Ganaur Shri Shantinath Jain Mandir
Shri 1008 Shantinath Digambar Jain Temple Committee has been formed for the operation of the temple. The members of the committee are as follows –
Introduction
Shri 1008 Shantinath Digambar Jain Mandir is located in Jain Gali, Purani Mandi of Ganaur city which is around three kilometers away from the famous pilgrimage site of Guptidham Jain Mandir. The temple was built by the Jain community about 80 years ago. After the construction, the pratima of Shri 1008 Shantinath Bhagwan Ji which is made up of red stone was brought from Digambar Jain Lal Mandir situated at Delhi and was established as the Moolnayak Pratima in the temple. The pratima of Bhagwan Shantinath ji is said to be around four hundred years old. Along with the Moolnayak pratima, idols of other Jain Tirthankaras made of stone and ashtadhatu (eight metals) are also present in the Vedi.
Later in the year 1982 to 1983 two more Vedi were constructed in the temple. In one Vedi, the Khadgasana Pratima of Shri 1008 Adinath Bhagwan Ji and in the other Vedi, the Padmasana Pratima of Shri Mahavir Bhagwan Ji has been seated. The local Jain community told us that one of the ancient pratima from the temple was taken to the Panipat jain mandir and one pratima was taken to the Behsuma Digambar Jain Mandir located near Hastinapur. There is no complete explanation as to in which year these Pratima were taken from here, nor is it known as to which Tirthankaras these two pratima belonged to.
At present, under the inspiration of Acharya Shri Saurabh Sagar Ji Maharaj, the three Vedi’s and the Shikhar (spire on top) above the Vedi’s are being renovated in the temple. The three Vedi of the temple were temporarily placed in one room. Jain Muni Maharaj ji keeps visiting the temple from time to time. Till now Chaturmas of Shri Dharam Bhushan Ji Maharaj and Acharya Shantisagar Maharaj Ji have happened in the temple. Some time ago Shri Sudharm Sagar Ji Maharaj and Elek Vigyan Sagar Ji arrived in the area. Every Sunday, Jain Pathshala is organized in the temple by the female President Mrs. Savita Jain ji to make children aware of Jain values.
Atishay Katha
Before starting the renovation work of the temple, the idols had to be shifted temporarily from the old Vedi to the new place. All the idols were lifted easily from the old Vedi and were placed in the temporary Vedi. But when the devotees started lifting the idol of Bhagwan Adinath ji, the idol became immovable. Many people tried together but Pratima ji did not even move an inch from the place. It seemed to everyone present there as if the statue had become very heavy. After this, Shri Bhagwat Chhote Lal ji and his team were called from Madhya Pradesh by the temple committee. With the hard efforts of Chhote Lal ji and his entire team, the pratima ji was lifted and installed at another place.
Dharamshala
There is a community of about hundred Jain families in Ganaur. Jain families actively participate in all types of social programs. There are a total three Digambar Jain temples in Ganaur, out of which one is located on Ganaur G.T. Road and the other two temples are located in Ganaur city. Every type of facility is arranged by the Jain community for the devotees coming to the temple so that they do not have to face any kind of difficulty in having darshan. For those pilgrims who come from distant areas to visit the Digambar Jain temples located in Ganaur city, the Jain community provides free accommodation in eight rooms built in the Jain Dharamshala located in Purani Mandi, Ganaur. The education is also provided to the students in the area through CCAS Vidyamandir School and CCAS Jain Girls College built by the Jain community. Jain Muni Maharaj ji has also been visiting the area from time to time. On the arrival of Maharaj ji, arrangements for their stay are made in Tyagi Bhawan built in Jain Dharamshala.
History
The city of Ganaur is situated just twenty kilometers away from Sonipat. It is located at a distance of 58 kilometers from Delhi, the capital of India. As of the 2011 India census, Ganaur had a population of thirty-five thousand, of which approximately nineteen thousand were males and sixteen thousand were females. On Ganaur G.T. road lies the famous Gupti Dham Digambar Jain Temple that attracts a lot of visitors from Sonipat and also from far away areas. Apart from this, there are two Digambar Jain temples located in Ganaur city. Out of which, one temple is known by the name of Shri 1008 Shantinath Digambar Jain Mandir situated in Ganaur Purani Mandi and the other is the Shri 1008 Parshvanath Digambar Jain Prachin Mandir. Ganaur has excellent connectivity with the national capital through national highways and railways.
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Shri 1008 Shantinath Digambar Jain Temple Committee has been formed for the operation of the temple. The members of the committee are as follows –