New Delhi, April 10, 2025 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday called the Jain Navkar Mahamantra a timeless “force of peace and consciousness,” urging the nation to embrace its essence during a virtual address to Jain seers in Gujarat. Speaking ahead of Mahavir Jayanti on April 15, Modi tied the mantra’s message of forgiveness and non-violence to India’s global pitch for harmony amid Trump’s tariff chaos.
“It’s not just a chant—it’s a way of life,” Modi said, per Times of India, recalling his days as Gujarat CM when Jain monks gifted him its wisdom. The Navkar Mahamantra, a prayer honoring enlightened souls, resonates in a world “torn by greed,” he added—nodding to the US-China trade war’s 104% tariffs rattling markets since Wednesday. “India must lead with soul, not just strength,” he urged.
The PM’s words hit home as he linked the mantra to practical governance—pushing sustainable farming and Ayurveda, rooted in Jain values. “Ahimsa isn’t passive—it’s active peace,” he told the gathering, per The Indian Express. With Gujarat hosting over 2 million Jains—5% of its population—Modi’s nod carries weight. His 2024 Jain temple visits and vegan diet trials fuel the connect, earning applause on X: “He gets it—peace starts within.”
This isn’t rhetoric—India’s soft power’s at play. As BRICS looms, Modi’s framing the mantra as a counter to global friction, days after China’s trade olive branch (NDTV). Yet, critics on X quip, “Nice words, but where’s the action?”—pointing to domestic strife like J&K’s Waqf row. Still, with 1,200 Jain temples nationwide (ASI), the cultural heft’s undeniable.
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