The
Jain Temple
A Jain temple, Derasar (Gujarati: દેરાસર) or Basadi (Kannada: ಬಸದಿ) is the place of worship for Jains, the followers of Jainism. Jain architecture is essentially restricted to temples and monasteries, and Jain buildings ge ...
in
Alleppey
Alappuzha or Alleppey () is the administrative headquarters of Alappuzha district in state of Kerala, India. The Backwaters of Alappuzha are one of the most popular tourist attractions in India which attracts millions of domestic and internat ...
is a place of worship for
Jains
Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle being ...
in the southern Indian state of
Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...
. It was important in the growth of Jainism in
South India
South India, also known as Dakshina Bharata or Peninsular India, consists of the peninsular southern part of India. It encompasses the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, as well as the union territo ...
. It is situated at the Northeast side of the Muppalam at the famous Gujarati Street in
Alleppey
Alappuzha or Alleppey () is the administrative headquarters of Alappuzha district in state of Kerala, India. The Backwaters of Alappuzha are one of the most popular tourist attractions in India which attracts millions of domestic and internat ...
town.
Alleppey Sree Jain Shwethambar Temple
The temple was built by members of the forty two Jain families brought from the
Kutch district of
Gujarat
Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth ...
. They were brought to Alleppey over a hundred years ago during the reign on Dewan
Raja Kesavadas
Kunnathur Kesavan Raman Pillai, also known as Raja Kesavadas (1745-1799; Sanskrit ') was the Dewan of Travancore during the reign of Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma. He is well known for his military tactics and administrative acumen ...
for the industrial development of the township of Alleppey. There are two shrines, one over 100 years old and the newer one was built nearly 22 years ago. The temple has an important role in the socio-economic culture of Alleppey. A trust elected from the 24 Jain families that currently reside in Alleppey looks after the administrative affairs of the temple. There are only 14 Jain families currently residing in Alleppey and it is this temple that act as their community’s spiritual center, closely observing and following Jain rites, tradition and rituals and the street commonly known as Gujarati Street.
Architectural Significance
Jain Architecture has significantly contributed to the growth of art in India and they are extremely palpable at the intricate and exceptional temple structures that one can observe at various parts of India. Though the temple in no way can compete with the spectacles of Ranak Pur, Mount Abu Jain Temples in
Rajasthan
Rajasthan (; lit. 'Land of Kings') is a state in northern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the largest Indian state by area and the seventh largest by population. It is on India's northwestern si ...
or Jain Temple in
Kochi
Kochi (), also known as Cochin ( ) ( the official name until 1996) is a major port city on the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea, which is a part of the Arabian Sea. It is part of the district of Ernakulam in the state of K ...
, the Jain temple in Alleppey undoubtedly has its charm and poignant style.
Unlike many other Jain temples in Kerala, Alleppey
Jain Temple
A Jain temple, Derasar (Gujarati: દેરાસર) or Basadi (Kannada: ಬಸದಿ) is the place of worship for Jains, the followers of Jainism. Jain architecture is essentially restricted to temples and monasteries, and Jain buildings ge ...
has a very distinct and definitive architectural grandeur and style. It is the only such Jain Temple in
Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...
that did not use iron to build and also to flaunt a dome atop. The temple was carefully built using Rajasthan Stones and White Marbles to make it charmingly attractive without losing its spiritual implications. One of the striking features of the temple is that it houses numerous frescos or figurines carved from single marble pieces. Though Jain temples have a definitive architectural style, it has taken inspirations from local architectural styles and it is very visible at the Jain temple in Alleppey.
It was on 21 February 1994 that the temple has been restored to the style that it parades today. One can observe the statues of four "
Thirthankaras" in the temple and it has been arranged to provide maximum view for the devotees who come to worship at the temple. The statue of the 12th
Tirthankara
In Jainism, a ''Tirthankara'' (Sanskrit: '; English: literally a 'ford-maker') is a saviour and spiritual teacher of the ''dharma'' (righteous path). The word ''tirthankara'' signifies the founder of a '' tirtha'', which is a fordable passag ...
Vasupujya
Vasupujya was the twelfth tirthankara in Jainism of the '' avasarpini'' (present age). According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma. Vasupujya was born to King Vasupujya and Queen Jaya De ...
Swami is placed at the center and the statues of the 15th
Tirthankara
In Jainism, a ''Tirthankara'' (Sanskrit: '; English: literally a 'ford-maker') is a saviour and spiritual teacher of the ''dharma'' (righteous path). The word ''tirthankara'' signifies the founder of a '' tirtha'', which is a fordable passag ...
Swami Dharmanatha and the 11th Thirthankara
Swami Shreyansanatha have been placed at the right and left sides of the statue of Tirthankara
Vasupujya
Vasupujya was the twelfth tirthankara in Jainism of the '' avasarpini'' (present age). According to Jain beliefs, he became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma. Vasupujya was born to King Vasupujya and Queen Jaya De ...
Swami. At the top floor of the temple, the statue of the 23rd Thirthankara
Parshvanatha
''Parshvanatha'' (), also known as ''Parshva'' () and ''Parasnath'', was the 23rd of 24 ''Tirthankaras'' (supreme preacher of dharma) of Jainism. He is the only Tirthankara who gained the title of ''Kalīkālkalpataru (Kalpavriksha in this "Kal ...
Swami can be observed as well. This statue is unearthed in Kuttanad which is a great reminiscence of the growth of
Jainism
Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religions, Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current ...
in ancient Kerala. Jain followers are really particular about using a rosary to pray called Japamala "
Jain prayer beads" and these are made of special threads. A blessed "
Japamala
A japamala, , or simply mala ( sa, माला; , meaning 'garland') is a loop of prayer beads commonly used in Indian religions such as Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Buddhism for counting recitations when performing ''japa'' (reciting a m ...
" is placed at the center of the temple which can be observed by the devotees.
Festival at Jain Temple
![JainTempleAlappuzhaGate2Prd](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/JainTempleAlappuzhaGate2Prd.jpg)
Jains have a very strict and particular code of rituals and rites and it is imperative that these rituals and rites are observed by everyone in the community strictly without any fail whatsoever. Every day "Sanatra Pooja" aka "Snatra Puja" is conducted for around one and half hours which is believed to bring spiritual sanctity and
nirvana
( , , ; sa, निर्वाण} ''nirvāṇa'' ; Pali: ''nibbāna''; Prakrit: ''ṇivvāṇa''; literally, "blown out", as in an oil lampRichard Gombrich, ''Theravada Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient Benāres to Modern Colombo.' ...
to their lives. The festival of their temple is called "Parva
paryushana
Das Lakshana'' or ''Paryushana is the most important annual holy event for Jains and is usually celebrated in August or September in Hindi calendar (indian calendar) Bhadrapad Month's Shukla Paksha. Jains increase their level of spiritual inte ...
" and the same is conducted once every year. The
festival
A festival is an event ordinarily celebrated by a community and centering on some characteristic aspect or aspects of that community and its religion or cultures. It is often marked as a local or national holiday, mela, or eid. A festival c ...
lasts for eight days and it is usually celebrated in the month of August–September. During the festival, many aacharyas from Gujarat come to the temple. They also have the habitual ritual of reading the history of the 24
Tirthankara
In Jainism, a ''Tirthankara'' (Sanskrit: '; English: literally a 'ford-maker') is a saviour and spiritual teacher of the ''dharma'' (righteous path). The word ''tirthankara'' signifies the founder of a '' tirtha'', which is a fordable passag ...
at the temple, during the festival. During the Jain festival, there are no concrete norms for fasting and meditating and this is a rather surprising side of Jainism. The followers have the freedom to carryout prayers and fasting according to their capacity and desires.
Jain followers are pure vegetarians "
Jain vegetarianism
Jain vegetarianism is practised by the followers of Jain culture and philosophy. It is one of the most rigorous forms of spiritually motivated diet on the Indian subcontinent and beyond. The Jain cuisine is completely lacto-vegetarian and also ...
" and they are forbidden from consuming alcohol. Those who consume meat and alcohol are strictly prohibited from entering the premises of the temple. Though they are vegetarians, they also do not consume anything that grows underground. Their religious belief emphasizes that they must only eat such food that grows above the ground getting a lot of sunlight. For adherents of Jainism, attaining ‘
moksha
''Moksha'' (; sa, मोक्ष, '), also called ''vimoksha'', ''vimukti'' and ''mukti'', is a term in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism for various forms of emancipation, enlightenment, liberation, and release. In its soteriology, ...
’ is the fundamental purpose of living.
Their life is considered to be a means to reach or attain salvation. There is also a pilgrim house near the temple where Jain pilgrims can stay and offer 'puja' (worship).
See also
*
Jainism in Mumbai
Mumbai has one of the largest populations of Jains among all the cities in India. Mumbai also has numerous Jain temples. One of the best known is the Babu Amichand Panalal Adishwarji Jain Temple, Walkeshwar (Malabar Hill).
On Mahavira Janm ...
*
Jainism in Kerala
Jainism, one of the three most ancient Indian religious traditions still in existence, has very small presence (0.01%) in Kerala, in south India. According to the 2011 India Census, Kerala only has around 4500 Jains, most of them in the city of ...
*
Jainism in Karnataka
Karnataka, a state in South India has a long association with Jainism, a religion which enjoyed patronage of major historic kingdoms in the state such as the Rastrakuta Dynasty, Western Ganga, Kadamba and Chalukya dynasties and the Hoysala E ...
*
List of Jain temples
Jain temples and '' tirtha'' (pilgrimage sites) are present throughout the Indian subcontinent, many of which were built several hundred years ago. Many of these temples are classified according to Jain sects. Idols of ti ...
References
External links
location wikimapia Jain Temple Alappuzha
{{Jainism Topics
Alappuzha
Alappuzha or Alleppey () is the administrative headquarters of Alappuzha district in States and territories of India, state of Kerala, India. The Kerala Backwaters, Backwaters of Alappuzha are one of the most popular tourist attractions in Indi ...
Religious buildings and structures in Alappuzha district
20th-century Jain temples