1,008 Jain Women Gather in Hyderabad to Chant Ancient Namoththunam Hymn

A gathering of 1,008 Jain women came together in Hyderabad for a religious programme dedicated to chanting Namoththunam, an ancient Jain hymn of reverence.

The programme carried a contemporary and social message focusing on spiritual values and the conscious choice of role models. Participants noted that the ancient hymn encourages devotees to reflect on the core qualities that make individuals worthy of admiration, such as wisdom, humility, and self-control.

Swarup Chand Kothari, Chairman of the Shri Vardhaman Sthanakvasi Jain Shravak Sangh, Greater Hyderabad, stated that Namoththunam is an ancient Jain sutra and hymn of reverence through which devotees offer obeisance to the Arihants.

"It is a prayer through which devotees offer obeisance to the Arihants and celebrate the qualities that make them spiritually elevated," Kothari said. "Namoththunam teaches us whom to admire—and, more importantly, why."

Participants at the event explained that the underlying philosophy of the prayer extends beyond admiring an individual to recognising the specific virtues that warrant reverence.

Raksh Jain, one of the 1,008 participants at the gathering, remarked on the social relevance of the chanting. "Before we choose our heroes, perhaps we should first understand the qualities that make someone worthy of being a role model," she said.

Elaborating on the meaning behind the verses, Supriya Bhalgat, a data scientist who participated in the event, said that the prayer celebrates virtues such as self-control, wisdom, humility, and freedom from negative passions.

Smitha Jain, a nutritionist who also took part in the chanting programme, highlighted the spiritual discipline reflected in the sutra. "Namoththunam takes this idea of admiration to a spiritual level," she said. "It teaches us to bow before those who have conquered their inner enemies."