Jain Glass Temple

Kanpur, a bustling industrial city is also significant for its role in India’ s struggle for independence. The city also has a deep-rooted religious undercurrent and abounds in tourist attractions. Among the revered shrines of Kanpur, the Jain Glass Temple deserves special mention.

The secular temple is dedicated to worshippers of Jainism, the apostles of the legendary Lord Mahavira and the remaining 23 Jain Tirthankaras. The followers of Jainism are divided into the Swetavambaras and the Digambaras. The former believe that salvation or moksha can be attained if only the worshippers of this sect are clad in pristine white attire unlike while the other believes that their followers should exhibit humble nudity in order to achieve moksha.

Jain Glass Temple is located in Maheshwari Mohal behind the famous Kamla Tower. The temple is exquisitely and is elaborately adorned in glass and enamel works. The walls, celings, floors, panels, pillars and doors are cast almost entirely in glass that is embellished in ornate mirror work. With an eye to precision and detail, the temple also houses vibrant stained glass murals that vividly narrate the teachings of the venerable Jain scriptures.

The floors are done up in marble and the interiors have ornamental arches that captivate visitors and devotees the moment they enter the temple. The temple also houses figurines of Lord Mahavira and the 23 Jain Tirthankaras placed on a high pedestral and shrouded by an ornate canopy.

A visit to Kanpur’s Jain Glass Temple overwhelms tourists with an aura of celestial peace and portrays a fine picture of the secularism that prevails in India.