This is the most sacred Mantra among the Jains, this is recited during spiritual (and also otherwise) gatherings in the beginning. This mantra is a bowing (or paying respects to) Arihants (those who have no enemies; those who have ended attachment and aversions), Siddhas (perfected ones), Acharyas (spiritual leaders, teachers), Teachers and all monks.

This Maha Mantra is one of the oldest mantras, this mantra was found on 162 BC Hathigumpha inscription.

Lyrics in (Jain) Prakrit

Transliterated to English

Meaning in English

णमो अरिहंताणं

णमो सिद्धाणं

णमो आयरियाणं

णमो उवज्झायाणं

णमो लोए सव्व साहूणं

Ṇamō arihantāṇaṁ

Ṇamō siddhāṇaṁ

Ṇamō āyariyāṇaṁ

Ṇamō uvajjhāyāṇaṁ

Ṇamō lōē savva sāhūṇaṁ

I bow to the (arihants) liberated ones

I bow to the (siddhas) perfecetd ones

I bow to the (acharyas) preceptors

I bow to the (Upadhyâyas) teachers

I bow to all the (sadhus) saints

[एसोपंचणमोक्कारो, सव्वपावप्पणासणो

मंगला णं च सव्वेसिं, पडमम हवई मंगलं]

[Ēsōpan̄caṇamōkkārō, savvapāvappaṇāsaṇō

Maṅgalā ṇaṁ ca savvēsiṁ, paḍamama havaī maṅgalaṁ]

[This five-fold bowing destroys all sins and obstacles

and of all auspicious mantras, is the first and foremost one]