Ambala City Jain Mandir

“Shri 1008 Digambar Jain Atishay Kshetra is located in Bans Bazaar, Ambala City, at a distance of one and a half kilometer from Ambala Railway Station.”

Previously, in place of the temple, there used to be a mansion of the late Lala Kundan Lal Jain Ji. He constructed a Chaityalaya in his residence for the darshan. In the year 1916, the property was handed over to the local Jain community by the late Lala Kundan Lal Jain and his son, Lala Mahatab Rai Jain. In the year 1944, the Jain community renovated the Chaityalaya and converted it into a proper temple structure. In 1974, during the Nirvana Mahotsav of Shri 1008 Mahavir Bhagwan Ji, three Jain idols were discovered during excavation from the basement of the Shri 1008 Suparshwanath Swetambar Jain Temple, located adjacent to the main temple. It was decided by the Swetambar Jain community to establish these idols in the same temple. As the pratima were in the Digambar state, the Digambar Jain community also requested to acquire the idols. After a month long discussion between the committees of both the communities, it was decided to establish the idol of Bhagwan Neminath Ji in the Shwetambar Jain Temple and the idol of Shri Vasupujya Bhagwan and Mata Padmavati Ji in the Digambar Jain Temple. With the consent of both communities, the idols were enshrined in the Digambar and Swetambar Jain temples. Currently, the temple has a total of six Vedi (altar). The Mool (main) Vedi of the temple houses the Moolnayak (principal deity) Shri Adinath Bhagwan’s idol, along with the idol of Shri Shantinath Bhagwan, Shri Parshvanath Bhagwan, Shri Shitalnath Bhagwan, Shri Mahavir Bhagwan, Shri Adinath Bhagwan, and Shri Neminath Bhagwan, as well as the Chaubisi Pratima and Siddha Parameshthi pratima. In addition to the Mool Vedi, two other Vedi houses, the idols of Shri Vasupoojya Bhagwan and Mata Padmavati Ji, which were discovered from the excavation of the basement, are believed to be more than two thousand years old. These idols are worshiped by both the Jain community and people from other communities who visit the temple every Friday. Another Vedi of the temple also houses the idol of Shri Adinath Bhagwan. The establishment of this Vedi was done by Lala Kundan Lal Jain during the time of the construction of the Chaityalaya. Along with the idol of Shri Adinath Bhagwan, other Jain idols are also enshrined in this Vedi. In one of the Vedi of the temple houses the Moolnayak Pratima of Shri Kunthunath Bhagwan is made of Ashtadhatu (eight metals). Along with the Moolnayak Pratima, idol of Shri Ajitnath Bhagwan and Shri Mallinath Bhagwan made of Ashtadhatu, and idol of Shri Adinath Bhagwan made of silver and Shri Mahavir Bhagwan made of gold are also enshrined. In the Garbh Grah (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple, there is also a Navagraha Vedi adorned with crystal pratima. The walls surrounding the Garbh Grah are beautifully adorned with glass paintings depicting Jain stories, major Jain pilgrimage sites, and illustrations of Bhagwan Jinendra's samavsharan. Every day, regular Puja-Prakshal (prayer) and Abhishek (auspicious bath of the idol) are done in the temple.