Raja Harsukh Rai
Encyclopedia
Raja Harsukh Rai (early 19th century) 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.
When Shahjahan constructed his now capital city at Delhi in 17th century, he invited several Jain financiers to come and settle there. They included Sah
Dipchand of Hissar
, an Agrawal Jain, who constructed 16 havelis for his 16 sons in Dariba, south of Chandni Chowk
. According to other accounts he was invited by Shah Alam II
and had five sons.
Harsukh Rai, one of his descendants, was chosen to be the imperial treasurer by Emperor Shah Alam II
, and was given the title Raja
.
Harsukh Rai 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 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.
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.
In Samvat 1867, he wanted to obtain the imperial permission for a rath-yatra (religious procession) that was traditionally prohibited. He had the Sunehri Masjid
reguilded. As a reward, he asked the emperor permission to have the rath-yatra.
He and his son Suganchand built numerous Jain temples at
The Rath Yatra caused considerable resentment among the non-Jains and resulted in some disturbances.
In 1877 CE, after the 1857 Ghadar
, the Jains (called Sarawagi
in the records) again sought permission to take out a permission to take out a procession with:
"50 muscicians, one elephant carrying a banner, seven camels bearing flags, fifty palanquins, three chariots ..".
This was again opposed by other religious groups which warned about "riots, looting, murder" etc. Eventually the Jains were able to take out the procession, but only through side-streets.
Agrawal
Agrawal or Agarwal is a large and influential community in India. Agrawals are Kshatriya by birth of the Solar Dynasty but after the adoption of Vanika dharma by king Agrasena, Agrawals started dealing in business...
community, and a builder of several Jain temples in and around Delhi, was the imperial treasurer during Sam. 1852-Sam. 1880.
When Shahjahan constructed his now capital city at Delhi in 17th century, he invited several Jain financiers to come and settle there. They included Sah
Shah
Shāh is the title of the ruler of certain Southwest Asian and Central Asian countries, especially Persia , and derives from the Persian word shah, meaning "king".-History:...
Dipchand of Hissar
Hisar, India
Hisar city, previously spelled Hissar, is the administrative headquarters of Hisar district, in the state of Haryana, in northwestern India. Hisar was founded in 1354 CE, as Hissar-e-Firoza by Firoz Shah Tughlaq, who reigned over the Sultanate of Delhi from 1351 to 1388. on the demolished ruins...
, an Agrawal Jain, who constructed 16 havelis for his 16 sons in Dariba, south of Chandni Chowk
Chandni Chowk
Chandni Chowk , originally meaning moonlit square or market, is one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi, now in central north Delhi, India...
. According to other accounts he was invited by Shah Alam II
Shah Alam II
Shah Alam II , also known as Ali Gauhar, was a Mughal emperor of India. A son of Alamgir II, he was exiled to Allahabad in December 1759 by Ghazi-ud-Din, who appointed Shah Jahan III as the emperor. Later, he was nominated as the emperor by Ahmad Shah.Shah Alam II was considered the only and...
and had five sons.
Harsukh Rai, one of his descendants, was chosen to be the imperial treasurer by Emperor Shah Alam II
Shah Alam II
Shah Alam II , also known as Ali Gauhar, was a Mughal emperor of India. A son of Alamgir II, he was exiled to Allahabad in December 1759 by Ghazi-ud-Din, who appointed Shah Jahan III as the emperor. Later, he was nominated as the emperor by Ahmad Shah.Shah Alam II was considered the only and...
, and was given the title Raja
Raja
Raja is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna...
.
Harsukh Rai 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 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
Naya Mandir
Naya Mandir is a historic Jain temple in Old Delhi, in the Dharampura locality allocated to the Jain community by Aurangzeb....
(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
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.
In Samvat 1867, he wanted to obtain the imperial permission for a rath-yatra (religious procession) that was traditionally prohibited. He had the Sunehri Masjid
Sunehri Masjid
Sunehri Masjid سنهرى مسجد is an Indian mosque located near the Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Chandni Chowk, Delhi, once an imperial boulevard leading to the Red Fort...
reguilded. As a reward, he asked the emperor permission to have the rath-yatra.
He and his son Suganchand built numerous Jain temples at
- Patparganj
- Hastinapur
- Karnal
- Sonpat
- Hissar
- Panipat and
- Sanganer
The Delhi Rath Yatra
During most of the Mughal period, the Jains were prohibited from taking out a religious procession. In samvat 1867 (1810 CE), Harsukh Rai was able to obtain the permission of the emperor to have a Jain religious procession.The Rath Yatra caused considerable resentment among the non-Jains and resulted in some disturbances.
In 1877 CE, after the 1857 Ghadar
Ghadar
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...
, the Jains (called Sarawagi
Sarawagi
The Sarawagi or Saraogi Jain community, meaning a Jain Śrāvaka, is also known as the Khandelwali. They originated from Khandela, a historical town in northern Rajasthan....
in the records) again sought permission to take out a permission to take out a procession with:
"50 muscicians, one elephant carrying a banner, seven camels bearing flags, fifty palanquins, three chariots ..".
This was again opposed by other religious groups which warned about "riots, looting, murder" etc. Eventually the Jains were able to take out the procession, but only through side-streets.
External links
- Hastinapur Prachin Digamber Jain Temple
- Shri Digambar Jain Teerth Kshetra Hastinapur
- Exploring Shahjahanabad: A walk in Old Delhi
- Heritage walk down the Delhi roads, lanes
- Mansions to Margins: Modernity and the Domestic Landscapes of Historic Delhi, 1847-1910, Jyoti Hosagrahar, The Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, Vol. 60, No. 1 (Mar., 2001), pp. 26-45