Namokar Mantra
The most fundamental and sacred prayer in Jainism — a fivefold salutation to liberated and enlightened souls, recited daily by Jains around the world.
Sanskrit / Prakrit and phonetics
णमो अरिहंताणं। णमो सिद्धाणं।
णमो आयरियाणं। णमो उवज्झायाणं।
णमो लोए सव्वसाहूणं॥
एसो पंच णमोक्कारो, सव्व पावप्पणासणो।
मंगलाणं च सव्वेसिं, पढमं हवइ मंगलं॥
Phonetic: Namo Arihantāṇaṁ, Namo Siddhāṇaṁ, Namo Āyariyāṇaṁ, Namo Uvajjhāyāṇaṁ, Namo Loe Savva Sāhūṇaṁ. Eso Pañca Namokkāro, Savva Pāvappaṇāsaṇo, Maṅgalāṇaṁ Ca Savvesiṁ, Paḍhamaṁ Havai Maṅgalaṁ.
Meaning and translation
I bow to the Arihantas (souls who have conquered inner enemies like anger and attachment, and attained enlightenment while still embodied). I bow to the Siddhas (fully liberated, formless souls). I bow to the Acharyas (spiritual leaders and heads of the monastic order). I bow to the Upadhyayas (teacher-monks who guide others in study). I bow to all the Sadhus (monks and ascetics) anywhere in the universe.
This fivefold salutation destroys all sins, and of all auspicious things, it is the foremost.
Tradition
The Namokar Mantra (also spelled Navkar Mantra) is the central prayer of Jainism, composed in Prakrit — the language of the earliest Jain scriptures. Unlike most mantras, it does not invoke a personal deity; it venerates five categories of beings who have attained or are progressing toward spiritual liberation, regardless of name, era, or specific identity.
Symbolism
Each of the five lines represents a stage or role on the path to liberation — from the embodied, world-engaged Arihantas and teaching Acharyas and Upadhyayas, to the fully liberated, formless Siddhas, and finally to the wider community of Sadhus still walking the path. The closing lines declare this salutation the most auspicious of all acts, because it points not to a single figure but to the very possibility of liberation itself.
Benefits of chanting
- Believed to purify negativity and destroy accumulated karma
- Cultivates humility and gratitude toward teachers and spiritual guides
- Connects the practitioner to the broader path of liberation, not one figure alone
- Traditionally recited to open the day with auspiciousness
How to chant
- Repetitions: Often recited once as a complete daily prayer, or 108 times on a mala for dedicated practice.
- Best time: Traditionally recited first thing in the morning, before meals, or during meditation.
- Seated position: Sit with a straight spine, hands resting calmly, and recite each line slowly, letting the meaning of each salutation settle before moving to the next.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Namokar Mantra mean?
It salutes five categories of supreme souls — Arihantas, Siddhas, Acharyas, Upadhyayas, and all Sadhus — and declares this salutation the foremost of all auspicious things.
Is the Namokar Mantra addressed to a god?
No — it venerates qualities of liberation and spiritual attainment, honoring anyone who has achieved them, rather than naming a specific deity.
How is the Namokar Mantra chanted?
Recited daily, often in the morning or before meals, either once as a full prayer or 108 times on a mala.
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