Visit to Shikharbandhi Jain Deraser (Temple), 1st July 2008

Introduction

The Temple is sited on a serene idyllic, quintessentially “English” setting in the heart of “Herts”. It is founded by the “Oshwal Association of the UK”. The plans were worked out in 1998 and the construction was completed in 2000. It is the only Jain purpose built temple in the whole of Europe. As the planning permission was conditional on the temple being overall not higher than the mansion that is part of the original site, the land had to be dug out to reduce the base and therefore the overall edifice height.

The temple is exquisitely ornate in its design and there is an elevation, a “mountain” composed of small edifices, symbolic of many temples forged into one. The overall shape of the building site is in the form of a “Human “body, the central part showing the original “Swastika” sign with the sides pointed in the opposite direction to that of the Nazi swastika. In Jain belief, the former brings good luck while the latter brings bad luck !! In the “head” area there are 3 dots, indicating “Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct”. This is the way for “Salvation” (within the three aspects of life, Hell, Heaven & Earth). At the very top above the 3 dots area, there is a single dot indicating the “Crescent of the Moon” and thus the resting place of the liberated souls.

The “Swastika” also symbolises our cycles of birth and death within 4 possible destinies: “Heavenly Beings, Human Beings, Animal Beings (and these include birds, bugs and plants) and Hellish Being”.

The Temple is guarded by a lion on one side, symbolising strength and courage, and an elephant on the other side, symbolising vegetarianism and ability to carry and labour.

In the “leg” area of the overall shape, there is a “Palm” with a wheel containing 24 inscriptions symbolic of the 24 beings and aspects of life, the Tirthankars”. The palm itself symbolises “assurance”, and the “wheel” indicates “non-violence”.

The whole figure indicating the Human also represents the Jain description of the “Universe”.

The “Cupola” of the temple is shaped like the Lotus, a flower characterised by its beauty, purity and purifying powers, and the fact that it grows on mud.

Jain Teachings

We were met by Priest Vijay M Khetia, and his first words were that Jain is a religion of “self discipline, and renouncing the material world” The symbolism for this renunciation is a pot of sandal wood, as this is colourless and coolant, and thus liberating.

In Jain belief there is no “creator of the universe”, no “destroyer”, and therefore no beginning and no end. There is no supreme being, no “god”. The soul remains in a state of “nirvana”

They feel connected to Hinduism, and to Buddhism which preceded Jain by 100 years. In a similar way to the “Buddha”, the founder of the Jain Faith, the ”24th. Tirthankar” was born to 599 BC to a king and queen, and was heir to the throne. However, at the age of 28 he wished to renounce the world, but was persuaded by his brother to postpone that decision. He did and at the age of 30, he fulfilled his desire, left the palace and roamed the region teaching renunciation, liberation and permanent Nirvana. His teachings included non-violence, truth, non-stealing, right conduct and non-possession. He advocated against discrimination on grounds of caste, creed or faith, and He taught the duty of protecting all living creatures. He had a single cloth garment on, and relied on food and drink given to Him by anyone, provided the food was purposely done as an offering for him. He would never ask for food or drink. At the age of seventy two, in 527 BC, He (Mahavir) left his human body and “attained Nirvana” at Pavapuran the state of Bihar in India.

Jain’s do not eat or knowingly cause any harm to any living thing. Thus, they are not only strictly vegetarian, but they even eat only the product of the plant, not the root. They do not eat tubers (potatoes, carrots, etc), but only the products over ground, that is fruit and vegetables. They consider life as belonging to 5 categories, and all have to preserved:

1. Human: (4 limbs and upright).These are the highest category and thus non-violence is paramount.

2. Animal (4 limbs but not upright) Animals have to be protected, and their milk is accepted for humans inasmuch as it does no harm to the animal to be milked.

3. Vegetable: As mentioned, those grown above ground can be consumed, but not tubers or roots.

4. Insects: (crawling). These have to be protected. Strictly speaking, Jains should not conduct any waking activity after dark or before dawn for fear of stepping on, or causing other harm, to insects.

5. Bacteria and other microscopic creatures: (These have no legs and no animation as the categories above. They are the lowest of the creation): To protect these, Jain’s put on masks to avoid inhaling and therefore possibly harming them.

To Summarise

The way of “A-H-I-N-SA” encapsulates the teachings:

A - Stands for Awareness: To see our own self in the mirror of “Conscience and consciousness”

H - Stands for Harmony:: “I will be a harmonious presence on this world and will cause no harm”

I - Stands for Integration: Integrate everything, body, mind and soul. Let us bring equanimity, equality and consideration to races, all religions, all ethnic groups, and all life.

N - Stands for Nobility: To remind us of the magnanimous quality of our souls, and to generate the feeling of generosity and compassion to all living creatures, in thought, word and deed.

A - Stands for Abstinence: Abstinence from polluting ourselves with vile food, drink (as in alcohol) and anything that causes pain or suffering.

In Conclusion

Our group did not know what to expect from the visit. What we saw and heard and read was not only interesting, but must have triggered many thoughts to contemplate upon. We were reminder of the “Kalasha” , the top of the cupola of the temple, as it symbolises “man’s eternal quest” for “immortality” . It is not held on top by cement but rather by an embedded pipe going all through its structure. Flying defiantly above it is the “Sacred flag or dhaja” which symbolises the “victory of good over evil”

Perhaps this, as well as the strong message of non-violence, would be the message we all can take with us from the visit.

Nabil M Mustapha

Some pictures