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Kanch Ka Mandir
Temple of Glass
Kanch Ka Mandir; Temple of Glass
	Kanch Mandir
Religion
Affiliation	Jainism
Deity	Shantinatha
Festivals	Mahavir Jayanti
Location
Location	Indore, Madhya Pradesh
	Location within Madhya Pradesh
Geographic coordinates	22°44′49″N 75°52′08″E / 22.747°N 75.869°E
Architecture
Creator	Seth Hukumchand
Date established	1903
Temple(s)	1

Kanch Mandir, literally Temple of Glass, is a famous Jain temple in Indore, built by Sir Seth Hukumchand Jain. The construction began sometime around 1903.

History

Sir Seth Seth Hukumchand Jain was a prominent trader and one of India's industrial pioneer. He built a mansion at Itwaria Bazar^[1] called Shish Mahal and adjacent to it the Kanch Ka Mandir, both elegantly built using a white stone. Externally, the temple is built as a medieval mansion complete with a canopied balcony and a shikhara.

Structure and Interior

The interior of Kanch Ka Mandir is entirely covered by glass panels and mosaics; including the floor, columns, walls and the ceilings.^[2] Seth Hukumchand hired craftsmen from Jaipur and some even from Iran to work on the temple. The ornamentation follow the old and medieval Jain style, with the major innovation being the use of multicolored glass and mirrors.

In the main Garbhagriha, the idols of the Tirthankaras are flanked by mirrors on both sides, thus their images are seen infinite times.

Jain Temple Katni, inspired by Kach Ka Mandir, Indore

Photography of the interior is generally prohibited.

The temple serves as a central institution for Indore Jains, some processions start or terminate at the Kach Ka Mandir.^[3]

Festivals

Jain festivals are celebrated with great enthusiasm at the Kach Ka Mandir. On Sugandh Dashami, special mandalas are constructed using multi-colored rice-powder.^[4]

Collective kshamavani (festival of forgiveness) in Indore is organized here as a central institution, even though it is also celebrated at other Indore Jain temples.^[5]

Annual Ratha Yatra on a golden palaki is taken our from here.^[6]

Notes

^ Kanch Mandir http://wikimapia.org/148432/Kanch-Mandir
^ Kanch Mandir http://www.indorecity.net/tourist-attractions/kanch-mahal.html
^ कांच मंदिर इतवारिया से निकलने वाली दिगंबर जैन समाज के महामुनियों की रथयात्रा http://prabhatkiran.com/Webforms/Channel_News_Details.aspx?contentId=2503&masterId=1
^ दशमी पर महके जैन मंदिर http://www.bhaskar.com/2008/09/11/0809110945_jain_mandir.html Archived 17 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
^ काँच मंदिर पर सामूहिक क्षमावाणी आज http://hindi.webdunia.com/religion/religion/jainism/0809/16/1080916017_1.htm
^ स्वर्ण रथयात्रा काँच मंदिर से http://hindi.webdunia.com/religion/religion/news/0804/17/1080417034_1.htm

External links

Jaina Architecture in India, Comprehensive study of Jain architecture with high quality photos.
[1], Photos of Mulnayak in Jain Temples
Kanch Mandir on MyindoreCity, with the photos History of Kanch Mandir, Indore.