KANCH JAIN TEMPLE INDORE
काँच मन्दिर, इंदौर, मध्य प्रदेश
CONCEPTS & EXTRACTS IN HINDUISM
CONCEPTS & EXTRACTS IN HINDUISM
By :: Pt. Santosh Bhardwaj
ॐ गं गणपतये नम:।अक्षरं परमं ब्रह्म ज्योतीरूपं सनातनम्।
निराकारं स्वेच्छामयमनन्तजम्॥
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भुर्मा ते संगोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥
[श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता 2.47]
The interior of the temple is completely made up of multi coloured glass and mirrors with patterned ceramic tiles, glass panels and mosaics; including the floor, columns, walls and the ceilings. It was built by the Cotton King Sir Hukum Chand in the early 20th century. He was a prominent trader and one of India's industrial pioneer. He built a mansion at Itwaria Bazaar called Shish Mahal and adjacent to it the Kanch Ka Mandir, both elegantly built using a white stone.
Externally, the temple is built as a medieval mansion complete with a canopied balcony and a Shikhar. It is almost a replica of Sheesh Mahal in Amer Fort of Rajasthan. The walls, ceiling, floor, pillars, doors i.e., everything here is adorned with glass.
In the main Garbh Grah, the idols of the Tirthankars are flanked by mirrors on both sides, so that their images are seen infinite times.
It has delicately crafted Chinese lantern-type glass lamps and cut glass chandeliers. The interiors are mesmerising. The temple boasts of more than 50 murals depicting Jain stories. They also depict scenes of conversion to Jainism, torture of sinners in the afterlife and 19th century court life. It is altogether different from all the other such monuments in the country.
Its too showy and splendid. The colourful glass beads and raised sculpted figures give a special 3 D effect to the temple. The idol of Mahavir Ji, the founder of Jainism is made from shimmering black onyx. The temple is a place of interest for both the Jain pilgrims as well as the tourists. The temple is situated on Jawahar Road near the Rajwada and opens at 10 AM.
The opportunity to see the temple came when one participated in a seminar at RCE, Bhopal, in 1,973. The idea was to pay reverence at Maha Kal and Shakti Peeth at Ujjain. Shipra had dried up. One visited the cave of Bhart Hari, being too close. Indore being near, the chance could not be missed. Man at the entrance asked to recite Namokar Mantr to prove that one of the team members was a Jain and Mr. Prakash Jain did that.
NAMOKAR MANTR ::
णमो अरिहंताणं णमो सिद्धाणं णमो आयरियाणं णमो उवज्झायाणं णमो लोए सव्व साहूणं एसोपंचणमोक्कारो, सव्वपावप्पणासणो मंगला णं च सव्वेसिं, पडमम हवई मंगलं।
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संतोष महादेव-धर्म विद्या सिद्ध व्यास पीठ (बी ब्लाक, सैक्टर 19, नौयडा)
