One can achieve 'animä siddhi' by controlling the movements of the Udän väyu in his body. The syllable 'a' is pronounced in the throat and the syllable 'u' is pronounced by bringing two lips nearer to each other. Therefore, the syllable 'o' (which is a combination of a+u)2 comes from the throat and its repeated recitation is said to be helpful in conquering Udän väyu.
This attempt of justifying the sound anamo instead of namo does not carry much significance except that the devotee who is reciting the mantra may think more about the magical powers associated with different syllables.
History of the Namaskara Mantra
It is noteworthy that the Namaskära Mantra is not found in earlier scriptures. The Acharänga Sootra and The Suyagdänga do not contain the Namaskara Mantra. The text of the Tattvärtha Sootra does not have the Namaskära Mantra at the beginning and this was composed in the first century AD. The Digambara scriptures like the Samay Sär or the Niyam Sär do not have the Navkära Mantra at the beginning of the text. A part of this mantra is seen at the beginning of the Bhagavati Sootra, but is not in the same form as is now generally accepted.
4.3
The practice of writing the Namaskära Mantra at the beginning of any text must have been started after around the first century AD. Even most manuscripts of the Nandisootra and the Anuyogadwär (composed after first century AD) also do not have the Namaskara Mantra at the beginning of the texts. The manuscripts of the Kalpa-sootra (which was penned in 453 AD3) are seen with the Namaskära Mantra at the beginning of the main texts. Therefore it seems that the tradition of writing the Namaskära Mantra at the beginning of any texts was developed quite late. The question is therefore: was the Namaskära Mantra composed quite late or is it true that the practice of writing the Namaskära mantra at the beginning of any sacred texts started quite late.?
1 There are eight different types of siddhis or powers which can be achieved by yogic practices. These are Anima Siddhi, Garima Siddhi, Mahima Siddhi, Laghima Siddhi, Prapti Siddhi and Prakamya Siddhi, Vashitva and Ishita Siddhi. Book 2 page 331
2 Rakto hrudkanthatalubhrumadhyamurdhni cha sansthitah, Udano vashytam neyo gatva gati niyogitaha (Yogasashtra, chapter five)
Last sentence- When Shramana Bhagvan Mahavira passed away, since the, nine centuries have elapsed, and of the tenth century, this is the 80th year.
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