RELIGIOUS PLACES
SRI DIGAMBAR JAIN TEMPLE
Introduction :
Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir is the oldest and best-known Jaintemple in Delhi, India. It is known for an avian veterinary hospital in a second building behind the main temple. It is known as the Jain Birds Hospital.
History :
In 1800-1807, Raja Harsukh Rai, the imperial treasurer obtained imperial permission to build a temple with a sikhara in the Agrawal Jain neighborhood of Dharamapura, just south of Chandani Chauk. Thus temple, known for fine carvings, is now known as the Naya Mandir "New Temple".
Temple Complex :
The main devotional area of the temple is on the first floor.
There are a number of shrines in this area but the main shrine is of Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism. The temple is quite popular among the people as devotees come and make offerings such as fruits, grains, rice and even candles. The place is very peaceful and the ambience is really soothing especially due to the shining of the gilded paintwork of the shrine area under the lights of butter lamps and candles.
MUSLIM SUNEHRI MASJID
Introduction :
The Sunehri Masjid was constructed between 1747 and 1751 by the order of Qudsia Begum for Nawab Bahadur Javed Khan.
History :
The Sunehri Masjid was constructed between 1747 and 1751 by the order of Qudsia Begum for Nawab Bahadur Javed Khan, a nobleman during the reign of the Emperor Ahmad Shah Bahadur. The Sunehri Masjid is made of bassee jung, a light salmon-coloured stone not usually used for building mosques which gives the building a singular and picturesque appearance.
Mosque Complex :
The mosque is surmounted by three domes, which were originally gilt with copper from which it derives its name. The mosque has a main prayer hall and two minarets. The central arch of the mosque bears an inscription about the builder of the mosque and date of its construction. In 1852, Bahadur Shah II had the mosque repaired and replaced the copper plates of the domes with sandstone facing.
HINDU GAURI SHANKAR
TEMPLE
Introduction :
The 800 year old Gauri Shankar Temple is a Hindu temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of most significant temples of Shaivism.
History :
As the legend goes that a Maratha Hindu Soldier, Apa Ganga Dhar who had always worshipped Lord Shiva was badly injured during a battle and the chances of his survival were very bleak. He prayed to his deity and promised to build a temple if he survived. Miraculously he survived against all odds and built this temple. However, the present building of the temple is new, probably constructed in 1959 by Seth Jaipuria, as the other inscription in Hindi over the windows declares.
Temple Complex :
Inside the temple are idols of Lord Shiva, his consort Parvati and their two sons, Ganesh, the elephant headed and Kartik, the god of war.
The idols of Lord Shiva and Parvati, wearing real gold jewellery are situated just behind the lingam under the silver canopy. The lingam too has a silver
water vessel above it from which droplets of water continuously fall.
FATEHPUR MASJID
Introduction :
Fatehpuri Masjid is a 17th-century mosque located at the western end of the oldest street of Delhi, Chandni Chowk. It is opposite the Red Fort on the opposite end of Chandni Chowk.
History :
Fatehpuri Masjid was built in 1650 by Fatehpuri Begum, one of emperor Shah Jahan's wives who was from Fatehpur Sikri,and the mosque at Taj Mahal is also named after her.
Mosque Complex :
The mosque is built using red sandstone and has a fluted dome with mahapadma and kalash on the top. Flanked by minarets, the mosque has a traditional design with the prayer hall having seven-arched openings.
GURUDWARA SIS GANJ SAHIB
Introduction :
Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib, is one of the nine historical gurdwaras in Delhi. First established in 1783 by Baghel Singh to commemorate the martyrdom site the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur. It marks the site Sikh Guru was beheaded on the orders of the Mughal emperor on 11 November 1675, Aurangzeb, for refusing to convert to Islam.
History :
Before his body could be quartered and exposed to public view, it was stolen under the cover of darkness by one of his disciples, Lakhi Shah Vanjara, who then burnt his house to cremate the Guru's body. This place is marked by another gurdwara, Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib.
The severed head of Guru Tegh Bahadur was brought to Anandpur Sahib by Bhai Jaita, another disciple of the Guru. The Guru’s son, Gobind Rai, who would later become Guru Gobind Singh the tenth and last Guru of the Sikhs, cremated it.
Gurudwara Complex :
The present gurudwara structure was built in 1930.Sis Ganj was one of shrines built by him, within the space of eight months, from April to November 1783. However, due to volatile political climate in the coming century, the site alternated between being a mosque and a gurudwara. The sit became a site for dispute between two communities and litigation followed.
Another gurudwara by the same name, Gurudwara Sisganj Sahib at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, marks the site were in November of 1675, the head of the martyred Guru Tegh Bahadur, brought by Bhai Jaita (renamed Bhai Jivan Singh according to Sikh rites) in defiance of the Mughal authorities was cremated here.
JAMA MASJID
Introduction :
The Masjid-i Jahān-Numā commonly known as the Jama Masjid of Delhi, is one of the largest mosques in India. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan between 1644 and 1656 at a cost of 1 million rupees, and was inaugurated by an imam from Bukhara, present-day Uzbekistan.
History :
Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built the Jama Masjid between 1644 and 1656. It was constructed by more than 5000 workers. The construction was done under the supervision of Saadullah Khan, wazir (or prime minister) during Shah Jahan's rule. The cost of the construction at the time was one million Rupees. The Jama Masjid was completed in 1656 AD (1066 AH). The mosque was inaugurated by Imam Bukhari, a mullah from Bukhara, Uzebekistan, on 23 July 1656, on the invitation from Shah Jahan. The mosque is commonly called "Jama" which means Friday.
Temple Complex :
The mosque was completed in 1656 AD with three great gates, four towers and two 40 m high minarets constructed of strips of red sandstone and white marble. The courtyard can accommodate more than 25,000 persons. There are three domes on the terrace which are surrounded by the two minarets. On the floor, a total of 899 black borders are marked for worshippers. The architectural plan of Badshahi Masjid, built by Shah Jahan's son Aurangzeb at Lahore, Pakistan, is similar to the Jama Masjid.
