Why is this place so special? The Jangid Brahaman Temple stands as a testament to faith and history. It echoes the architectural skills of the Jangid Brahmin community.
Welcome to the Jangid Brahaman Temple in Delhi. This temple is not just a place of worship. It’s a historical landmark with roots stretching back to the Mahabharata era. According to local belief, the area where the temple is situated was once used by May. May, son of Vishwakarma, used it for the construction of Indraprastha. Yudhishthir requested this during the time of the Mahabharata.
The Jangid Brahaman Temple has a rich history. Old texts say that present-day Delhi was once a dense jungle known as Khandav. A deep well exists on the temple grounds and its water is still used today. A giant Peepul tree with a large periphery stands as a silent witness to centuries of devotion. Holy men from different places came here to worship.
This sacred site has a special spiritual significance. Saints like Shri Sumbhargiri and Baba Nangpal Ji gained special insights here. Baba Nangpal Ji also built the Katyani Devi temple in Chhatarpur. A monastery was built, housing an idol of Lord Vishwakarma and a Shivling.
In March 1783, a Sikh battalion of 30000 cadre camped between Jeetgarh hill and Kashmiri Gate. Maharaja Jassa Singh Jangid, a great Vishwakarma fighter, led this army. Jassa Singh’s native place was Ramgarh. The Jangid living in that area were called Ramgarhia. On March 12 and 16, 1783, Maharaja Jassa Singh attacked Delhi with his army. After some resistance, the Sikh army took control of Delhi.
The Mughal king, Badshah Shah Alam, invited Maharaja Jassa Singh Jangid for a meeting. Shah Alam gave gifts and money to Maharaja Jassa Singh. It was decided that all places related to Sikhs would be returned with lease deeds for building statues. The area where the Ramgarhia army camped was named Tees Hazari. This translates to thirty thousand because of the 30000 army members.
Jassa Singh wished to worship the Lord. Somehow, he knew about a small temple of Lord Vishwakarma in the Arawali Hills. It was located about two to three miles away. He went there with his battalion. Sardar Jassa Singh prayed before the idol of Lord Vishwakarma. He offered some rupees received from Shah Alam. During the return journey, the army distributed sweets. They did it near a small bridge at Teli Bada to celebrate the victory. This bridge became known as Mithai Pool.
Maharaja Jassa Singh took three cannons and a historical stone with him. The Mughal king used this stone to swear in as Emperor. The stone can still be seen in Ramgarhia Burj at Amritsar.
Seeing the small monastery, residents of Bazar Sitaram, Lal Kua, Chandni Chowk, and Parkota Nagar established a new building in 1864. A stone placed at the gate of the Jangid Brahaman Temple marks this event. The construction of the temple proceeded slowly because of a shortage of funds. In 1903, a new idol of Lord Vishwakarma was installed. Late Sh Jamna Das Contractor and Late Sh Ram Chandra Jaipuria helped greatly.
Choudhary Shiv Gopal, an engineer, presided over a meeting. They collected donations from community members. Sh Dungar Mal was chosen as Mantri. The temple was renovated in 1921. Regular celebrations began. Lord Vishwakarma Jayanti on Magh Shukla Trayodashi, Lord Vishwakarma Pooja, and Annakoot on Kartik Shukla Ekam were among them.
The Jangid Brahaman Temple faced challenges over time. However, dedicated volunteers continued the work. The temple stands as a symbol of faith, community, and history.