ANTWERP | Jain Temple | U/C

[taboe]

The small but important community of Indians in Antwerp are building a temple in the suburb of Wilrijk. Most of them are active in the diamond industry. They are Jains, followers of jainism, a religion that combines the teachings of buddhism and hinduism.
Cost: 25 million Euro
The complex consists of a temple and a center for education. It is being carried out in white granite, which is being sculpted in India by traditional craftsmen, and then transported to the Antwerp port. It will be accessible for all, but following jain rules: no shoes, no leather, no wallet, etc..
It's not quite clear when it will be finished, since there isn't much info about this project, but considering the current status, it should be ready somewhere in 2008. It is going to be the biggest Jain temple outside of India...
Pictures I took last week:

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s80/taboe/DSC06776.jpg
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s80/taboe/DSC06775.jpg
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s80/taboe/DSC06774.jpg
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s80/taboe/DSC06778.jpg
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s80/taboe/DSC06768.jpg

[Herr Lind]

Первыйнах!
__
Wow! It is realy beautiful!

[Jai]

cool!

[johnz88]

wow, really nice, u dont really see things with such detail and beauty being built anymore.

[siamu maharaj]

The attention to detail is just amazing. Beautiful. Though I wonder how many Jains live in Belgium.

[taboe]

^^ In Antwerp there are about 1200 families, the temple will also be open to visitors

[Monkey]

Cool! I love Indian temples. :)

We have some similar buildings in London:


The golden stone temple is the under-construction Shri Sanatan temple in Alperton:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/Fatmonkey/London/Sanatan.jpg

http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/824/img3832vl8.jpg


The larger white temple is the Shri Swaminarayan temple in Neasdon (near Wembley).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/Fatmonkey/London/Swaminarayan.jpg

http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/4424/img3864nh8.jpg


You can see more of Jonas's photos here:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=129889

[taboe]

^^ didn't know that, thanx, man!

[Tarzan]

Very impressive, i like the deatails.

[sharaf air]

what the difference between a jain and hindu temple?

[pding]

the Britain temples are very unique and attractive. very nice!

[Monkey]

what the difference between a jain and hindu temple?Architecturally not much. Jainism is not always considered to be a distinct religion from Hinduism. Some consider Jainism to be a radical Hindu sect and others consider it to be a separate religion. Jains are hardcore ascetics. They go to great lengths to avoid harming any living thing. Jain monks even pluck their hair out rather than cut it - ouch!! Jainism developed as an offshoot from Hinduism at around the same time as Buddhism. Read about Jainism and its relationship to Hinduism and Buddhism here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainism#Jainism_and_other_religions
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainism_and_Buddhism

[Jai]

Jains also practice temple building as a form of worship, and as such some of India's most magnificent temples were built by Jains (ex: Ranakpur Temple). Usually, most Jain temples are also Hindu temples as well, and as such many famous Hindu temples were constructed and financed by Jaina. Likewise, most Hindu temples outside India are Hindu-Jain temples.

[Cappellen]

I've been there earlier this week. It's special. You don't expect a building like that in Antwerp. :)

[CORLEONE]

AMAZING, once again congrats Belgium!!!

[VaastuShastra]

Nice :)

[Skyscrapercitizen]

Cool, but seems to be dirty allready...

[Rahmani]

Amazing temple. I wonder how long it will take, before some kids start spraying graffiti over it. I hope never.

[Moren-o]

Cool, but seems to be dirty allready...

Indeed :)
There seems to be some green on the facade already.
Maybe they did it to make it look more authentic.

Lovely building nonetheless.
On the outside it looks more spectacular that Islamic mosques.
I wonder what the inside looks like.

[taboe]

the construction has started up again after some problems with illegal workers...

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s80/taboe/DSC08576.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s80/taboe/DSC08583.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s80/taboe/DSC08575.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s80/taboe/DSC08580.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s80/taboe/DSC08577.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s80/taboe/DSC08581.jpg

[Dex]

Wouw ik wist niet van het bestaan van zo'n project in Antwerpen.

I really like it!!! But it's a little wreird to see such a temple in Belgium and less in Wilrijk.