Record NavkarManthra chants by Jains

Over 5000 Jains Chant ‘NavkarManthra’, 36 lakh times for World Peace in city today and created a record in the city for chanting it for record number of times in just two hours at Ranigunj at T-19 Towers, beside Sundaram Honda, informed ParasmalDungarwal, President of Shri VardhamanSthankavasi Jain Shravak Sangh Secunderabad.

The NavkarManthra Jap started at 8.30am and continued non-stop for two hours till 10.30am. Jains participated in this novel and record creating peace initiative with lot of devotion, dedication and pride.The peace initiative was lead by Jain Monk, Praveen RishijiUpadhyaya.

We want world to be as peaceful as possible. Live and let live others, commented few Jains who participated in the initiative. Young to old, men to women, people from all walks of life from Jain Community participated. What is so interesting was the about 100 plus people from different religions too took part in the chanting of the NavkarManthra.

It was organsied under the aegis of Shri VardhamanSthanakvasi Jain Shravak Sangh Secunderabad which embarked on two unique “Peace Building” initiatives. Ṇamōkāra mantra is the highly revered and the most significant mantra in Jainism. This is the first prayer recited by the Jains while meditating. Many Jain monks too participated in the initiative.

The activity was coordinated by Sri Jain Seva Sangh. It is the Apex Body of about three lakh Jain Community People of all sub-sects in twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Similarly, Jain samaj also embarked on another initiative where 1008 Jains along with their monks will go on an eight-day fast from Monday, the July 17to 24 in Ranigunj. Along with them 18 leprosy patients belonging to different communities and religions will also go on the fast.

They will commence their fasting in Chennai on 17 and arrive in Hyderabad by flight on 23rd morning to join 1008 Jains for the concluding ceremony of the fasting. During the fast they will drink only hot water till sunset. After sunset, they don’t even take water. LalalitayiJaangda of Chennai is coordinating this activity. She has been training 800 Leprosy patients.

To popularize these peace initiatives undertaken by the community, Jains in the city have their faces painted with messages to spread the word across the city. "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." Quoting Martin Luther King, Jr, Praveen RishijiUpadhyaya said Peace is not an accident.

Peace is not a gift. Peace is something we must all work for, everyday, in every country. It begins with smile. Love your religion, but hug other religions too. Like, father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi said, “An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind”, these peace building initiatives are small steps towards propagating the importance of peace across the globe, Praveen RishijiUpadhyaya.

NavkarManthra has very special significance for Jains and its English meaning goes as follows:

• NamoArihantanam: I bow down to Arihanta,
• NamoSiddhanam: I bow down to Siddha,
• NamoAyariyanam: I bow down to Acharya,
• NamoUvajjhayanam: I bow down to Upadhyaya,
• NamoLoeSavva-sahunam: I bow down to Sadhu and Sadhvi.
• EsoPanchNamokaro: These five bowings downs,
• Savva-pavappanasano: Destroy all the sins,
• ManglananchSavvesim: Amongst all that is auspicious,
• PadhamamHaveiMangalam: This Navkar Mantra is the foremost.