Universal Mantra

The Namokar Mahamantra is universally accepted. Namo Arihantanam. Namo Siddhanam. Namo Airiyanam. Namo Uvajjhayanam. Namo Loye Savvasahunam.

This mantra is in Prakrit and is composed in the Arya chhand. It has five verses, 35 letters, 58 syllables, 34 vowels and 30 consonants. It is a salutation to the Arihants, Siddhas, Acharyas, Upadhyayas and Sadhus. In the mantra, instead of a person, qualities have been worshipped. No particular person or deity has been saluted. All great men who have practised penance, meditation and sadhana and have achieved the position of Parameshthi or have been striving for it, have been saluted.

All beings can seek welfare through this mantra. Only selfless obeisance is paid to the Panch Parmeshthi. The mantra was first written as a Mangalacharan in the Shatkhandagama Granth by Acharya Pushpadantji and is considered to be the most sacred and eternal root mantra of Jainism. It does not have a single Beejakshar and can be chanted in any order. Om is the shortest form of Panch Parmeshthi. Om contains the first letters of the Panch Parmeshthi mentioned in the five verses of the mantra.


Chanting the mantra in a definite sound makes it effective, and thinking about it purifies the soul; hence, the mantra's correct pronunciation is indispensable. Some people from different religions also chant the Mahamantra and encourage others to do so.