Namokar Mantra

Namokar Mantra

The Ṇamōkāra mantra (Sanskrit: णमोकार मंत्र, Tamil: ஐவர் வணக்கம்), also variously referred to as the Navakār Mantra or the Namaskār Mantra or the Pancha Parameshti Namaskār, is the most important mantra used in Jainism. While reciting this mantra, the devotee bows with respect to humans who have cleared their gathi karmas (arihants), fully liberated souls (siddhas), spiritual leaders (acharyas), teachers (upajjhayas) and monks.

In this prayer there is no mention of any names, including that of the Tirthankaras. Jains do not ask for any favors or material benefits from the Tirthankaras or from sadhus and sadhvis. This mantra simply serves as a gesture of deep respect towards beings they believe are more spiritually advanced and to remind followers of the Jain religion of their ultimate goal of nirvana or moksa.

Digambaras and Sthanakvasis regard the first five lines as the main mantra, the following two lines are explanatory.