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Kokila H. Shah, Jain Devotionalism: The Namaskara Mantra
9. Padhamam Havai Mangalam- It is the foremost (most auspicious). Jaina devotionalism is directed towards five supreme beings or Panca Parameshthis who have attained the highest state and therefore are worthy of worship. The early history of the Pancanamaskara Mantra is controversial. This litany occurs in the Kalpasutra - an extracanonical sacred book of the Jainas. According to the scholars, this formula occurs in the Mahanisihasutta. It also occurs in the Vasudevahindi and in the Satkhandagama. This sacred Jaina mantra is frequently found in Jaina ritual texts of later times. The European scholar W. Schubring is of the opinion that the only canonical reference to the formula was to be found in Mahanisihasutta. It is observed that originally, there existed the formula consisting of only two members, viz. Siddha and Jina who are invoked in the first verse of Pannavanasutta and also in the Bhagavai Sutta. Then the formula seems to be extended and we find the enlarged formula of five invocations.
Qualities of the five Supreme Beings celebrated in the mantra
1. 12 Virtues of Arihantas
2. 8 virtues of Siddhas
3. 36 virtues of Acaryas 4. 25 virtues of Upadhyayas 5. 27 virtues of Sadhus-----
The synonyms of Arihanta are:
-Total- 108.
Nature of the Panca Parameshthis A) Arihantas (The Conquerors)
The first salutation is to Arihanta. The term 'Arihanta' is of great philosophical significance in Jainism. Arihanta is the one who has conquered inner enemies like pride, anger, deceit and greed. He is also the one who has destroyed four destructive karmas, viz. Knowledge-obscuring (Jnanavaraniya). Vision-(obscuring) (Darshanavaraniya), Deluding (Mohaniya), and obstructive (Antaraya) karmas. Freedom from these four kinds of karmas is the greatest achievement of an Arihanta. Acarya Kundakunda has said that one who knows the Arihanta in all its aspects knows himself.
Jina- The conqueror
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Vitaraga- One who is free from passions i.e. who is dispassionate. Sarvjna-Omniscient
Arhat-worthy of being worshipped.
The Arihantas possess twelve great virtues and they are devoid of eighteen vices such as hunger, thirst, anxiety, sleep, sorrow etc. An Arihanta deserves and commands respect and adoration because he is a worthy and holy being because of his virtues. It is said that one should meditate on the Arhat - the purified soul - who is endowed with vision, bliss, wisdom and energy. The Jina is praised by Pujyapada as a propounder of
