Introduction
Jaina Mandir or Jaina temple belongs to the Suembra Sect of Jain Religion. It is located near Chowk Bazar, near Masjid Phool Hathan, Inside Bohar Gate, Inner Walled City Multan. It is one of 52 historic places to restore in Multan.
How Old
Perhaps 100 year old Mandir
Title Photo
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| Historic Jain Temple Inside Bohar Gate Multan |
Location Map
Located inside Bohar Gate near Chowk Bazar of Multan City
Access to the temple is through a narrow street in front of Phool Hattan Mosque.
Few Photos
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| Historic Jain Mandir / temple in Multan |
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| Historic Jain Mandar / temple in Multan |
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| Historic Jaina Mandir / temple in Multan |
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| Historic Jain Mandir / temple in Multan ceiling |
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| Historic Jain Mandir / temple in Multan |
JAIN MANDIR (JAINA TEMPLE) MANDIR JAIN SWAMBER
Monument
JAIN MANDIR (JAINA TEMPLE) MANDIR JAIN SWAMBER
Location
CHOWK BAZAAR NEAR MASJID PHOOL HATTAN, Inside Bohar Gate
Status
Not Protected
Owner
Evacuee Property Trust Board, Govt. of Pakistan (EPTB) (Non-Muslim Auqaf)
Use
FORMER: JAIN TEMPLE
PRESENT: MADRASSA (Jamia Hamidia Taalim-ul-Quran)
Period / Date
CIRCA 1850.
Historical Notes
The building is usually referred to by local people as Jain Mandar
but there is not a single reference to it in any published work on
Multan except a mention of its name by Ikramul Haq (p. 128). It is still
stranger that in voluminous literature that is available on the history
and the people of Multan there is no mention of existence of Jain
community living in this city – presently or in the past. The 1923-24
Edition of Multan Gazetteer devotes about ten pages to the Non-Christian
Religions of Multan (118-127) but there is not a single word about the
presence of Jain community in Multan. Only in the 1901-02 edition of
District Gazetteer of Multan (Extracts p. 109) there is an oblique
reference to the existence of this community. Among various characters
of styles of writing among the people of Multan the Compiler mentions
the existence of type of writing called “Bhabra Akhar” i.e. “alphabet of
the Bhabras” – A Bhabra in the Punjab is always an equivalent of a Jain
Businessman. Fortunately, Ikram-ul Huq also informs us that this Jaina
Mandir belongs to the Suembra Sect of Jain Religion – the other sect
being Digambra.
Description / Main Features
The temple is built upon a raised platform which has a series of
shops at street level. A steep flight of steps leads up to the entrance
which in turn takes the visitors to the central hall of the temple. The
hall is two-storey high and is surrounded by chambers on both the
levels. Ceiling of this hall is decorated with paintings and mirrors and
is an excellent work of art and fortunately well preserved. There are
three arched openings on each of four sides of the hall. Some other
paintings on walls and remnants of sculptures are also still intact,
which is a rare phenomenon for a building which has been in use as an
Islamic madrassa forsome time now. Above the main hall is a usual temple
sakhara with melon shaped capping and a pinnacle or kalas. Door frames
are very well carved and, at places, are fitted with beautiful jalli’s.
The wood carving on the main entrance door reads out the original name
of the temple “Shiri Vishwanath Jain Shwetambar Mandir” At one place
there is a large size wall painting on a large marble slab depicting
what appears to be a road map showing access to some religious site.
This is similar to the partly carved and partly painted map on two
marble slabs from a Jaina Temple (Bhabra Mandar) in Gujranwala now on
display in Lahore Museum. There are two stairs leading to a
basement/lower ground floor on the two extreme wings. A first floor has
room looking down on to the main hall in the centre.
Access / Environs
Access to the temple is through a narrow street in front of Phool
Hattan Mosque. The façade, which is completely hidden behind the awnings
hung by shop keepers, mainly comprises a central entrance and a number
of chambers at first storey level.
Present Condition
At present the building is being used as a religious school called
Jamia Hamidia Taalim-ul-Quran. A flight of steep steps of white marble
lead to the main temple hall. Front of roof is with false ceiling over
wooden battens. Front door is solid wood carved. The Main hall is in
relatively better condition but overall the building has developed
serious structural cracks in walls and vaults and these pose a serious
danger to the stability of the structure. If no remedial action is taken
immediately, the building may collapse at any time causing much damage
to life and property. The interior floor appears original, is laid in
white and black marble however in a poor condition. Columns are
octagonal with the plaster finish in a poor condition. Similarly the
roof ceiling plaster is also in very poor condition. It is profusely
decorated with Taksim Bandi on the roofs and Hindu motifs on the walls
and niches. The roof structures are riddled with dangerous and deep
cracks in all walls and running the length of the ceiling vaults. The
external walls have cracks above all openings. Overall condition is
extremely poor and the risk of collapse is high.
INTERVENTIONS
The temple is in a reasonable original condition with a large amount
of original decorative features maintained despite the fact that a
madrassa is functioning within the premises. Due to poor maintenance
there are structural cracks and the building needs immediate
stabilization measures. No serious intervention ever seems to have been
made in this building ever since its construction. A few interventions
that can be detected at present are the construction of a partition
wall, a supporting wall for black-board or a small water tank. Leakages
from the water taps and the sewage pipes, possibly installed recently by
the Madrassa administration is causing damage to the structure.
Proposal
EPTB should immediately take control of this monument and try to
restore it to its original form The building can be used as a small
museum devoted to local crafts or representative of Hindu culture of
Multan.
References
The only reference to this Mandar is found in Huq, p. 128 but it
comprises a composite name of Mandar Anarsinghpuri wa Mandar Jain
Suembra Chauri Sarai
Environmental Notes
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Bohar Gate.
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Vehicular Access / Parking
Access is available through the bazaar street; no parking.
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Use of Space
The mandar is used as a school and madrassah for 100 students; adjacent rooms of the temple are used for commercial storage.
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Visitor Facilities
Toilets and ablution facilities have been installed.
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Electricity
Electricity is available with a KWH meter.
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Sewerage
Open drains run along Coti-Sirai Bazaar, they are very poorly maintained and are eroding the masonry.
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Drainage
Drainage flows from the main entrance of the temple (now closed) to the bazaar road.
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Electricity
Electric poles sit adjacent the gate, and the area around it is commercial, hence the place is well lit.
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Solid Waste
ASolid waste generated by the madrassah is deposited in the nearby
streets. There are piles of building debris on the roof of the building,
including garbage in the chamber of the mandar itself. Garbage has
collected at the main entrance of the building which is now kept closed.
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Pavement and surfaces
Courtyard and verandah have marble tiled floors; terrace floor is PCC concrete.
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External threats
The AC unit of an adjacent building has been attached to the fabric of the mandar; vandalism.
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Condition
The central chamber is supported by brick pillars, the bases of which
are eaten away by dampness. Walking on the 1st floor central portion
causes vibrations as a result of deflection. Separation cracks are
visible throughout, with serious cracks visible in the walls of the side
chambers, major separation cracks above the openings of all rooms, in
the recessed arches and walls. Dampness is rising in the walls and is
aggravated where ablution area has been installed. The roof structures
are riddled with dangerous and deep cracks in all walls and running the
length of the ceiling vaults. The external walls have cracks above all
openings. Overall condition is extremely poor and risk of collapse is
high.
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