Nav Smarana

Author(s): Vinod Kapashi
Publisher: Vinod Kapashi

Page 16

(4) A mantra is one, which can be used in the form of chanting names while bowing down to the demigods or goddesses.
4.6
Importance of the Namaskära Mantra
The importance of the Namaskära Mantra to Jains is described in a verse from the "Namokara Mantra-Mahätmya". It means:
"This mantra is the essence of the world, it is unique in the three worlds, it is the destroyer of all sins. It is the vanquisher of all the miseries in this world, it is the eliminator of the poison of mundane indulgences, and it is the eradicator of the root of karma. It is the provider of perfection in all mantras, it is the source of well being and bliss, and it is the mantra that leads to omniscience. The continued chanting of this mantra liberates the soul from the cycles of life."
The Namaskära Mantra is also chanted by certain devotees to free themselves from all sorts of fear. The Namaskära Mantra is said to remove the following fears as per a verse in the 'Namaskära Fala Stotra':
Vahi-jala-jalana-takkara-hari-kari-sangama-visahara Bhayaaaim, näsanti takkhanenam jina-navakärappabhavenam.......
This means:- "The Namaskära Mantra immediately removes the fear of disease, water, fire, thief, lion, elephant, war, snake, etc.".
4.7
Attributes of the Five Godlike Figures.
One pays his reverence to the five godlike figures (Panch-Parmeshtin) in the first five sentences of the Namaskara Mantra. They are, as stated, enlightened souls, liberated souls, and heads of the groups of the monks, preceptors and monks/nuns.
Enlightened souls (Arihantas) and liberated souls (Siddhas) are supreme beings and are incomparable in their virtues. Jainism has narrated certain virtues, which are attributed to the Arihantas, the Siddhas and the different categories of monks mentioned above. We will examine these attributes in detail.
12 Attributes of the Arihantas:
The Arihantas possess twelve special virtues or attributes. The first eight are called Ashta Mahäpratihärya. When the Arihanta (Tirthankara) begins giving a sermon, eight special divine things happen. These are as follows:
Asokavrksah sura puspa vrstih Divya dhvanischämaramäsanam ca, Bhämandalam dundubhiratapatram
Mantram samsarasaram trijagadanupamam sarva- paparimantram Samsarocchedamantram visaya-visaharam karma- nirmulamantram Mantram siddhipradanam sivasukha-jananam k evalajnana-mantram Mantram sri jainamantram japa japitam janma nirvana mantram.
Namokara Maha Mantra Page 18. Diwakar Prakashan, Agra.
16