In a stirring address on Navkar Mahamantra Divas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored the profound influence of Jainism in shaping India’s cultural and spiritual identity.
Speaking at an event in New Delhi, Modi emphasized that the ancient religion’s principles—rooted in non-violence, interdependence, and sustainability—offer solutions to pressing global challenges such as terrorism, war, and environmental degradation.
The Prime Minister’s speech came as a celebration of the Navkar Mantra, a sacred Jain chant that pays homage to enlightened beings and their 108 divine qualities. “Jainism has played an invaluable role in building India’s identity,” Modi declared, pointing to its visible influence on the nation’s heritage, including the presence of tirthankara idols adorning the Parliament building.
He hailed the religion’s philosophical depth, particularly the doctrine of anekantavada—the recognition that truth can be perceived from multiple perspectives—as a much-needed antidote to absolutism in today’s polarized world.
Modi highlighted Jainism’s reverence for the interdependence of all life forms, a principle that forbids even the slightest act of violence. “This carries the best lesson for peace, harmony, and environmental protection,” he said, aligning it with India’s Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment). He lauded the Jain community’s centuries-old sustainable lifestyle as a blueprint for tackling climate change, which he described as “today’s biggest crisis.”
The Prime Minister also outlined his government’s efforts to preserve Jainism’s rich legacy. He cited initiatives like the digitization of ancient Jain texts and the recent designation of Pali and Prakrit as classical languages. The “Gyan Bharatam Mission,” announced in this year’s budget, aims to safeguard India’s spiritual literature, addressing Modi’s concern over the gradual loss of significant texts. Additionally, he celebrated the repatriation of over 20 ancient idols, including those of tirthankaras, from abroad in recent years—a testament to India’s commitment to reclaiming its heritage.
In a call to action, Modi urged the audience to adopt nine pledges reflecting Jain values and national priorities: conserving water, planting trees in memory of one’s mother, promoting cleanliness, supporting local products, exploring domestic tourism, embracing natural farming, adopting a millet-rich diet, reducing edible oil consumption by 10 percent, aiding the underprivileged, and integrating sports and yoga into daily life. “Take the message of unity across the country and embrace anyone who chants ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai,’” he exhorted.
The Navkar Mantra, Modi noted, encapsulates a philosophy of knowledge and action as the guiding forces of life. “One bows to the 108 divine qualities and remembers the welfare of humanity when reciting it,” he said. This vision, he added, aligns with the dream of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India)—a nation that balances progress with tradition, soaring to new heights while remaining rooted in its ethos.
The event, marked by collective chanting of the Navkar Mantra, symbolized spiritual harmony and ethical consciousness. As an official statement noted, the mantra’s principles of non-violence, humility, and spiritual elevation inspire inner transformation and unity—a message Modi echoed in his address.