YJA Convention 1994 07 Chicago IL First

Author(s): Young Jains of America (YJA)
Publisher: Young Jains of America YJA USA

Page 57

realize your self. If we compare the effect of a fast to those of Mantra repetition, we can see the similarities. The Namokar Mantra produces heat and energy which burn negativities and bad thoughts. This leaves a feeling of purity, lightness, and peace. The mind attains a greater level of concentration, bringing us nearer to our true nature. The Mantra actually brings benefits to us mentally, physically and spiritually.
Through the Mantra, one can attain divine knowledge and samadhi, which is the blissful state of self-realization. The divine knowledge of Namo Uvajjhayanam is representative of creation, and the samadhi of Namo Siddhanam represents preservation.
Om can be used as a shorter form of the Namokar Mantra, as can Arhum or A, Si, A, U, Saya Namah.
OM...Origin of Mantras
The twelfth verse of the Shraman Sutra describes how Om is the essence of the Namokar Mantra, "Arihant Asrira Airiya Uvajjhaya Munino Panchkhar Nippano Omkaro Panchparamitthi."
ERAL
UNLIGHED
CARO
The initial letters of the names of the five divine personalities combine to make Om or Aum according to the following formulation:
oses
Arihant - A Ashariri (Siddha) - A Acharya - A Upadhyaya - A Muni (Sadhu) - M A+A+A=A...3 A sounds combine to make A A+U=O...A and U combine to make o O+M=OM or Aum
Om is the base. It is the mother and source of all sounds. When chanting Om, we are also chanting the Namokar Mantra; Om is there everywhere. Om is the original sound. Om represents the three main forces in nature, A stands for creation, U for preservation, and M for destruction.
Re
Will
According to the particular power of the sound, or the combination of sounds, a Mantra will have an effect of creation, preservation, or destruction. The Namokar Mantra basically uses the destructive force since without the destruction of bad karma nothing beneficial can be attained. Namo Arihantanam, Namo Airiyanam, Namo Loe Savva Sahanum have destructive power. The Namokar Mantra also includes the power of creation preservation.
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