Jain Center of Greater Phoenix, Jain temple in Phoenix, United States
The Jain Center of Greater Phoenix is a Jain temple in Phoenix, Arizona, built with white Makrana marble and topped by a tall pinnacle rising above the main sanctuary. The grounds include a main hall with two large imported statues and a stone monument standing at the front entrance.
The Jain community in Phoenix started gathering informally in schools during the 1980s before purchasing land in 2005 to build a permanent place of worship. The completion of the temple marked a turning point after decades of meeting in borrowed and temporary spaces.
Inside the sanctuary, statues from the Digambara and Svetambara Jain traditions stand side by side, something rarely seen in a single temple. Visitors can observe how two distinct groups share the same worship space and follow their respective rituals together.
Visitors should remove their shoes before entering the main building, as is standard practice in Jain temples. Checking current opening hours ahead of time is a good idea, since community events and services can vary by season.
The Manastambha at the entrance is a freestanding stone column, about 41 feet (12 meters) tall, that traditionally serves as a visible marker of a Jain site from a distance. This type of structure is common in front of old temples in India but is very rarely seen outside Asia.
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