About the event

The Philosophy of Jain Mantra – Mantra Jñāna
Wednesday, December 18, 2024

6:30 - 7:30 a.m. PST | 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. EST | 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. CET | 8 -9 p.m. IST

Many of us recite mantras on a regular basis without ever knowing the philosophy or jñāna behind the formation of Jain mantras, and how mantras interact with and invigorate our subtle and physical bodies. Join Parveen Jain, PhD for an enlightening session on the deep philosophy and transformative power behind mantra recitation. In this insightful talk, Dr. Jain will explore the intricate process that underlies mantra recitation, as revealed by his guru, Ācārya Sushil Kumar.

Every cognitive action, whether during contemplation or otherwise, creates a degree of powerful vital energy (ūrjā) at mūlādhāra which converts into a pulsation (spandana). This pulsation travels in the sūkṣma śarīra through the cakras while gathering energy and transforming into a sound (dhvani). The process, which occurs at a speed scientifically unmeasurable, creates the reverberations that result in the spiritual energy the practitioner is seeking. 
 

Our learned spiritual leaders (yogīs, ṛṣis and ācāryas) have meticulously crafted mantras to achieve specific outcomes through extensive research, validation, and practice. This process mirrors the rigorous and iterative methods used in modern science. The creation of mantras is a millennia-old contemplative process that operates at the level of consciousness, while scientific investigations primarily focus on physiological processes and materialistic phenomena.

The benefits of a mantra recitation are derived primarily by harnessing the energies of the fundamental elements (dravya-tattva, also called pañca-dravya or pañca-bhūta) – pṛthivī, agni, vāyu, jala, and ākāśa (earth, fire, wind, water, and space) – at a subtle (sūkṣma) level both in the body and externally. The specific sounds and words of a mantra – the specific phonemes (varṇas) or the letters and words (akṣaras and śabdas) – create pulsations (spandana) in the subtle body (sūkṣma śarīra), which are influenced by the characteristics of the fundamental elements.

The creators of mantras meticulously chose specific sounds and components to match the intended effects of the mantra, whether they be intense or gentle, calming or stimulating, and so on. Because of this deliberate selection, a specific mantra spiritually energizes and enhances the practitioner on both a spiritual and physical level, ultimately achieving the desired objectives of that mantra. Mantra creators selected the dravya-tattva(s) that subtly emanate(s) energy in the form of pulsations with similar characteristics. Thereafter, to formulate the mantra, they selected the varṇas that generated subtle body pulsations which matched the pulsations sensed from the selected dravya-tattva(s). These pulsations reverberate and spiritually invigorate the practitioner’s subtle body (sūkṣma śarīra), which then reveals the desired subtle and physical benefits.

Discover how this millennia-old contemplative process, rooted in consciousness, mirrors the iterative, rigorous methods of modern science, and how mantra recitation can invigorate your subtle body and enhance both your spiritual and physical well-being.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to deepen your understanding of the transformative power of mantras.

RSVP below.

PANELISTS

Parveen Jain, Arihanta Institute

Parveen Jain, PhD is the founder, CEO and Chairman of Arihanta Institute, and the author of An Introduction to Jain Philosophy. He had an exciting career of over thirty years as founder and chief executive of multiple technology companies, and a senior executive role at McAfee, the cyber security company, and in 2014, he retired from active corporate life to devote his full time to philanthropic activities.

Parveen has always cherished philanthropy and has held leadership roles in various non-profit organizations. He has been a long-time trustee of the International Mahavira Jain Mission, where he has been deeply involved with the growth of Siddhachalam, the first Jain tīrtha outside of India, from its founding. He led the team to build the Jain Temple in the San Francisco Bay Area, has served as chairman and president of Jain Center of Northern California, and continues to be an active advisor. Previously, he was a founding director of the Sunnyvale Hindu Temple, served as a trustee of the American Foundation for the Blind, was a founding team member of the South Asian Heart Center, and served as a founding director of Stanford Center for Asian Health Research and Education (Stanford-CARE).

Parveen is most passionate about furthering the initiatives inspired by Ācārya Sushil Kumar in the service of Jain tradition: promoting the message of nonviolence, creating Jain educational platforms, and applying Jain principles to everyday life among the growing global Jain community, for current and future generations.

Samani Rohini Pragya, Jain Vishwa Bharati Institute, Ladnu, India

Rohini Pragya, Samani is an Associate Professor in the Department of Non-Violence and Peace Studies at Jain Vishwa Bharti Institute (JVBI). She has been lecturer at Ācharya Kālu Kanya Mahavidyalya, Professor of Jainology and Comparative Philosophy and Religion at JVBI since 2004. She has also been Visiting Instructor in the Department of Religious Studies at Florida International University (FIU). She is also an initiate Jain Samani (nun) from last twenty-two years and is a disciple of Jain Śvetāmbara Terāpanth Guru H.H. Ācārya Śree Mahāśamaṇa Ji. She has authored many research articles, including books: “Jain View of Reality: A Hermeneutic Interpretation” (2020) JVBI, “Doctrine of Karma: A Jain Perspective,” “Translation of ‘Karmavāda’ by Ācārya Mahāprajña,” (2022) JVB, “Notion of Soul in Jainism,” Monograph (2024) JVBI. Her current research work focuses on Jain studies and comparative philosophy and religion, non-violence and peace studies, structural violence, and training in non-violence, Jain Yoga and Prekṣā Meditation. Other than many international forums, she has been attending and presenting at the American Academy of Religion (AAR) and South Asian Studies Association (SASA) since 2016.

Samani Satya Pragya, Jain Vishwa Bharati Institute, Ladnu, India

Dr. Samani Satya Pragya is Professor in the department of Non-Violence and Peace Studies at Jain Vishva Bharti Institute Ladnun, India and visiting professor at Florida International University since 2016-2019.

Samani ji’s area of specialization includes Jainism, Comparative Religion and Philosophy, Ahimsa, Training in Non-Violence and Preksha Meditation. she has traveled many states of India and other countries like Nepal, US, UK, and participated in many conferences, seminars, workshops and delivered guest lectures at various universities and other platforms. She has authored several books and research articles and has been awarded “Rashtra Bhasha Goarav” at Allahabad. Acharya Tulsi’s Video Lecture Series were directed, translated and edited by her along with Dr. Samani Rohini Pragya.
 

Christopher Jain Miller, Arihanta Institute

Christopher Jain Miller, the co-founder and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Arihanta Institute, completed his PhD in the study of Religion at the University of California, Davis. He is a Visiting Researcher at the University of Zürich's Asien-Orient-Institut and Visiting Professor at Claremont School of Theology where he co-developed and co-runs a remotely available Masters Degree Program focusing on Engaged Jain Studies. His current research focuses on Engaged Jainism and Modern Yoga, and he is the author of a number of articles and book chapters concerned with Jainism and the practice of modern yoga. Christopher is the author of Embodying Transnational Yoga: Eating, Singing, and Breathing in Transformation (Routledge 2024), as well as co-editor of the volumes Engaged Jainism: Critical and Constructive Approaches to the Study of Jain Social Engagement (SUNY 2025) and Beacons of Dharma: Spiritual Exemplars for the Modern Age (Lexington 2020).

Header Image: The miniature depicts the Pancaparameṣṭhi on Siddhaśilā. Folio from the Saṁgrahaṇīratna by Śvetāmbara ascetic Śrīcandra in Prakrit with interlinear Gujarati commentary, 17th century (British Library Or 2116C)