Namokar Mahamantra, Colour Science and Yogic Chakras

By Acharya Sushil Muni

"Namokar Mahamantra" is the principal "mantra" (Chant) of Jains. All good deeds, auspicious occasions, rituals and religious ceremonies are started by first chanting this mantra. It is said that the chanting of this mantra alone is capable of granting "moksha".

The piece below is about merging the practice of "Namokar Worship" with "Colour Science" as well as "Yogic Chakras". Each sentence of "Namokar Mahamantra" is pictured in a different colour e.g. first line "Namo Arihantanam" is seen in white etc.

Namokar Mahamantra:

Namo Arihantanam

Namo Siddhanam

Namo Aayariyanam

Namo Uvajjhayanam

Namo Loe Savva Sahunam

Namo Arihantanam - White Color:Arihant is a perfect human being. White color represents Arihant. The white color is the mother of all colors; it is a blending of all colors. It represents pure knowledge. White shows purity, selflessness, and cosmic consciousness. White has protective power against psychic attack. This power should not be used for personal gain. White light removes the diseases from body, mind, and soul. White blood cellsprotect the body from disease. It controls the energy center at the top of the head (Sahasar Chakra).

Namo Siddhanam - Red Color:
Siddha is a pure consciousness or a soul without any Karma attached to it. Both Arihant and Siddha are known as Gods in Jainism. Red color represents Siddha. The red color is the great energizer. Red controls the energy center of command (Ajna Chakra or third eye center located at center of the forehead), which when awakened, will directly affect the sensual energy center (Muladhar Chakra). This center governs the vitality of the physical body, particularly the creative, procreative, and restorative process. Red light causes red blood cells to multiply and invigorate of circulation.

Namo Aayariyanam - Yellow and Orange Color:
Acharya is a head of the Jain congregation. It symbolizes the organizationalpower, self-control, and discipline. Yellow or orange color represents Acharya.Both Yellow and Orange show wisdom, power to accomplish the goal, anddiscipline or strong will power in the life. Yellow stimulates the Solar Plexus and controls the digestive processes in the stomach. It strengthens the nervous system and awakens reasoning facilities. It controls eliminative action on the intestines and liver. Orange assists in assimilation, distribution, and circulation of body functions. It acts mentally on assimilation of new ideas, relieves repression, and combines physical energy and wisdom. It controls the Manipura Chakra.

Namo Uvajjhayanam - Green and Blue Color:
Upadhyay is a teacher, which shows how to awaken powers and maintain balanceof body, mind, and soul. Green or Blue color represents Upadhyay. Green is the color of balanced strength and of progress in the mind and body. It controls the energy center of heart (Heart Chakra). It has a soothing influence on the nervous system. It is tonic for the body, mind, and soul. Blue is the color of truth. It controls the energy center of throat (Throat Chakra), the greatest creative center in the body. It gives power of speech. It is relaxing, soothing, and healing. Blue rays bring calmness and peace to the mind. It is the color of religious aspiration and devotion. Blue rays can transmit thought energy. Blue effects the development of spiritual and psychic powers. Both blue and green are also the colors of vital energy (prana).

While yellow is the color of wisdom (mind),
and blue is the color of truth (soul),
green is the combination of the two,
offering a balance between the two.

Namo Loe Savva Sahunam - Black Color:
Sadhu (monk) is a spiritual practitioner. The practitioner must be protected from worldly attachments and must destroy negativity. Black color represents monk. Black is the absence of all color. It is receptive, consumes negativity, and gives the strength to fight negativity. It controls the sensual energy center (Muladhar Chakra) of the body.

Om namaH Siddham

A student of music here has brought me a text aboutGamelan music based on a palm leaf manuscript in Indonesian which has anunmistakeably Sanskritic beginning. It reads: om awighnam astu nama siddham. A few lines later it reads: "om sidhingastu nama ciwaya."

Madhav Deshpande responded:
The evidence suggests that this may have originated in the Jain traditions of Western India. Then it was adopted by grammatical traditions like that of the Kaatantra, which was widely studied by the Jains. From the Jain traditions, it was generalized to common Indian tradition, and Hinduized at some point. In Western India, many alphabets begin with avernac ularized form of this phrase: 'onaamaasiidham'. This was commonly used in Maharashtra to begin formal teaching of writing to aboy. Similarly it was generalized to mark all beginnings.

I remember having seen a similar explanation of "Om namaH Siddham" elsewhere also, I think it was by Acharya Vinoba Bhave. It was an ancient tradition to start a text by "Siddham". For examplethe inscription of the son-in-law of Kshatrapa Nahapan at Nasik (2ndcent AD), ins. of Vasithiputra Pulmayi etc also at Nasik ((2nd cent AD), ins.of Naravarman of Mandsaur (5th cent AD) etc start with "Siddham".

The word "Om" has the following Jain interpretation. It is anacromym made up of the initial letters of the following:

Arihanta
Ashariri (i.e. Siddha, a released soul)
Aacharya
Upadhyaya
Muni (Sadhu)
a+a+a+u+m = om.
Thus "om" is short for all 5 beings being mentionedin the Namokar Mantra.