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time of ........ (mention the time when this ritual is being performed), I am about to start the japas of the Panch Parmeshtin Namaskära Mantra.
After saying this he empties the water, which he is holding in his palm, into the bronze utensil kept by his side. This whole thing is repeated three times.. Then the priest speaks, followed by the host:
On this earth, in the country of........ , in the town of............. ...... to day ............ (Name of the day) for my welfare, for removing all obstacles, for removing the bad effects of the planets, for removing all bad karma and for my health, wealth and prosperity, for the fulfilment of my wishes, I ........ (Person's name) am going to do this Japa, meditation. This proclamation is said three times holding a spoonful of water in the right palm and then poured into the bronze utensil after saying these words.
The aspirant (host) should draw an inverted triangle with sandalwood paste and put a little sandalwood dot in the middle of the triangle. He would then place some flowers or grains of rice on this dot and say:
"Aum Hrim, This is an auspicious seating, I bow down to the mother earth and I will search for the ultimate tattava, soul. I am going to do the japas for the fulfilment of all my wishes."
After this, the host (and other people in the assembly) start doing the japa. One can concentrate on the picture or the yantra, which has been placed in front of him.
Not everyone in the assembly has to follow this samkalpa ritual. However, if there are enough ingredients and objects for everyone in the assembly then there is no harm in everyone doing the samkalpa ritual.
The actual recitation starts after this, and everyone recites the five hundred Namaskära Mantra by using a rosary and the fingers as explained above. This way one hundred and twenty five japas are completed.
Does Mantra Worship Help?
There are various accounts in the Jain books, both old and new, on how the Namaskära Mantra has helped people in times of extreme difficulties. Jains do have immense faith in the Namaskära Mantra and believe that the systematic chanting of the mantra brings about the desired results. I have sited two examples below: The first is comparatively quite recent, and the other is a very old one which happened during Mahävira's lifetime.
The first example is of a Jain merchant, Mr Guläbchand Shäh of Bombay, and taken from a book by Amarendra muniji. Obviously Muniji is interested in glorifying the prowess of the Namaskära Mantra but there can hardly be any doubt about his honesty and sincerity in emphasising this event.
The Muniji has quoted the account as given by Guläbchand Shah:
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