In Jainism

Jainism

Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...

, a Bhonyra ( , ) is an underground chamber in some Jain temples

Derasar

A derasar is a temple for followers of Jainism, except for non-murtipujak Svetambaras. Derasar is a word used in Gujarat, Kutch and parts of Rajasthan, in other parts of India, the term Jain Mandir is used for all the Jain temples. Jain idols of Tirthankaras are worshipped there...

. In the past, it was used to conceal sacred idols during times of disturbance.

Naya Mandir

Naya Mandir

Naya Mandir is a historic Jain temple in Old Delhi, in the Dharampura locality allocated to the Jain community by Aurangzeb....

 in Delhi has a concealed chamber. A visitor in 1876 described it:

In Delhi I found a Jain temple which was wholly unknown to Europeans well acquainted with the city; and on prosecuting inquiry, I got its priest to open to me a concealed chamber containing large statues of several of the Tirthankaras richly ornamented.

The chamber has now been given the form of a cave, suitable for peaceful meditation by visiting Jain monks.

There are several Jain temples in Bundelkhand

Bundelkhand

Bundelkhand anciently known as Chedi Kingdom is a geographic region of central India...

 that have a bhonyra chamber. A few years ago, several Jain idols were found in a bhonyara in Sanganer

Sanganer

Sanganer is a town situated 15 km south of Jaipur, the capital of Indian state of Rajasthan. The town is famous for handmade paper industry, textile printing and for Jain temples. Sanganer prints are one of its own kinds, for the reason that patterns in bright colors are always printed on white...

 in Rajasthan

Rajasthan

Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...

.

In 2001, an entire Jain temple was found beneath a mound at Umta, Gujarat. It was apparently buried to protect it from the destruction about 800 years ago.

See also

• Raja Harsukh Rai
  Raja Harsukh Rai
  Raja Harsukh Rai the chief of the Agrawal community, and a builder of several Jain temples in and around Delhi, was the imperial treasurer during Sam. 1852-Sam. 1880....
  
  
• Jainism in Delhi
  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. It has had continued presenece of a Jain community throughout its history, and it is still a major Jain center....
  
  
• Sanganer
  Sanganer
  Sanganer is a town situated 15 km south of Jaipur, the capital of Indian state of Rajasthan. The town is famous for handmade paper industry, textile printing and for Jain temples. Sanganer prints are one of its own kinds, for the reason that patterns in bright colors are always printed on white...
  
  
• Hansi
  Hansi
  Hansi is a city and a municipal council in Hisar district in the Indian state of Haryana. Its 2011 population is estimated to be 1,34,568. It is located at a distance of east of Hisar on National Highway 10. Geographically, it is semi-arid with around 46 cm of annual rainfall. It appears...
  
  
• Chausa hoard
  Chausa hoard
  The Chausa hoard, thus named after the place of discovery: Chausa or Chausagarh, famous for Chausa mangoes, is located in the Buxar district of Bihar. This was the first known bronze hoard discovered in the Gangetic valley and consists of a set of 18 Jain bronzes...