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74 : JAINS TODAY IN THE WORLD
In Old Delhi, we must cite, in particular, the famous Digambara Lal Mandir dedicated to Pārśva erected in 1658 in front of the Red Fort with the benevolent permission of Shah Jahan, the Emperor who constructed the splendid Taj Mahal at Agra. This temple has beautiful coloured mosaics, a library rich in books on Jainism and a bird hospital in the courtyard. A nice photo of this temple can be seen in JAINA calendar 2006. Not far from, there is a Svetāmbara Jain temple.
In New Delhi, we list as examples: the Parshvanath Mandir, the Mahavira Mandir, the Panchayat Mandir, the Delhi Gate Mandir, the Bada Mandir, the Naya Mandir, the Meru Mandir, the Chhota Mandir, the Vasantkunj Mandir etc. and numerous "dharmaśālā".
Delhi is also the seat of various Jain associations and institutions like a free medical Institute, diverse religious schools, colleges and University courses, one hospital for old and sick animals (pāñjaräpola), etc.
In the North of the city, one can see a modern Jain temple called Valabhi Sanskrit Mandir dedicated to Vāsupūjya (the 12th Tīrthankara). It has been erected in memory of Acharya Vijaya Vallabha Sūri who died in 1954, and who was a great supporter of Mahatma Gandhi in his non-violent action for the independence of India. This construction includes a temple, a research Institute (Bhogilal Laherchand Institute of Indology (BLII), a school, a “dharmaśālā" for pilgrims, a chapel dedicated to Padmăvatī and another to honour Sădhvi Mțgāvati who built this complex with her group of nuns. We should also mention in Delhi a big statue of Mahāvīra in sitting posture (padmāsana) on the top of a hill- Ahimsă Sthala. In Delhi another important Jain temple and a Guru Mandir are situated at Meharauli Dadavadi near the famous Kutub Minar.
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