Ajay Kumar: Created a new article

2023-08-28T16:03:10Z

Created a new article

New page

{{use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir
| native_name = Śrī Digambar Jain Lāl Mandir
| religious_affiliation = [[Jainism]]
| image = Digambar Jain Lal Mandir, Chandni Chowk, Delhi.jpg
| alt = Lal Mandir
| caption = Digambar Jain Lal Mandir, [[Chandni Chowk]], Delhi.
| map_type = India Delhi
| map_caption = Lal Mandir
| coordinates = {{coord|28|39|20.8|N|77|14|10.6|E|region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| location = Chandni Chowk, Delhi
| festivals = [[Mahavir Jayanti]], Vidhaan
| deity = [[Parshvanatha]]
| temple_quantity = 1
| established = 1656
}}
{{Jainism}}

'''Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir''' ({{IAST|Śrī Digambar Jain Lāl Mandir}}) is the oldest and best-known [[Jain temple]] in [[Delhi]], [[India]]. It is directly across from the [[Red Fort]] in the historical [[Chandni Chowk]] area.

The temple is known for an avian [[Veterinary medicine|veterinary]] hospital, called the Jain Birds Hospital,{{sfn|Brackney|Das|2018|p=288}} in a second building behind the main temple.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ja7iTij7Bc0C&pg=PT81 |title=Top 10 Delhi |isbn=9780756695637 |date=2012-11-01 | publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]] }}</ref>{{sfn|DTTDC}}

Located just opposite the massive Red Fort at the intersection of Netaji Subhas Marg and Chandni Chowk, Digambar Jain Temple is the oldest Jain temple in the capital. According to Jain scholar Balbhadra Jain's compendium of Digambar Jain shrines in India, it was built in 1656.{{sfn|Azam|2018|p=98}}<ref name="Balbhadra_1974"/>

== History ==

Old Delhi was founded by Mughal Emperor [[Shah Jahan]] (1628–1658) who built what is commonly known as the old city or walled city, surrounded by a wall, with the main street [[Chandni Chowk]] in front of the [[Red Fort]], the imperial residence. Shah Jahan invited several [[Agrawal Jain]] merchants{{sfn|India TV|2013}} to come and settle in the city and granted them some land south of the Chandani Chowk around Dariba Gali.

According to Jain scholar Balbhadra Jain's compendium of Digambar Jain shrines in India, the temple was constructed during the reign of the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] emperor [[Shah Jahan]]. Balbhadra Jain states that a Jain officer of the Mughal army is said to have kept a [[tirthankara]] statue in his tent for personal worship. The tent gradually started attracting other Jain army officers, and subsequently, a Jain temple was constructed at the site in 1656.{{sfn|Titze|Bruhn|1998|p=132}}{{sfn|Pal|2014|p=236}} At that time, the temple was also known as "Urdu temple" (because it was located in an area called "Urdu [[Bazaar]]") and "Lashkari Mandir" (''laskhar'' means an army camp). Balbhadra Jain also mentions that there are several legends about the temple. One such legend claims that Shah Jahan's successor [[Aurangzeb]] once ordered a ban on all musical instruments in the temple. However, miraculously, sounds of drums ([[Naqareh|nagadas]]) would be heard emanating from the temple despite inspections from the Mughal officers. Aurganzeb himself visited the temple to see the miracle, and finally, lifted the ban.{{sfn|Salam|2022}}<ref name="Balbhadra_1974">{{cite book |author=Balbhadra Jain |title=भारत के दिगम्बर जैन तीर्थ (Bharat ke Digambar Jain Tirth) |volume=1: Uttar Pradesh and Delhi |year=1974 |publisher=Bharatavarshiya Digambar Jain Teerthakshetra Committee |oclc=976576984 |url=http://www.jaingranths.com/Manuscript.asp?id=225&i=244 |page=216 }}</ref>

The present-day temple buildings were constructed after the fall of the Mughal Empire, and date from 1878.{{sfn|Peck|2005}}

Balbhadra Jain states that one of the idols in the temple dates back to 1491, and was originally installed by Bhattaraka Jinachandra.<ref name="Balbhadra_1974"/> The Agrawal Jain community acquired three marble idols installed by [[Jivaraj Papriwal]] under the supervision of [[Bhattaraka]] Jinachandra in Samvat 1548 (1491 AD) for the temple. The main icon is that of [[Tirthankara]] [[Parshvanatha|Parshva]].{{sfn|Shukla|Kulshreshtha|2019|p=103}} The deities in temple were originally kept in a tent belonging to an Agrawal Jain officer of the Mughal army.{{sfn|Salam|2022}}

Other nearby temples include the Gauri Shankar temple and the [[Naya Mandir]]. The Gauri Shankar temple was built next to the Lal Mandir in 1761 by Appa Gangadhara, a Maratha Brahman in the service of the [[Scindia]] when Delhi was under their influence.{{sfn|Smith|2017}} In 1800-1807, [[Raja Harsukh Rai]], the imperial treasurer obtained imperial permission to build a temple with a shikhara in the [[Agrawal Jain]] neighborhood of Dharamapura, just south of Chandni Chowk. Thus temple, known for fine carvings, is now known as the [[Naya Mandir]] "New Temple".{{sfn|Pal|2014|p=236}}{{sfn|Safvi|2018}}

== The Temple complex ==
[[File:Jain Temple, Chandni Chowk 01 (Friar's Balsam Flickr).jpg|thumb|left|''Manasthamba'' in front of the temple]]
A [[manastambha]] column stands in front of the temple. The main devotional area of the temple features three red sandstone spires. It is located on the first floor and reached by ascending to the terrace after crossing the small courtyard of the temple, surrounded by a colonnade.{{sfn|Davies|2007|p=159}}{{sfn|Pal|2014|p=236}}

There are a number of shrines in this area but the main shrine is of Lord [[Mahavira]], the 24th and last [[Tirthankara]] of the present ''Avasarpani'' era (half time cycle of decreasing happiness as per [[Jain cosmology]]). Born in 599 BC in the ancient republic of Vaishali (Bihar) as a prince, he renounced all worldly pleasures and comforts and went in search of '[[Moksha (Jainism)|Moksha]]' (salvation). Soon he attained ''[[Kevala Jnana]]'' (Enlightenment), and spent the rest of his life preaching to the people all over the country about the eternal truth of life and ways to attain Moksha. Though some believe that he was the founder of Jainism but he was in a real sense the reformer of an existing faith who reorganized and presented the tenets of the religion in a form suitable to the period.

The statue of [[Rishabhanatha]], the first ''Tirthankara'' is also present here, along with the shrine of Lord Parshvanath, the immediate predecessor of Lord Mahavira. The temple is popular among the Jains. The place is very peaceful and the ambience is really soothing especially due to the shining of the gilded paintwork of the shrine area under the lights of butter lamps and candles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir |url=https://ignca.gov.in/shree-digamber-jain-lal-mandir/ |website=[[Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts]] |publisher=[[Ministry of Culture (India)]] |access-date=24 January 2023}}</ref>

In 1931, [[Acharya]] [[Shantisagar]], a [[Digambara]] Jain monk arrived in Delhi. He was the first [[Digambara monk]] to visit Delhi after a gap of eight centuries. There is a memorial marking this historical occasion.<ref>{{cite news |title=Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir: Know about Delhi's oldest temple built during Emperor Shah Jahan's reign |url=https://www.news9live.com/knowledge/shri-digambar-jain-lal-mandir-know-about-delhis-oldest-temple-built-during-emperor-shah-jahans-reign-173917 |access-date=24 January 2023 |agency=[[News9Live]] |date=2 June 2022}}</ref>

== Bird Hospital ==
[[File:Birds Hospital.JPG|thumb|Birds Hospital at Śrī Digambar Jain Lāl Mandir]]
The temple compound has a famous Bird Hospital.{{sfn|Weisman|1986}}{{sfn|DTTDC}}{{sfn|Brackney|Das|2018|p=288}} The Birds Hospital, calls itself the only institution of its kind in the world, treats about 15,000 birds a year has been run for 60 years in the building built in 1957 under the instructions of Acharya Deshbhushan Maharaj, hospital itself was started in 1930.{{sfn|Paul|2013}}

== In popular culture ==
The tableau of Delhi depicting Chandni Chowk, with Red fort in front followed by Lal mandir along with Gauri Shankar mandir, [[Central Baptist Church, Delhi|Central Baptist Church]], [[Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib]] and [[Fatehpuri Masjid]], during the [[Delhi Republic Day parade|Republic Day Parade]] in 2021.{{sfn|Sultan|2021}}

== Visitors ==

There is also a bookstore in the complex where a wide range of books on [[Jainism]] is available, apart from unique curios and souvenirs related to the religion. Visitors should take off their shoes and all other leather goods and hand it to the concerned person before they enter the temple complex.

===Visiting hours===

Holi to Diwali (Summer times): 5:30 am to 11:30 am & 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm

Diwali to Holi (Winter times): 6:00 am to 12:00 pm & 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm

During the 10 days of Daslakshan Parv or Paryushan Mahaparv, the temple complex is open longer.

The nearest metro station is the [[Lal Qila metro station|Lal Qila]] ([[Violet Line (Delhi Metro)|Violet Line]]).

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Lal Mandir - Vidhaan - Front view (3).jpg|Lal mandir decorated during Vidhaan
File:Lal Mandir - Vidhaan (3).jpg|Lal mandir decorated during Vidhaan
File:Lal Mandir - Vidhaan - Jhanki.jpg|Jhanki during Vidhaan
File:Lal Mandir - Ceiling.jpg|Ceiling
</gallery>
== See also ==
{{commonscat}}
* [[Naya Mandir]] Dharampura
* [[Jainism in Delhi]]
* [[Hanumantal Bada Jain Mandir]]

== References ==
=== Citation ===
{{reflist}}

=== Source ===
==== Books ====
* {{cite book |last=Azam|first=Saber |title=Soraya: The Other Princess |url={{Google books|Ytp5DwAAQBAJ|pg=PT98|plainurl=yes}} | date=13 November 2018 | isbn=9781984563453 | publisher=[[Xlibris Corporation]] }}
* {{cite book | last1=Brackney |first1=William H. | author-link1=William H. Brackney | last2=Das | first2=Rupen | url={{Google books|X2N5DwAAQBAJ|page=288|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}} | title=Poverty and the Poor in the World's Religious Traditions: Religious Responses to the Problem of Poverty | publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]] | date=1 December 2018 |isbn=9781440844461 }}
* {{cite book |last=Davies|first=Norman | author-link=Norman Davies |title=Delhi, a thousand years of building |url={{Google books|18IsDAAAQBAJ|pg=PP159|plainurl=yes}} | year=2007 | isbn=9781846148323 | publisher=[[Penguin Books]] | location=United Kingdom| language=en }}
* {{cite book |last=Davies|first=Norman | author-link=Norman Davies |url={{Google books|18IsDAAAQBAJ|page=|plainurl=yes}}|title=Beneath Another Sky: A Global Journey into History|publisher=[[Penguin Books]]|location=United Kingdom|date=2017|isbn=9781846148323|language=en}}
* {{cite book |last=Pal|first=Susant|url={{Google books|284AAwAAQBAJ|page=236|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}} |title=Imbibed in Faith|publisher=[[Partridge Publishing]]|year=2014|isbn=9781482812596|language=en}}
* {{cite book |last=Peck|first=Lucy|title=Delhi, a thousand years of building |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t-1PAAAAMAAJ |date=1 August 2005 | series=[[INTACH]] roli guide | publisher=The Lotus Collection |isbn=978-81-7436-354-1 |quote="Lal Mandir (1656 foundation, but the buildings are newer: mainly 1878)"|language=en}}
* {{cite book|last1=Shukla|first1=U. N.|last2=Kulshreshtha|first2=Sharad Kumar|url={{Google books|58OkDwAAQBAJ|page=103|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}}|title=Emerging Trends in Indian Tourism and Hospitality: Transformation and Innovation|publisher=Copal Publishing Group|date=2019|isbn=9789383419760}}
* {{cite book |last1=Titze |first1=Kurt |last2=Bruhn|first2=Klaus |title=Jainism: A Pictorial Guide to the Religion of Non-Violence |url={{Google books|loQkEIf8z5wC|page=132|plainurl=yes}} |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] |edition=2 |date=1998 |isbn=978-81-208-1534-6 }}

==== Web ====
* {{cite web | last=Paul | first=Amrita | url=http://www.caravanmagazine.in/lede/healing-wings | title=Healing Wings, A hospital for birds in Delhi's Chandni Chowk | date=1 January 2013}}
* {{cite news | last=Safvi | first=Rana | title=Devotion under natural light | date=14 October 2018 | access-date=27 January 2021 | url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/devotion-under-natural-light/article25216749.ece | work=[[The Hindu]] }}
* {{cite news | last=Salam | first=Ziya Us | author-link=Ziya Us Salam | title=Did you know Lal Mandir was called Urdu Mandir? | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/watch-did-you-know-lal-mandir-was-called-urdu-mandir/article65529756.ece | newspaper=[[The Hindu]] | date=15 June 2022 | access-date=15 June 2022 }}
* {{cite news | last=Smith | first=R. V. | title=Built upon a dream | date=5 June 2017 | access-date=27 January 2021 | url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/built-upon-a-dream/article18721910.ece | work=[[The Hindu]] }}
* {{cite news | last=Sultan | first=Parvez | title=Delhi tableau showcases cultural fusion in Walled City | date=27 January 2021 | access-date=27 January 2021 | url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2021/jan/27/delhi-tableau-showcases-cultural-fusion-in-walled-city-2255581.html | work=[[The New Indian Express]] }}
* {{cite news | last=Weisman | first=Steven R. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/04/04/world/in-old-dehli-a-hospital-for-fighting-nightingales.html | title=In old delhi: a hospital for fighting nightingales| work=[[New York Times]] | date=April 4, 1986}}
* {{cite web|author=DTTDC|url=https://delhitourism.gov.in/delhitourism/tourist_place/spritual_delhi.jsp | title=Places of Attraction - SPIRITUAL | work=[[Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation]] | access-date=16 June 2022 }}
* {{cite news | author=India TV | url=http://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/india-s-agrawal-community-its-history-and-prominent-personaliti-18629.html?page=4 | title=India's Agrawal community: Its history and prominent personalities | work=[[India TV]] | date=21 March 2013 }}

== External links ==
* [https://www.bhaktibharat.com/en/mandir/shri-digambar-jain-lal-mandir Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir - Having Birds Hospital]
* [http://www.jainsamaj.org/rpg_site/literature2.php?id=2295&cat=40&subcat=123&subsubcat=25 Photo and Brief Description]

{{Delhi landmarks}}
{{Jain temples}}
{{Jainism Topics}}

[[Category:Jain temples in Delhi]]
[[Category:Sandstone buildings in India]]
[[Category:Religious buildings and structures completed in 1656]]
[[Category:1656 establishments in India]]
[[Category:17th-century Jain temples]]

Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article