Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir

Introduction to Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir

Delhi has many Jain temples. Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir is the most ancient and renowned Jain temple in the country. It is the first Jain temple in India. The temple is opposite the renowned Red Fort at the intersection of Netaji Subhas Marg and Chandni Chowk. Red Temple is another name for it.

Legend of Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir

The temple has an interesting legend. The sounds of musical instruments and drum beats (Nagara) from the temple used to disturb the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. So, he ordered them to stop. But he used to hear their sounds even after they stopped playing. One day he sent his servant to inquire about it. The servant returned and informed him that nobody played the musical instruments, and they played by themselves. This mysterious story is still associated with Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir. After witnessing this miracle during a visit to the temple, Aurangzeb annulled his order.

The Architecture of Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir

The Shree Agarwala Digambar Jain Panchayat Trust built the temple to honor and follow Parshvanath. It was built in 1656. Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir is a glorious edifice of red sandstone construction. A Manastambha (a column of honor in Sanskrit), a pillar, welcomes the devotees at the temple's entrance. Devotees cross a colonnade-enclosed small courtyard and reach the primary worship area on the first floor. Adinath, Parshvanath, and Mahavira have their separate temples. Thousands of visitors across India come here to experience the peacefulness of the temple.

Ante-chambers with exclusive carvings and paintings surround the Parshvanath temple (Parshvanath was the 23rd Tirthankara of Jainism). The statue of Rishabhanatha, the first Tirthankara, is also here, in the temple of Parshvanath. The golden paintwork of his temple shimmers under the glow of candles and butter lamps. It creates a tranquil atmosphere for meditation and worship.

Acharya Shanti Sagar, a Digambara Jain monk, arrived in Delhi in 1931. He was the first Digambara monk to visit Delhi after a long gap of eight centuries. The temple has a memorial marking this historic occasion.

Other Facilities in the Temple Complex

The temple runs a charitable medical center for birds on its premises. Different kinds of birds get free treatment here. Sometimes, Jain merchants bring wounded and other birds here for treatment. Birds of prey like vultures and eagles do not have space here. They only get outpatient treatment.

Festivals in the Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir

Diwali, Paryushana, Gyan Panchami, Mahavir Janma Kalyanak, and Samvatsari are the main festivals in the temple. Every year, people gather here to celebrate the festivals.

Benefits of Worshipping in Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir

People visit the temple from different states to get trained in meditation. They believe that doing meditation can bring them peace.