Derasar

Derasar entrance, Mumbai, India

A derasar is a temple for followers of Jainism,^[1] except for non-murtipujak Svetambaras.^{[citation needed]} Derasar is a word used in Gujarat, Kutch and parts of Rajasthan, in other parts of India, the term Jain Mandir is used for all the Jain temples. Jain idols of Tirthankaras are worshipped there. Usually they are built from marble.

Derasars are found in many states of India, with Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Utter Pradesh and Bihar being prominent. Some famous Jain temples are located in Palitana, Shankheshwar, Shikharji, Vataman, Mumbai, Mahudi Shri Ghantakarna Vir Temple and Ahmedabad (Amdavad).

Modern Dehrasars are generally made up of the best and whitest available marble. There are two type of dehrasar:

• Shikar-bandhi derasar (one with the dome) and
• Ghar derasar (Home Temple without dome).

All shikar-bandhi derasar have many marble pillars which are carved beautifully with Demi god posture. There is always a main deity also known as mulnayak in each derasar. The main part of derasar is called "Gambhara" (Garbha Graha) in which there is the stone carved God idol. One is not supposed to enter the Gambhara without taking a bath and without wearing puja (worship) clothes and also one has to tie a cloth mask over the nose and mouth before entering the gambhara, to protect the santity & purity of the Garbha Graha or else they will be fired by the regular people coming to temple.^{[citation needed]}

A derasar which is 100 years old is called a Tirtha. A dehrasar is also called a tirth if it has a large facility for food and nightstay.

A dehrasar generally holds the statues of three of the Tirthankaras: Rishabha, Parshva and Mahavira. The main deity of a dehrasar is known as a mula nayak. They are the chosen idols since Rishabha is the first tirthankara of the religion, Parshva is the 23rd tirthankara, and Mahavir is the last tirthankara, who according to tradition had helped write all the scriptures such as the Jain Agamas.^{[citation needed]}

There are some strict rules for entering some, but not all, derasars:

• Should wear washed clothes in which one has not gone for toilet or latrine after washing.
• One should not be chewing any eatables (food, gum, mints, etc.), and no eatables should be stuck in the mouth.
• If one takes food inside derasar, one should not bring that food back outside Derasar. It should be left inside the derasar only.
• Anyone who is hurt and is still bleeding should not enter the temple.
• A woman who is in her menstrual cycle should also not enter derasar. A lady is not supposed to enter derasar even after three days of menstrual cycle.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• List of Jain temples

Notes

1. ^ Babb, Lawrence, A (1996). Absent lord: ascetics and kings in a Jain ritual culture‎. Published University of California Press. p. 66. 

External links

• Derasar and Dargah coexist in Gandhi's Gujarat
• Jaina Architecture in India, Comprehensive study of Jain architecture with high quality photos.
• Photos of Mulnayak in Jain Temples