Meaning of Navkar Mantra :Watch the whole video to understand the deep meaning of the Mantra. It is NOT a religious propaganda video.
Overall :
Navkar Mantra is about five acts of bowing down.
It means bowing down to all who have known themselves, won themselves and achieved spiritual enlightenment.
Through this acts of bowing down sins are destroyed
And this Mantra is the best bliss among all blisses.
This Mantra is not for Arihant or Siddha or Acharya or Upadhyaya or Sadhu. Its for us. It changes us not them.
Specifics :
1. Ṇamō Arihantāṇaṁ :
Arhant means ANYONE who is Arihant - the one who got rid of his own vices like anger, grid, jealousy, lust etc.
This does not restrict you to bow down just to Mahavir. If you believe Jesus had those qualities, he becomes your Arihant. Buddha can be your Arihant. It can even be your next door neighbor. Anyone who has won himself is arihant.
2. Ṇamō Siddhāṇaṁ :
I bow down to ANYONE who has achieved enlightenment.
We do not know who has attained it, so this bowing down includes EVERYONE who has achieved, regardless of the religion they belong.
3. Ṇamō Ayariyāṇaṁ :
I bow down to all Acharyas- all Gurus.
These gurus are the ones whose knowledge is translated into action. His action matches with his knowledge.
Sometimes, we may not be able to recognise Arihant or Siddha, but we can always recognise Acharya ( Guru) from his action.
We may not know what knowledge is, we bow down to the ones with action who action matches his knowledge.
4. Ṇamō Uvajjhāyāṇaṁ :
I bow down to Upadhyaya - the messengers, the teacher - the ones who has knowledge, whose action matches his knowledge and he speaks/reveals the messages of enlightenment to us.
That where my understanding begins.
5. Ṇamō Lōē Savva Sāhūṇaṁ :
I bow down to all the Sadhus not included in above four categories .
Sadhu is the one living a very simple life, not just the ones who are wearing special clothes or who has renounced the world.
You may never know, who is Arihant or Siddha or Sadhu - so, this verse allows me to bow down to everyone that I can not recognise.
6. Ēsōpan̄caṇamōkkārō, savvapāvappaṇāsaṇō :
These five acts of bowing down destroys all the sins.
7. Maṅgalā ṇaṁ ca savvēsiṁ, paḍamama havaī maṅgalaṁ
This is the first bliss among all bliss. This is the most auspicious mantra among all.
Rakesh Shah, MD
Atlanta, GA
