Firozpur Jhirka Panchayati Jain Mandir

Shri 1008 Parshvanath Digambar Jain Panchayati Mandir is located in Firozpur Jhirka. The construction of the temple was initiated two hundred years ago by Lala Daulat Ram Ji for himself and his family. Initially, he constructed the Chaityalaya in the upper rooms above the shops. Later, he handed over the Chaityalaya to the Jain Panchayat. At that time, there was a misconception in the area that the shadow of the temple’s Shikhar (spire) should not fall on people's houses as it was considered inauspicious. Consequently, for a significant period, the Shikhar was not constructed. However, in recent times, the Shikhar has been constructed over the temple’s Vedi (altar). The foundation of the temple’s Vedi was laid by the Chhajoomal Jain family. In the Mool (main) Vedi of the temple, the Moolnayak Pratima (main deity’s idol) of Shri 1008 Parshvanath Bhagwan is enshrined. Along with the Moolnayak Pratima, there are idols of three Munisuvratnath Bhagwan’s, two other Parshvanath Bhagwan’s, one Chandraprabhu Bhagwan’s, and one Siddha Bhagwan’s. Initially, the Moolnayak Pratima was damaged for some reason. In the year 1957, a Panchkalyanak (consecration ceremony) was conducted by the Jain community in the temple. During this ceremony, a new idol of Parshvanath Bhagwan was established and the Vedi was renovated. In the second Vedi of the temple, the Moolnayak Pratima is of Shri 1008 Pushpadant Bhagwan. Along with Moolnayak Pratima, idol of Adinath Bhagwan, Chandraprabhu Bhagwan, Neminath Bhagwan, Padamprabhu Bhagwan, Parsvanath Bhagwan, Vasupujya Bhagwan, Shantinath Bhagwan, and Mahavir Bhagwan are also enshrined. The idol of Chandraprabhu Bhagwan was obtained from the well of Saraswati Public School nearby. The Jain community conducted a Panchkalyanak for the idol and enshrined it in the Vedi of the temple.

“In the third Vedi of the temple, there is an extremely rare, attractive, and divine idol, which is made on a single stone.”

This idol depicts the Padmasana posture of Shri 1008 Adinath Bhagwan, with Bharat and Bahubali Bhagwan depicted on his right and left sides in the Khadgasana posture. This pratima was obtained from Dehra, located 10 kilometers away. Initially, this idol was kept near a well in Dehra, where it was used by the Muslim community for washing clothes. Later, when someone informed the Jain community about this idol they decided to bring it to the temple immediately. The Jain community gathered and brought the idol to the temple from there. The nose of the idol was damaged, which led to the pratima being kept in the temple for 15 to 20 years. Later, the Jain community decided to enshrine the idol in the Vedi. For this, they sought permission from Jain Saints. When Jain Saints granted permission to establish the idol, then in 2012, the damaged part of the idol was restored by sculptors and it was consecrated and enshrined in the Vedi. In the fourth Vedi of the temple, the Moolnayak Pratima of Shri Shantinath Bhagwan are enshrined along with the idol of Kunthunath Bhagwan and Arhannath Bhagwan. There is also a Panchmeru enshrined in the temple. It is said that the Jain community obtained this Panchmeru from a box in the temple, which is believed to be more than 100 years old. Every day, members of the Jain community come to the temple to perform Puja-Prakshal (worship) and Abhishek (auspicious bath of the idol), aiming to make their lives successful.