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Swarna Mandir at Falna

Swarna Mandir (“golden temple”) is a modern Jain temple built at Falna near Ranakpur (Rajasthan). It is the first golden temple that has been built in the country by the Jain community. Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Vice President of India at that time, inaugurated the temple in 2004 and joined the installation ceremonies along with other celebrities. Swarna Mandir, which is also calles Jain Golden Temple, is a major attraction for pilgrims.

The temple is owned by the Jain Shwetambar Sangh of Khudala and is dedicated to Shri Shankeshwar Parshwanath Bhagwan. In addition to the main idol of Bhagavan Parshvanath, which is made of black granite, the temple hosts also an image of Shri Nakoda Bhairava.

Main idol of Swarna Mandir, depicting Parshvanatha

Ahimsa Times Vol. 49 (July 2004) gives an account of the temple:

A newly built Jain temple at Falna situated on the Jaipur-Ahmedabad highway near Ranakpur is already attracting large number of devotees and pilgrims. The construction of the main temple, belonging to bhagwan Sri Shankheshwar Parashwa Nath Ji was completed just a few months ago and as reported in the June issue of Ahimsa Times, its installation and pratishtha ceremony was conducted in the last month in the presence of Vice-President, Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. The main specialty of the temple is that its entire structure, including all the walls, roofs, pillars, doors, windows, steps, domes and shikhar are all painted with thick layer of gold. It is said that the women from Jain families of the town and nearby, spared their gold ornaments and donated the same to temple authorities for construction of this golden temple. The main idol of bhagwan Parashwa Nath Ji is made in black granite and is about two feet tall. Other facilities at the temple are fast coming up which include modern rooms for stay, elevators, bhojan shala, Prayer hall, library, etc. The temple being situated right in the centre of the town and in a heavily crowded area, parking of vehicles is going to be difficult.

Golden interior of Swarna Mandir

Ahimsa Times Vol. 48 (June 2004) refer to the inauguration ceremony of the temple, performed by Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Vice President of India at that time:

For the first time, Jain golden temple has been built in the country by the Jain community of Falna in Rajasthan (near Ranakpur). The specialty of the temple is that about 90 kg. of gold was donated by the ladies of the community in the local region for the adoration of temple dome and idol. Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Vice-President of India inaugurated the temple and joined the installation ceremonies along-with other celebrities, like Shri L. M. Singhvi and others. He expresses the urgent need to develop essential infra-structural facilities at Falna so that pilgrims, devotees and tourists could be attracted to visit the place. The entire Falna-Sirohi region is very rich in ancient Jain art and culture and it should be developed as big tourist attraction, apart from being a religious centre.

Below the Jain Golden Temple is Falna Kanch Mandir (“temple of glass”) located.