Naya Mandir
Encyclopedia
Naya Mandir is a historic Jain temple in Old Delhi
, in the Dharampura locality allocated to the Jain community by Aurangzeb
.
Raja Harsukh Rai
, imperial treasurer in the late Mughal
period, constructed a 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
rupee
s, 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.
When the temple construction was almost finished, Harsukh Rai stopped the construction. When the representatives of the Agrawal Jain
community approached him and asked about it, he claimed that he has run out of money and needed donations from the community to finish the construction. After accepting modest donations, Harsukh Rai declared the temple to be panchayati (i.e. belonging to the community, rather than himself) and finished the construction.
During the festivities of temple consecration (Panch-kalyanak Pratishtha
), the festive pandal was raided by a local group and the gold and silver objects (chhatra, chamar, utensils) were plundered. Harsukh Rai complained to the Emperor, who ordered that they be returned.
The temple houses an important collection of manuscripts.
Jinasena
. This manuscript dated to 1420 CE is a rare surviving example of Jain (and Indian) art in early 15th century.
and during early 20th century, this was the temple referred to as the Jain temple of Delhi by several European visitors.
E. Augusta King in 1884 describes the temple as:
Some visitors describe the shrine as a "large wedding-cake".
James Fergusson
, in his famous "History of Indian and Eastern Architecture" (1876) describes the temple as:
भोंयरा )to preserve statues during troubled times to hide them. Naya Mandir also has a concealed chamber. A visitor in 1876 described it:
The the chamber has now been given the form of a cave, suitable for peaceful meditation by visiting Jain monks.
Chetyalayas are generally small private temples.
Old Delhi
Old Delhi , walled city of Delhi, India, was founded as Shahjahanabad by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in 1639. It remained the capital of the Mughals until the end of the Mughal dynasty....
, in the Dharampura locality allocated to the Jain community by Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
.
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....
, imperial treasurer in the late Mughal
Mughal era
The Mughal era is a historic period of the Mughal Empire in South Asia . It ran from the early 15th century to a point in the early 18th century when the Mughal Emperors' power had dwindled...
period, constructed a 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
Lakh
A lakh is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to one hundred thousand . It is widely used both in official and other contexts in Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and is often used in Indian English.-Usage:...
rupee
Rupee
The rupee is the common name for the monetary unit of account in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives, and formerly in Burma, and Afghanistan. Historically, the first currency called "rupee" was introduced in the 16th century...
s, 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.
When the temple construction was almost finished, Harsukh Rai stopped the construction. When the representatives of the Agrawal Jain
Agrawal Jain
Agrawal Jains are an ancient Jaina community who origined from Hisar, Haryana. They are among the most prominent Jaina communities.-Legends:According to Bachan Kosh of Bulakhichand and several other texts from the Mughal period preserved in Delhi temple libraries, the emergence of the Agrawals is...
community approached him and asked about it, he claimed that he has run out of money and needed donations from the community to finish the construction. After accepting modest donations, Harsukh Rai declared the temple to be panchayati (i.e. belonging to the community, rather than himself) and finished the construction.
During the festivities of temple consecration (Panch-kalyanak Pratishtha
Panch-kalyanak Pratishtha
Panch-kalyanak Pratishtha is a traditional Jain ceremony that consecrates one or more Jain Tirthankara pratimas.The five kalyanakas are the five major events associated with a tirthankara.# Garbh...
), the festive pandal was raided by a local group and the gold and silver objects (chhatra, chamar, utensils) were plundered. Harsukh Rai complained to the Emperor, who ordered that they be returned.
The temple houses an important collection of manuscripts.
The Naya Mandir Maha-purana manuscript
The Naya Mandir book collection includes a rare illustrated manuscript of Maha-purana of AcharyaAcharya
In Indian religions and society, an acharya is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men...
Jinasena
Jinasena
Jinasena is the name of several famous Jain Acharyas of the Digambar tradition.* The author of Harivamsha Purana in the 8th century. He belonged to the Punnata branch of Jain monks....
. This manuscript dated to 1420 CE is a rare surviving example of Jain (and Indian) art in early 15th century.
Accounts of Nineteenth century visitors
After the 1857 GhadarGhadar
Ghadar may refer to:* Indian Rebellion of 1857 is also called Ghadar.*Ghadar Party, an Indian political party founded in San Francisco**Hindustan Ghadar, the weekly publication of the Ghadar Party...
and during early 20th century, this was the temple referred to as the Jain temple of Delhi by several European visitors.
E. Augusta King in 1884 describes the temple as:
- The frontage: The Jain temple has a fine frontage of carved stone, carved so profusely in such delicate airy tracery that it is difficult to believe it is stone. We went up a flight of steps and came to a courtyard surrounded by what we call Moorish arches, with colonnades having groined roofs, every inch of which was painted elaborately with graceful arabesques, the effect being rich and soft in the extreme.
- The decorations:On one side of the courtyard is the temple proper, on a raised dais four feet high. The building and decorations are exquisite; the shafts of all the arches are of polished white marble inlaid with flowing flowery patterns in coloured marbles. The walls and ceiling and every available inch are painted richly, the prevailing colours being blue and gold, but all so artistically blended that the eye only takes in the general effect, which is something like that of a Cashmere shawl.
- The central shrine: In the centre, under the dome, is a very beautiful shrine for the idol, who is sitting serenely at a height of ten feet or so under a fine baldachino of white inlaid marble. If the whole could be transported to Italy, and a statue of the Virgin substituted for the idol, its beauty would be raved about. A sparrow was perched familiarly on the shrine, and gave us some little friendly chirps to show he did not object to our presence.
Some visitors describe the shrine as a "large wedding-cake".
James Fergusson
James Fergusson (architect)
James Fergusson , was a Scottish writer on architecture.-Life:Fergusson was born at Ayr, the son of William Fergusson an army surgeon. After being educated first at the Royal High School, Edinburgh, and then at a private school in Hounslow, he went to Calcutta as a partner in a mercantile house...
, in his famous "History of Indian and Eastern Architecture" (1876) describes the temple as:
- "There is one other example that certainly deserves notice before leaving this branch of the subject, not only on account of its beauty, but its singularity. .. It was left, however, for a Jaina architect of the end of the last or beginning of this century, in the Mahomodan city of Delhi, to suggest a mode by which what was only conventionally beautiful might really become an appropriate constructive part of lithic architecture. .. As will be observed in the last cut (No. 146), the architect has had the happy idea of filling in the whole of the back of the strut with pierced foliaged tracery of the most exquisite device.."
Concealed chamber
At one time many Jain temples contained a concealed chamber (sometimes called bhonyraBhonyra
In Jainism, a Bhonyra is an underground chamber in some Jain temples. In the past, it was used to conceal sacred idols during times of disturbance.Naya Mandir in Delhi has a concealed chamber...
भोंयरा )to preserve statues during troubled times to hide them. Naya Mandir also 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 the chamber has now been given the form of a cave, suitable for peaceful meditation by visiting Jain monks.
Nearby Jain temples in the Dharampura/Dariba
- Jain Chetyalaya , Gali khazanchimal, Dariba kalan Delhi-110 006
- Jain Chetyalaya, Satghera, Dharampura Delhi-110 006
- Jain Meruji Mandir, Dharampura Delhi-110 006
- Jain Panchayati Mandir. Dharampura Delhi-110 006
- Jain Chetyalaya, Gali kuanwali, Gali Anar, Dharampura Delhi-110 006
- Jain Padhmawati purwal Mandir, Dharampura Delhi-110 006
- Jain Bada Mandir, Kucha Seth, Dariba kalan Delhi-110 006
- Jain Mandir, NauGhera
- Jain Mandir, SatGhera Dharampura Delhi-110 006
- Jain Bada Mandir, Dharampura Delhi-110 006
- Jain Chetyalaya, Deputy Mal Ji Jain, Dharampura Delhi-110 006
Chetyalayas are generally small private temples.
See also
- Lal Mandir
- Sri Digambar Jain Lal MandirSri Digambar Jain Lal MandirShri Digambar Jain Lal 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.It is known for an avian veterinary hospital in a second building behind the main temple....
- Raja Harsukh RaiRaja Harsukh RaiRaja 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 DelhiJainism in DelhiDelhi 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....