Of

Pratikramana Sutra

Interpretation and explanation of

Pratikramana stotras in English.

Explanation

Navkär Mahä Mantra (1)

Word by word

Meaning of the

Navkär Mahä

Mantra

Navkär Mahä Mantra

Namo Arihantänam

Namo Loe Savva Sähunam

Namo Siddhänam

Namo Äyariyänam

Namo Uvajjhäyänam

Eso Panch Namukkäro

Savva-Pävappanäsano

Mangalänam cha SavvesimPadhamam Havei Mangalam

Each word of Navkär Mahä Mantra

has many meanings.

An attempt is made in this

presentation to describe & explain

the various meanings of each word.

Namo (worship) is the most important

word (pad) with many meanings.

Navkär mahä Mantra is a Prayer to:

Worship the

108 virtues

of supreme Panch Permeshthi.

Navkär Mahä Mantra (1)

Navkär mahä Mantra is a Prayer to:

Attain the virtues of Panch Parmeshthis by

emulating their actions (Chäritraya) to

achieve highest pinnacle of life,

Liberation (Moksha Nirväna).

Navkär Mahä Mantra (2)

By reciting Navkär Mahä Mantra

salutations (Namaskärs) are

offered to the Panch Parmeshthi,

the five purest of the

pure spiritual beings.

Navkär Mahä Mantra (3)

The Panch Parmeshthis are:

(1) Arihants (12 virtue)

(2) Siddhas (8 virtue)

(3) Ächäryas (36 virtue)

(4) Upadhyäyas (25 virtue)

(5) Sädhus & Sädhvis (27 virtue)

Navkär Mahä Mantra (4)

Meaning of Panch Parmeshthi (1)

Panch = Five

= Best of best (super)

= Beneficial to the soul

Panch Parmeshthi

Param

eshth

Meaning of Panch Parmeshthi (2)

Panch Parmeshthis are

most beneficial to us

as they have shown the path to

ultimate bliss (Moksha).

Panch Parmeshthi

Namo = Obeisance ( Namaskär) to,

Arihantä = the omniscient Lords;

nam = to devote oneself

=

Namo Arihantänam (1)

Sangati

Namo Arihantänam (2)

My namaskär (Obeisance & more):

(a) to the Arihanta lords.

(b) to the conqueror of inner enemies.

(c) to the Arihant who has attained, perfect knowledge & infinite bliss.

(d) to the Arihant, who has ended cycles of birth & death & showed us that path.

Namo Namaskär

Namo Namukkäro

Naman Namah

Namo

               

The following words have similar meaning as Namo

(vandanä, obeisance, worship, salutation, bow down, adore & many more described in this

presentation).

Namo (1)

Namo means worshipping the 108 virtues

(attributes) of the Panch Parmeshthi.

=

= Worship

Namaskär =

Namo (2)

Namo means let go of your ego (aham). Ego is the root of many ills (päpa

karma). He who conquers EGO is the greatest warrior.

No Ego

= na + mo

no mäna

= nahi + mäna

Namo (3)

Namo means not have an Ego

even as minute as an atom (paramanu) .

= + =

= anima

= smallest atom (undividable).

Anu (atom) mo anuema

Namo (4)

Namo means to be without moha (attachment),

mäna (ego, aham) & mamatva (me & mine).

= na + mo

withoutwithout

without

moha

mäna

mamatva

Namo (5)

Namo means ‘none is mine & nobody is for me.’ Then why do I have greed (lobha), deception (maya), ego (mäna) & anger (krodhha), etc passions (Kashäyas) ?

None is mine

= +

none

mine

Arihanta (1)

The word Arihanta is made up of two words:

Destroyer of enemies enemies destroyer

= +

Arihant Ari hanta

Meaning, the arihanta has destroyed inner enemies

the passions like, anger, ego, deceit, greed etc.

The word arihant is derived from

Arihanta (2)

Non hidden Non hidden

= +

Meaning, nothing is hidden from the Arihant.

Arihant knows everything, has perfect knowledge.

Araham

A raham

The word arihant is derived from

Arihanta (3)

Without chariot without chariot (ratha)

= +

Meaning without wheels, wheels meaning cycles (which goes around & around). No more cycles of birth & death for

the Arihant.

Araha A raha

Namo = Obeisance ( & more ) to,

Siddhä = the liberated Souls;

nam = to devote oneself

=

Namo Siddhänam (1)

sangati

My namaskär (Obeisance & more) :

(a) to the Siddhä, the liberated souls.

(b) to the perfected souls, in order to improve oneself and reach

the state of perfection.

(c) to the Siddhä, who have attained the immortality by liberating themselves

of all Karmäs.

Namo Siddhänam (2)

Namo (6)

Namo means ultra pure mind without any

Kashäya (anger, greed, ego, attachment etc).

= Nama

= Nama spelled in reverse

is Mana ( mind ).

Namo (7)

Namo means our minds should be

surrendering to Panch parmeshthi.

= Nama

= Nama spelled in reverse

is Mana ( mind ).

Namo (8)

Namo means our minds should be

without worldly desires.

= Nama

= Nama spelled in reverse

is Mana ( mind ).

Namo (9)

Namo means our minds should be awake & ready

to examine in search of the spiritual mind.

= Nama

= Nama spelled in reverse

is Mana ( mind ).

Siddha

Siddha

= one who has accomplished

= perfect or enlightened being

= one who has reached the highest pinnacle of life.

A Siddhä means one who has been totally

liberated from karmäs and samsär.

Namo Äyariyänam (1)

Namo = Obeisance ( & more ) to,

Äyariyä = The head of the Jain congregation

nam = to devote oneself

= sangati

My namaskär to :

(a) the Ächärya, the religious leaders, who practice what they preach

(ächära).

(c) the masters, in order to master my addictions, imbalances and desires.

(d) the messengers who are following the path of passionless Lords (Viträgi)

who are conquerors and liberated ones (Arihantäs & Siddhäs) .

Namo Äyariyänam (2)

Namo (10)

= namra = vinamra

=

= Humbleness

= samatä, Equanimity

Namo means my attitude should be humble and

full of equanimity, towards all living beings.

namratä komalatä mrudutä

Namo (11)

= namra = vinamra

= soumyatä, Humbleness = krutugynatä, Gratitude

Namo means my attitude should be

full of humbleness & gratitude.

Namo (12)

= =

= udäratä, Generosity

= Asking forgiveness

Namo means to show generosity and ask for forgiveness

kshamäyächanä

Äyariyä

Äyariyä = Ächarya = one who teaches by

conduct chärya = Conduct

An Ächarya is a prominent teacher (guru) & scholar who

teaches by his own conduct as an example.

Namo Uvajjhäyänam (1)

Namo = Obeisance ( & more ) to,

Uvajjhäyä = the masters of scriptures;

nam = to devote oneself

=sangati

My namaskär to:

(a) the Upädhyäya, the religious teachers who are in tune with self-knowledge.

(b) the Upädhyäys who are well versed in Ägams, the Jain scriptures and teach the same to the followers.

(c) all the teachers who are living examples of knowledge & meditation.

Namo Uvajjhäyänam (2)

Namo (13)

Purity in life deserves Namämi. My namämi (namaskär) to the purest

soul.

= Namämi

Namämi is offering the salutation.

Namo (14)

Acceptance of

gratitude is namämi.

Namo means showing gratitude.

= Namämi

My namämi to all living beings.

Namo (15)

Impurity in life requires khamämi.

Namo means request for forgiveness..

= Khamämi

Khamämi is asking for forgiveness.

Namo (16)

Admitting to ingratitude

is khamämi.

Namo means apology for attitude of ingratitude.

= Khamämi

My khamämi to the all living beings.

Uvajjhäyä (1)

Uvajjhäyä

Upädhyäya

=

Preceptor near utmost sincerity acquire

A person who stays near students and teaches them Jain Principles with utmost sincerity is

called upädhyäya.

Namo Uvajjhäyänam

= + + Upa adhi

yäya

Namo = Obeisance to

Loe = In universe (loka)

Savva = All

Sähoo = sages, saints

nam = to devote oneself

Namo Loe Savva -Sähoonam (1)

My namaskär to:

(a) all the Sädhus and Sädhvis wherever they are in the universe.

(b) all ascetics of the world who are free from Kashäya & are leading a life of simplicity. 

(c) all the Sädhus and Sädhvis who practice Ätma yoga (the highest of all the yogäs, which leads to liberation and eternal bliss).

Namo Loe Savva- Sähoonam (2)

Namo (17)

= Surrender to Panch Parmeshthi

Surrendering is acceptance of these facts:

I am tiny, without ego (ansha)

I am your follower (sevaka)

I am your devotee (däsa)

samarpraNa mana sharaNägati

Namo (18)

= Surrender to Panch Parmeshthi

Surrendering is acceptance of these facts :

You are my Guru (swämi)

You are my God (mälik)

You are my master (näth)

You are my authority (sattädhish)

Namo (19)

Namo means to be quiet (mauna)

when we cannot control our ego.

= Namo in reverse is mauna.

= Quiet

= mauna

SvavvaSähoo (1)

Savva-Sähoo

Savva Sähoo

= +

All saints All Saints

All the ascetics of the universe

( who are devine in nature ).

SvavvaSähoo (2)

Shravyasädhu

Shravya Sädhu

= +

worth listening saint

The sädhu who is worth listening to.

The word is derived from

SvavvaSähoo (3)

Saarvasadhu Saarva Sadhu

= +

The sadhu who follows the path shown by the Arihant Bhagvan.

The word is derived from

Follower of Arihant Saint

SvavvaSähoo (4)

Savyasädhu

Savya Sädhu

= +

Beneficial saint

The sädhu who can show us beneficial path of liberation (moksha märg,

nirvana).

The word is derived from

Eso = These

Panch = Five

Namkkäro = Obeisance.

Eso Panch Namukkäro (1)

These five salutations (namaskärs)

(to the panch Parmaesthi are

the blessings among all blessings ).

Namukkäro (Namo 20)

= Namo is to worship with

ego free mind.

purest heart

controlled mind

surrendering mind

(without any räga & dwesh)

(without any Kashäya)

(to Panch parmeshthi)

Savva-Pävappanäsano

Savva = All,

Päva = Sin, päpa karma,

Panäsano = Destroyer This five-fold Namaskär is the

destroyer of all sins.

(sins are destoyed due to our emulation of Panch Parmeshthi’s virtues ).

Pävä (1)

What is Päva ( Päpa or Sin ) ?

(a) Impure mind is Päpa.

(b) Inhuman behavior is Päpa.

(c) Non forgiving nature is Päpa.

Päv (2)

Meaning of Päva (Päpa or Sin).

(d) Ill desired results is Päpa.

(e) The desires for worldly & sensual

pleasures is Päpa.

(f) Evil acts that cause acquisition of inauspicious karmä to the soul is päpa.

ppanäsano (1)

Meaning of Ppanäsano:

If you cut a tree, cut all the branches and

pull the roots out, then put everything

through a shredder.

This is a complete destruction of the tree.

ppanäsano (2)

Meaning of Ppanäsano:

But if you burn the shredded tree and spread

the ashes in the wind, this is called

Pranäsha obliteration of the tree.

The Navkär Mantra annihilate all sins in

such a powerful way.

Mangalänam = blissful aspects

Cha = and

Savvesim = among all

MangaläNam cha Savvesim (1)

It is the foremost among all

blissful aspects.

Mangal (1)

= +

Mangal

Mama

gal

Bliss Päpa karma (sin) Destruction

Destruction of Päpa karmä is mangal.

What melts the sin is mangal.

What brings forth bliss is Mangal

Mangal (2)

Mangal means being free from

anxiety

diseases worries,

ädhi

vyädhi

upädhi

Mangal (3)

Mangal is:

(1) Well-being, pleasure, comfort, satisfaction, joy, bliss, purity

(2) Having spiritual awareness in life.

(3) Conversion of bad in to good (Ashubha karmä to shubha

karmä) .

(4) Gaining permanent bliss of the Mokshä is the highest mangal.

Padhamam Havei Mangalam (1)

Padhamam = First

Havei = Is

Mangalam = Blissful.

mangalmaya

Padhamam Havei Mangalam (2)

The Navkär Mantra is the

first, the foremost and the highest

among all the blessings and benedictions.

This is mangalmaya (auspicious),

most auspicious of all

that is auspicious in the universe.

Padhamam

=

= First,

= foremost &

= highest.

Gaining permanent bliss of Mokshä is the foremost Mangal. That is why it is called

the highest (padhamam) mangalam.

prathamam

How to get most benefit.

To get most benefit from the Mantra one should recite with :

(a) Clear pronunciation

(b) Deep, Inexhaustible & Unbreakable faith

(c) With conscientious devotion

towards Arihant’s teachings.

How to get most benefit.

To get most benefit from the stotra, one should recite with

(d) Ultra pure mind, without even slightest of raag (attachment) & dwesh (malice)

towards any Living beings.

(e) Reflecting all the meaning of Namo ( Namo 1-20 in this presentation) in daily life.

Thank you & Michhämi Dukaddam

If we have made any mistakes

Please accept our sincere apologies.

Materials in this presentation is compiled data, using many

Jain web sites, lectures & books.

Shäshan Viruddha känay lakhäyu hoy to

man, vachan and käyä thi Micchhämi dukkadam

Thank you & Michhami Dukaddam

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