1,008 Jain women gathered in Hyderabad 'Namoththunam'

A unique religious programme with a strong contemporary and social message was held, with 1,008 Jain women coming together to chant Namoththunam, an ancient Jain hymn of reverence.

According to Swarup Chand Kothari, Chairman, Shri Vardhaman Sthanakvasi Jain Shravak Sangh, Greater Hyderabad, Namoththunam is an ancient Jain sutra and hymn of reverence. 

“It is a prayer through which devotees offer obeisance to the Arihants and celebrate the qualities that make them



spiritually elevated. Namoththunam teaches us whom to admire—and, more importantly, why,” he said.

The deeper idea behind the prayer, participants explained, is that reverence is not merely about admiring an individual but about recognising the qualities that make that person worthy of admiration.

Raksh Jain, one of the 1,008 participants, said, “Before we choose our heroes, perhaps we should first understand the qualities that make someone worthy of being a role model.