Situated at Delhi, Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir is the oldest and best-known Jain temple dedicated to Lord Mahavira, who was the 24th Tirthankara of the Jain religion. The temple was built in 1658 and the red sandstone temple has undergone many alterations and additions in the past and was enlarged in the early 19th century. Built in red sandstone, the temple is popularly known as Lal Mandir or Red Temple. Other than the main shrine, the temple has numerous other shrines dedicated to Lord Adinath, who was the first Tirthankara of the Jainism and for Lord Parsavnath.

location New Delhi, New Delhi, New Delhi

Legend

According to the legends, once Mughal Emperor Jahangir invited several Jain seth (businessmen) to come and settle in the city and granted them some land south of the Chandani Chauk. Emperor permitted them to build a temporary structure to house a Jain temple. The 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 idol is that of Tirthankara Parshva.

Architecture

A manastambha column stands in front of the temple.    The main devotional area of the temple is on the first floor. It is reached by ascending to the terrace after crossing the small courtyard of the temple, surrounded by a colonnade. 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). 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. The temple compound has a famous Bird Hospital.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.

Culture

Delhi is the traditional and present day capital of India. Delhi stands in a triangle formed by the river Yamuna in the east and spurs from the Aravali range in the west and south. Delhi is not only the largest commercial centre in Northern India, but also the largest centre of small industries.

Darsan Info

Holi to Diwali (Summer Timing): 05:30 AM to 11:30 AM & 06:00 PM to 09:30 PM

Diwali to Holi (Winter Timing): 06:00 AM to 12:00 PM & 05:30 PM to 09:00 PM

Darsan Dresscode

Wear neat and modest clothes and avoid shorts for men

Famous Festival

Mahavir jayanthi, Holi and Diwali

Temple Rituals

Morning prayers starts from 05:30 AM onwards

Additional Info

 

Shudh Vegetarian Food Court, Brijwasi Fast Food Restaurant