Jainism in Delhi

Delhi is an ancient center of Jainism, home to over 165 Jain temples. Delhi has a large population of Jains spread all over the city.

In Delhi, during the Tomar rule, Jain poet Vibudh Shridhar who wrote during Vikram Samvat 1189-1230, had written Pasanah Chariu with the support of a Jain merchant prince Nattal Sahu. This book provides the very first account of the city of Delhi and the first mention of the Agrawal community.

Raja Harsukh Rai in early 1800's was the chief of the Agrawal Jain community, and a builder of several Jain temples in and around Delhi including the Naya Mandir, was the imperial treasurer during Sam. 1852-Sam. 1880.

Main Temples

*Digambara Jain Lal Mandir: The oldest Jain temple in Delhi known as Lal Mandir ("Red Temple"). It is just opposite of the Red Fort on the Netaji Subhas Marg, Chandni Chowk, Delhi. Constructed in 1658, the temple has undergone many modifications, additions, and alterations. The temple has a free bird hospital (though donations are appreciated) in the courtyard. It practices the Jain principle that all life is sacred.

*Naya Mandir Dharampura: This was the first temple in Delhi with a shikhar. Raja Harsukh Rai, imperial treasurer in the late Mughal period, constructed this large and ornate Jain temple in the Dharampura locality of Old Delhi in 1807 during the rule of Mughal Emperor Akbar II with a cost of about 8 Lakh rupees, then an enormous amount. He was able to obtain the royal permission to construct a shikhara for the temple for the first time during the Mughal rule. Thus temple is known as the Naya Mandir (new temple), since an older Jain temple, now known as the Lal Mandir already existed.

*Atma Vallabha Sanskriti mandir: Located at 20th kilometre on G. T. Karnal Road, its idyllic setting bring out the elegance of the buildings, which were all built according to traditional Jain Shastras. The complex includes Shri Vasupujaya Temple, Shri Vallabh Smarak, a Shastra Bhandar, a Jain Museum, and a Research Centre for Indology. The complex also has a school for children, a Dharsmshala & Bhojanalaya for the convenience of visitors, as well as a free dispensary. The complex also contains "Devi Padamavati Temple" and a shrine of Sadhvi Mrigavati ji.

The nearby Jain tirthas include:

* Hastinapur
* Tijara
* Ahichatra
* Hansi
* Ranila
* Kasan

External links

* [http://www.jainpushp.org/temples-india/delhi.htm Jain Temples in Delhi]
* [http://archnet.org/institutions/INTACH/library/web/delhi/Page071.html Lal Mandir]
* [http://www.chandnichowk.com/dadabari/mdcomplex.htm The Mehrauli Dadabari complex]
* [http://www.jainworld.org/pictures/temples/ Ahimsa Sthal]