Darya Lal Mandir

Darya Lal Mandir or Darya Lal Sankat Mochan Mandir is a Hindu temple in Karachi, Pakistan. It is located near Custom House, Saddar Town in the Sindh Province of Pakistan.[1][2] It is a 300 year old temple. [3] The temple is dedicated to Darya Lal (Jhulelal)[2],who is considered as incarnation of Varuna Deva[4]

Darya Lal Sankat Mochan Mandir
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictKarachi South District
DeityDarya Lal (Jhulelal), incarnation of Varuna Deva
FestivalsCheti Chand
Governing bodyEvacuee Trust Property Board
Location
LocationSaddar Town
StateSindh
Country Pakistan
Shown within Sindh
Darya Lal Mandir (Pakistan)
Darya Lal Mandir (Asia)
Geographic coordinates24°50′56″N 66°59′28″E
Architecture
TypeHindu Temple
Date established300 year old

History

The temple was constructed 300 years ago. The temple has a square shaped prayer area ( 40ft by 40ft). The temple was attacked in 1965 and in 1970s two of the temple's rooms were encroached by a transport company. The temple was attacked again in 1992.[2]The temple became office of the transporting company. [5] The temple was in a dilapidated condition and regular worshippers stopped coming.[2]

Architecture
Darya Lal Mandir

It was built using limestone and the Jung Shahi stone.[2] The temple has 40 feet wide, 40 feet long and 40 feet high dimensions. The are 40 snakes at the top of the temple.[3]

Renovation

In 2015, the temple was renovated as a part of Eduljee Dinshaw Road project. The façade of the temple was brought from India and during the renovation the dimensions of the temple were kept intact.[3] The temple was then inaugurated by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad on Dec 13, 2015. [2]

Religious Significance

The temple is dedicated to Darya Lal (Jhulelal) who is an incarnation of Varuna Deva. The temple also hosts Lord Hanuman and Lord Ganesh. According to Gowswami Vijay Maharaj (caretaker of the temple), the temple hosts Lord Hanuman because when Hanuman flied to Lanka to save Sita from the clutches of Ravana over the sea, he was flying so fast that the Varuna Deva mounted his makara and asked "who he was.” After that every devotee who come to worship Varuna Devta also pay their respects to Hanuman.[2]

See also

References
  1. Muhammad Salman Khan (8 November 2018). "Exploring Jhulelal - a symbol of interfaith harmony in Sindh". Express Tribune. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  2. Tooba Masood (6 January 2016). "Finishing touches to renovated Darya Lal mandir". Dawn. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  3. "Stroll through time on Eduljee Dinshaw Road". Express Tribune. 14 December 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  4. Roshen Dalal (2010). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin Books India. p. 178. ISBN 978-0-14-341421-6.
  5. Akhtar Balouch (16 September 2015). "8 to 1: Karachi's shrinking Hindu Gymkhana". Dawn. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
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