Jainism in Nagaland

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Jain temple in Dimapur, Dimapur district Jain Temple Dimapur.png
Jain temple in Dimapur, Dimapur district

Nagaland, a state in north eastern India has had a long association with Jainism. Today the state has two Jain temples and has become home to hundreds of Jain families living prosperously and peacefully.

Contents

History

The first Jain temple in Nagaland was established in Kohima. The temple was established in 1920 by a group of 8 Jain families, prominent among them being Hardev Sethi, Hiralal Sethi, Phulchand Sethi, Jethmal Sethi, Devalal Sethi. These families then moved to Dimapur in 1944 due to Japanese Invasion during World War II. These families established the Jain temple in Dimapur in 1947.

Dimapur Jain Temple

Dimapur Jain Temple was built in 1947. The temple is architecturally very well built and has an impressive structure. The temple has some intricate glass work. The temple is considered very auspicious by the people of Dimapur. The Moolnayak of the temple is Lord Mahavira. Dimapur is the business center of Nagaland today and most of the Jain families are settled in Dimapur.

Kohima Jain Temple

The first Jain temple in Nagaland was established in Kohima. The temple was established in 1920

Community

Jains constitute only about 0.1% of the total population of Nagaland yet they control a chunk of the businesses in Nagaland. The Dimapur Jain community actively participates in various social causes. They also regularly organize free health camps, relief camps. The Dimapur Jain community runs the SD Jain Charitable Hospital, SD Jain High School and SD Jain Girls' college. The SD Jain Hospital and the SD Jain School and Jain Bhavan were established as a result of the untiring efforts of Shri Phulchand Sethi, Shri Phulchand Binaykia, Shri Mangilal Chhabra, Shri Jethmal Sethi, Shri Kanhaiyalal Sethi, Shri Madan Lal Sethi and other Sethi and Chhabra families of Dimapur.

Major centers

Major Jain centers include:

Population

According to 2011 census, the population of Jains in Nagaland is 2,093, which is approximately 0.1% of the total population.

Eminent Personalities

See also

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Nagaland is a state in the north-eastern region of India. It is bordered by the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh to the north, Assam to the west, Manipur to the south, and the Naga Self-Administered Zone of the Sagaing Region of Myanmar (Burma) to the east. Its capital city is Kohima and its largest city is the twin Chümoukedima–Dimapur. The state has an area of 16,579 square kilometres (6,401 sq mi) with a population of 1,980,602 as per the 2011 Census of India, making it one of the smallest states of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kohima</span> Capital of the Indian state of Nagaland

Kohima is the capital of the Indian state of Nagaland. With a resident population of almost 100,000, it is the second largest city in the state. Kohima constitutes both a district and a municipality. The municipality covers 20 km2 (7.7 sq mi). The city lies on the foothills of Japfü section of the Barail Range located south of the District and has an average elevation of 1,261 m (4,137 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dimapur</span> City and municipality in Nagaland, India

Dimapur is the largest city and municipality in the Indian state of Nagaland. As of 2024, the municipality had a population of 172000. The city is the main gateway and commercial centre of Nagaland. Located near the border with Assam along the banks of the Dhansiri River. Its main railway station is the second busiest station in Northeast India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kohima district</span> District of Nagaland in India

Kohima District is a district of the Indian state of Nagaland. It is the home of the Angami Nagas. As of 2011, it is the most populous district of Nagaland, with a population of 267,988, 45% of which is urban. The district is home to 13.55% of Nagaland's entire population. The administrative headquarters of the district is located at Kohima, the capital city of Nagaland. Kohima District is also the seventh-largest district in Nagaland with an area of 1,207 square kilometres (466 sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wokha</span> Town in Nagaland, India

Wokha is a town and municipality in the Indian state of Nagaland. It is the headquarters of Wokha District and is located about 75 km north of the state capital Kohima. Wokha literally means head count or census in Lotha language. It has a population of 35,004 and is predominantly inhabited by the Lotha Nagas.

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The largest religion in Nagaland is Christianity. The state's population is 1,978,502, as of 2011, out of which 87.93% are Christians. The 2011 census recorded the state's Christian population at 1,745,181, making it, with Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Mizoram as the four Christian-majority states in India. The state has a very high church attendance rate in both urban and rural areas. The majority of churches are found in Kohima, Chümoukedima, Dimapur and Mokokchung.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phulchand Sethi</span> Indian writer

Phulchand Sethi was a social worker, philanthropist and businessman from Dimapur, Nagaland in Northeast India. He was amongst the first proponents of Jainism in Nagaland. He was awarded the Commendation Certificate by the Governor of Nagaland, Lallan Prasad Singh, on 15 August 1975 for Social and Humanitarian activities. In 1959, he established the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce. Sethi could speak many local dialects such as Angami, Sümi, Lotha, Kuki, Manipuri and Assamese. He died on 2 October 1976 in Dimapur.

Binod Sethi is a social worker and philanthropist of Dimapur, Nagaland in Northeast India. He has served as the vice-president of Digambar Jain Samaj, Dimapur and the advisor of the Shree Digambar Jain Girls' College Dimapur for over 18 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statue of Vasupujya</span>

The Statue of Vasupujya located at Champapur,Bhagalpur in the Indian state of Bihar, is one of the tallest statues in eastern India and the tallest statue of Lord Vasupujya in India. The statue is dedicated to Vasupujya, the twelfth Jain Tirthankara of the present cosmic age. The height of the statue is 31 ft. The statue was constructed and donated by Smt Sona Devi Sethi Charitable trust, Nagaland. Champapur is a Siddhakshetra and occupies a very significant place among the Jains. This is said to be the place where all the five kalyanaks - Garbh, Janam, Diksha, Kevalgyana and Moksh kalyanak of Tirthankara Vasupujya took place. It is said that the first tirthankar Rishabha, twenty-third Tirthankara Parshvanath and last tirthankara Mahavira had their Chaturmas at this place. Mahavira had his third and twelfth Chaturmas at this place.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dimapur Jain Temple</span>

Dimapur Jain Temple is mainly known for a Jain Temple in Dimapur which is built in 1947. The temple is located on Jain Temple Road and has Lord Mahavira as its Moolnayak. The temple is under the aegis of the SD Jain Samaj Dimapur.

Trinity Theological College is a Baptist theological institute in Thahekhü, Dimapur, Nagaland, India. It is affiliated with the Nagaland Baptist Church Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Nagaland</span> Indian state beauty pageant

Miss Nagaland is a state beauty pageant held annually since 1989 in the Northeastern Indian state of Nagaland. Miss Nagaland does not officially send any of its winners or previous contestants to participate in other beauty pageants. Nevertheless, a number of its beauty queens have over the years gone on to compete independently in other beauty pageants at the regional and national levels, as well as internationally.

Padma Shri Piyong Temjen Jamir was a noted Hindi scholar and littérateur from Longsa village under Mokokchung district in Nagaland state of India. He was conferred the Padma Sri honour by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, in 2018 for the promotion of Hindi language and social work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kohima Jain temple</span> Jain temples in Nagaland

Kohima Jain Temple is located in Kohima, Nagaland. This temple is the oldest Jain temple in Nagaland built in 1920.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Niuland district</span> District of Nagaland in India

Niuland District is the 14th district of the Indian state of Nagaland. It was created on December 18, 2021. The district headquarter is located in the town of Niuland. It is tagged the "Land of diversity" being home to all Tribes of the state and a commercially potential district as it is connected to Chümoukedima, Dimapur, Kohima, Wokha and Tseminyü districts.

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