Brampton Jain Temple or the Bhagwan 1008 Adinatha Swamy Jain Temple, is the first Jain temple in Canada constructed using traditional Indian architecture.[1] The temple is located at 7875 Mayfield Road in Brampton, ON Canada, L7E 0W1. The temple houses shrines for Rishabhanatha (also called Adinātha).
Brampton Jain Temple | |
---|---|
Bhagwan 1008 Adinatha Swamy Jain Temple | |
Religion | |
Affiliation | Jainism |
Deity | Rishabhanatha |
Governing body | Gyan Jain, Shri SS Jain Sangh |
Location | |
Location | Brampton, Ontario, Canada |
Location within Canada | |
Geographic coordinates | 43°49′40.729″N 79°43′4.51″W / 43.82798028°N 79.7179194°W |
Architecture | |
Date established | 2011 |
Temple(s) | 1 |
Website | |
jaintemplecanada |
The Greater Toronto Area has the largest concentration of the followers of Jainism in Canada and has the highest number of Jain temples of all Canadian urban areas.[2]
There are about 10,000 Jains in Canada, mostly concentrated in one province.[3] Two-thirds of the Jain community is concentrated in the metropolitan Toronto area.[4] In 2011, the temple construction was overseen by Bhattarak Charukeerthi, Moodabidri from India.[5] Many people brought their own bricks to lay for the foundation of the temple.[6]
The temple celebrated its Pratishta Mahotsav in 2014.[7][8] In 2015, 2000 people visited the temple for its anniversary celebrations, which were marked by religious discourses.[2] MPP Dipika Damerla was present on the occasion to present Premier Kathleen Wynne's wishes to the Jain community.[9][10]
The Jain temple is the first one in Canada to use traditional Indian architecture. The temple also has a Manastambh, the second Jain temple in North America to have one. A Manastambh, or Pride Pillar, indicates a loss of pride for the worshipper before entering the temple.[11]