On April 9, 2025, the Prime Minister (PM) of India, Narendra Modi inaugurated and participated in Navkar Mahamantra Divas at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi (Delhi). The event marked a global spiritual gathering aimed at promoting peace, non-violence, and inner harmony through the collective chanting of the Navkar Mahamantra, the most revered chant in Jainism (Ancient Indian religion).
- The event coincided with Mahavir Jayanti, celebrating the birth of Lord Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, and over 25,000 participants from 108 countries joined a synchronized global chant to promote peace and harmony.
Key Highlights:
i.PM Modi described the Navkar Mantra as a profound source of spiritual energy, emphasizing its ability to bring peace, stability, and mental clarity.
- It honors the Panch Parmeshthi (five enlightened beings: Arihants, Siddhas, Acharyas, Upadhyayas, Sadhus), embodying 108 divine qualities.
ii.PM Modi urged citizens to adopt nine resolutions aligning with Jain principles: Water Conservation, Plant a Tree in Mother’s Name, Cleanliness Mission, Vocal for Local, Explore India, Adopt Natural Farming, Healthy Lifestyle, Incorporate Yoga/Sports, and Help the Underprivileged.
Government Initiatives & Cultural Preservation:
i.PM Modi announced the launch of the “Gyan Bharatam Mission,” under Ministry of Culture (MoC) aimed at surveying and digitizing ancient Indian manuscripts to preserve knowledge and heritage.
ii.The Government of India (GoI) granted classical language status to Prakrit and Pali to facilitate research on Jain literature.
iii.Over 20 idols of Tirthankaras, returned from abroad, have been restored in India, reflecting the government’s commitment to preserving the nation’s spiritual legacy.
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel Unveils Special Philatelic Cover on World Navkar Mahamantra Day
On the same day, Gujarat Chief Minister (CM) Bhupendra Patel unveiled a special philatelic cover at the Gujarat Mineral Development Council (GMDC) Ground, Ahmedabad (Gujarat), to mark World Navkar Mahamantra Day.
- The event was organized by the Mumbai (Maharashtra) -based Jain International Trade Organization (JITO) in collaboration with the Department of Posts (DoP) under the Ministry of Communications (MoC), GoI.
i.The special cover featured the Navkar Mantra and a commemorative postage stamp themed on the 2800th Nirvan Kalyanak of Lord Parshvanath.
ii.The Postmaster General of North Gujarat (Gujarat), Krishna Kumar Yadav, presented the first copy of the cover.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK):
i.PMJVK, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, aims to provide better socio economic infrastructure facilities to the minority communities focusing on education, health, and skill development.
ii.It was implemented by the Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) in 2018.
