If I chant Navkars, will it shed my bad karma?

If we understand the Navkar mantra correctly and chant it without any bias or partiality, then our bad karmas will certainly shed and conflicts in our household will diminish. We will be able to overcome the obstacles and difficulties that come in our lives with greater forbearance.

I understood the deeper meaning of every line of the mantra from Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan; and how the addition of obeisance to Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva makes the mantra further impartial. It then becomes a Trimantra which reads as follows:

Namo Arihantanam

Namo Siddhanam

Namo Aayariyanam

Namo Uvazzayanam

Namo Loye Savva Saahunam

Aiso Pancha Namukkaro

Savvah Pavvah Panasano

Mangalanam Cha Savve Sim

Paddhamam Havai Mangalam

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya

Om Namah Shivaya

Jai Sat Chit Anand

Let’s understand the meaning of each of the above lines:

Namo Arihantanam

The word “Ari” means enemies and “Hantanam” means to conquer. Thus, ‘Namo Arihantanam’ means ‘I bow down to the Arihant Bhagwan who has conquered all the inner enemies such as anger, pride, deceit, greed, attachment and abhorrence.’

From the state of Keval Gnan (Absolute Knowledge) up to final liberation, One is called Arihant i.e. a Living God. When we say “Namo Arihantanam” we are bowing down to all Arihant Lords wherever they may be. Arihant has a physical body and a name. Eg. Lord Simandhar Swami, who is a Living Tirthankar. Whoever bows down in obeisance to this Living Lord feels a lot of peace and is greatly inspired to be one like them one day!

Namo Siddhanam

The Arihants, after their Nirvana (death for the last time), attain Moksha and reside in Siddha Kshetra, the abode of the liberated Souls, forever. They no longer have a physical body now and will not be acquiring one ever again for they are the liberated Souls and hence are called “Siddha Bhagwan.” Example, Lord Mahavir Swami!

The reason why Namo Arihantanam precedes Namo Siddhanam is because Arihant Bhagwan is Living. One who is living provides direct help to us so that we can progress on the path of liberation and attain salvation. Without His presence, without His darshan and blessings, one cannot attain Keval Gnan! Therefore we first pay our obeisance to the Living Lords, and then to the Siddhas.

Namo Aayariyanam

This obeisance is for the ‘Acharyas’. Acharya means One who has the conduct of the established Self and is teaching others to do the same. Acharyas are Self-Realized and their self-control is spontaneous i.e. they do not react to the existence of anger, pride, deceit, and greed. They follow the principles laid down by the Arihants and teach others to do the same. We pay our obeisance to such Acharyas wherever they exist in the Universe.

Namo Uvazzayanam

This obeisance refers to the Upaadhyayas. These are beings who are Self-Realized and are studying the scriptures and teaching the same to others. Upadhyayas are the ones who have understood everything - they know the Soul; they have the awareness of their obligations and they have the knowledge of the right conduct too; and they are now in the process of bringing this knowledge into their perfect conduct. Thus, they are said to be in the process of learning and teaching others simultaneously.

Namo Loye Savva Saahunam

The word “Loye” means Loka (Universe). This obeisance is for all the Sadhus in the Universe. This obeisance means that ‘I bow to all the Sadhus wherever they are in the Universe.’ The Sadhus are the Ones who have attained the conviction of the Self (i.e. Pure Soul), who practice Atma-
Yoga and hence have no attachment to their body (Dehadhyas).

Aiso Pancha Namukkaro, Savvah Pavvah Panasano

Bowing down in obeisance to these five destroys all our sins!

Mangalanam Cha Savve Sim, Paddhamam Havai Mangalam

Of all that is auspicious, this is the most auspicious in the Universe!

With this, ends the Navkar mantra! Om is the abbreviation of the entire mantra; Om encompasses everything. The Navkar mantra is Om itself. Om means all the Gods in the Navkar mantra are paid obeisance collectively.

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya

Here, the obeisance is paid to Vasudev Bhagwan Eg. Lord Krishna. From an ordinary human being (Nar), He became a God (Narayan). Vasudevas are extremely powerful beings! A Vasudev can be recognized from many lives ahead because of his attributes.

Om Namah Shivaya

Most of us think that Shiva is a particular person. But actually, anyone who becomes an embodiment of salvation is called a Shiva. This obeisance goes to all such Gnani Bhagwants who lead others to salvation.

Jai Sat Chit Anand

This obeisance includes everyone, belonging to any religion. Jai means Glory, Sat means eternal, Chit means vision and knowledge and Anand means bliss. Sat Chit Anand means, “Pure awareness of the eternal is bliss.” Therefore, it is the mantra to pay obeisance to every living being we meet!

Trimantra is an Impartial Mantra

Trimantra is for the one who is beyond any sectarian insistence of his mantra. It is for a person who gives away his ego, insistence, and opinions and accepts the Trimantra. For example, when we recite just the Navkar mantra, we could be keeping an ego that ‘I am a Jain and hence I shall chant only the Navkar mantra. Such partiality is of no use and the mantra will not have any effect then. The Devi-Devtas who may be protecting the Shivs and the Narayanas could get upset. Therefore, if we give sincere obeisance to all of them, then we will not only get their blessings but even the blessings of all the Devi-Devtas!