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This Jain Symbol is a modified version of the Hindu Om. The five parts that make up the symbol symbolize the five lines of the Namokar Mantra, a daily prayer whose recital by believers is a central part of the Jain religion. The Namokar (or, namkar) mantra honors the five Jain Panch Parmeshtis, or great entities. The five parmeshtis are:

• Arihantas, (Tirthankars or Jinas), the pure souls, the saints.
• Siddhas, liberated souls who are beyond birth and death
• Acharyas, leaders of Jain congregations
• Upadhyays, initiated monks and nuns
• Sadhus and Sadhvis, male and female laypersons (householders)

The Namokar mantra is as follows:

I bow to the Arahants, the perfected human beings.
I bow to the Siddhas, liberated bodiless souls.
I bow to the Acharyas, the masters and heads of congregations.
I bow to the Upadhyayas, the spiritual teachers.
I bow to the spiritual practitioners in the universe, Sadhus.

This fivefold obeisance mantra,
Destroys all sins and obstacles,
And of all auspicious repetitions,
Is the first and foremost.

Or:

I bow to the enlightened beings
I bow to the liberated souls
I bow to religious leaders
I bow to religious teachers
I bow to all ascetics of the world
These five salutations are capable of destroying all sins.
And they are the most auspicious of all benedictions.

Related Symbols:

Related Resources:

Jainism
Jain (meaning conquerors), a religion of nonviolence, austerity, and the pursuit of enlightenment.

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