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Shri Vishwakarma Mandir,
Pahadganj, New Delhi
(Registration No.: S-256) |
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Shri Vishwkarma Mandir, Pahadganj is one of the most ancient temple of the India. It is said that, the place where the temple is established was used for construction of Indraprasth by May (Vishwakarma Putra) when insisted by Yudhishthir in Mahabharat era. That time present Delhi was a huge jungle known as Khandav. Here is a ancient deep well. The water of the well is still used for drinking and other works. The giant Peepul tree is still there with a periphery of 3 meters. In old age, saint from different places used to come here for the worship.
Siddh Peeth
This place is also a holy place. Some years back, Shri Sumbhargiri (Naga Sadhu) and Sh. Baba Nangpal Ji (who has build a huge temple of Katyani Devi at Chhatarpur, New Delhi) have got special perception (Siddhi). Thereafter, a monastery was build here, in which lord Vishwakarma idol and Shivling were founded.
Another Historical Chain
A long time ago in March 1783, Sikh Battalion of 30,000 cadre was laying in ground between Jeetgarh hill and Kashmiri Gate. This huge army was headed by great Vishwakarma fighter Maharaja Jassa Singh Jangid. The native place of Jassa Singh was Ramgarh. Thereafter, all the Jangid living in that area were kalled by Ramgarhia.
12, 16 March 1783, Maharaja Jassa Singh with army attacked at Delhi. After preliminary resist, Sikh army got the Delhi in hand. The then Mughal king Badshah Shah Alam invited Maharaja Jassa Singh Jangid for meeting. Shah Alam presented gifts, Lacs of rupees to Maharaja Jassa Singh. In the meeting, it was decided that whatever the places related to Sikh should be returned back with lease deed to them for making statue.
The place where Ramgarhia army was camped, a name was given Tees Hazari because of 30,000 army persons. Jassa Singh wanted to worship the lord. He knew by some how that at a distance of 2-3 Miles there is a small temple of Lord Vishwakarma in Arawali Hills. He went there with his battalion. Sardar Jassa Singh prayed (Ardas) in front of lord Vishwakarma idol by keeping some rupees received from Shah Alam. In the return journey, a small bridge near at Teli Bada they distributed sweets in connection of the Delhi victory. From that time, the small bridge was renowned as Mithai Pool. (Western Yamuna canal previous was ended at Red Fort, nowadays it ends at Tri Nagar. This small bridge was at this canal.)
On going, Maharaja Jassa Singh took three cannons and a 6X2 Sq. Feet historical stone at which Mughal king sworn as Emperor, with him. Today, this historical stone can be seen in Ramgarhia Burj (Tower) at Amritsar.
Looking at lord Vishwakarma idol in small monastery, Pahadganj, Bazar Sitaram, Lal Kua, Chandni Chowk, Parkota Nagar resident Vishwakarma samaj candidates,
founded a new building in year 1864. The stone pasted at gate of temple shows this. Due to financial deficiency, the construction work of temple was slowly
going. In 1903, new idol of lord Vishwakarma was founded with co-operation of Late Sh. Jamna Das Contractor and Late Sh. Ram Chandra Jaipuria (Industrialist).
In those days, a meeting was held in presidentship of Choudhary Shiv Gopal (Engineer) and arrangement of collection of donation was made from community
candidates. Sh. Dungar Mal (s/o Late Sh. Ram Chandra Jaipuria) was elected as Mantri. In 1921, this renovation of the temple was done. Candidates who have
contributed in the temple renovation programme were Late Sh. Jagannath Sharma (Bazar Sita Ram), Sh. Gopal Dutt Mistry (Kamla Nagar), Sh. Hukam Chand & Sh. Moti Ram (Teliwara),
Shri Ram Gautam (Karol Bagh) and Sh. Kirodi Mal Sharma (Kuncha Pati Ram) & Pt. Ram Chandra Sharma (Chakhewalan). Each year, Lord Vishwakarma Jayanti on Magh
Shukla Trayodshi, Lord Vishwakarma Pooja & Annakoot programme on Kartik Shukla Ekam was started regularly.
After some time, the courage of volunteers became cooled down, which result in bad condition of temple. On 31, January 1931, a meeting was held in Gopal Ashram
by Pt. Krishan Lal Shastri in which management committee of temple was formed. Ch. Mam Chand (Pahadi Dheeraj) as Pradhan, Pt. Kalu Ram Sharma (Karol Bagh) as
Deputy Pradhan, Pt. Durga Prasad Sharma as Secretary, Pt. Mool Chand Sharma (Yaad Bhawan) as Dy. Secretary and Pt. Chhote Lal Sharma as Cashier were appointed.
Beside these, 18 other members were included. On 16th Dec. 1933, this committee was reformed. In this, Pt. Munna Lal Sharma as Pradhan, Pt. Dungar Mal Sharma as
Dy. Pradhan, Sh. Bal Mukund Sharma as Secretary, Pt. Kewal Ram as Dy. Secretary & Pt. Umrao Singh Sharma as Cashier were nominated. On 28th Jan. 1934, annual
function of temple was celebrated in presidentship of Pt. Jai Krishan Manithia (Pradhan- Jangid Brahmin Mahasabha). In the function, more than 1500 samaj candidates took
part. Slowly-slowly, the temple become started developing. In January 1939, Pt. Jagannath (M/s. Jagannath Umrao Singh) was deputed as Secretary of temple
committee. He appointed Pt. Makkhan Lal Angira as priest of temple, who served there for 28 years. In those days, the temple did unbelievable progress & it
became the active inspiration centre for Jangid Brahmins. It became the part of activity to celebrate each Amavsya for lord Vishwakarma and each Purnima for
Satya Narayan Katha in the temple. Along these, other festivals became celebrated. In 1943, Pt. Moti Ram Sharma (Teliwara) was deputed as Secretary. In
March 1944, Pt. Sohan Lal Sharma as Pradhan, Pt. Munna Lal as Dy. Pradhan & Pt. Mangal Sen Sharma as Secretary were elected. In 1945, samiti was registered by
the name of Shri Vishwakarma Mandir Committee. The registration no. of the samiti is S-256. This samiti is looking after the temple since then. In the
previous, election of samiti were held annual, then became Bi-Annual, but now-a-days these are Tri-annual.
Due to internal reason, the work of temple became disturbed. In 1953, a samiti was again formed and Pt. Bal Mukund Sharma as Pradhan, Pt. Lekh Chand as Dy.
Pradhan, Pt. Nanak Chand Sharma as Secretary, Pt. Vasu Dev Sharma as Dy. Secretary were elected. On 28th Aug. 1960, election were arranged and Pt. Shri
Ram Gautam was elected Pradhan and Pt. Kirodi Mal Sharma as Secretary. In 1961, Pt. Rajendra Dutt Sharma was elected as Secretary and Sh. Kirodi Mal Sharma as
Cashier. In 1964, Pt. Amar Singh Sharma was elected as Secretary. In Feb. 1965, Pt. Laxmi Narayan Sharma was nominated as Lifetime Patron (Guardian), Pt. Hukam
Chand Sharma as Pradhan, Pt. Bhagwan Das Sharma as Secretary and Pt. Amar Singh Sharma again as Secretary.
The office was constructed in the period of Pt. R.D. Sharma (Pradhan) and Sh. Shyam Sundar Sharma (Secretary). In
the working period of Sh. Devi Sahai (Pradhan) & Sh. Ved Prakash Sharma (Secretary) Toilet facilities were made available, which were reconstructed in
the period of Sh. Mangat Ram Sharma (Pradhan). Sh. Ved Prakash (Secretary) made correction in constitution, which was later re-corrected by Sh. Mangat Ram
Sharma (Pradhan).
Construction of Extra Building
In the working period of Sh. Pooran Chand Sharma (Anand Parvat) as President, extra buildings foundation stone was laid
& pillars were erected, which is in the south of Main temple Darshan Bhawan. But, the contractor left the work incomplete. Then with the cooperation of Sh.
Ishwar Singh linter was provided on those pillars. But that linter could not be finished at top in time which causes the defect in wiring and dripped during the
rainy season. This was finished by Sh. Mangat Ram Sharma. The marble was used in the flooring at roof, & other two storey(s) were constructed. The temple was
made attractive by providing 4-4 ft. wide balcony all around. The small gate on wall towards railway station was widen and huge iron gate was constructed. Along
with gate, one office and toilet campus was renovated in three storeyed. White wash & paint/ colouring of temple is done every year. The facility to stay
at temple in night was provided to visitors. The stock of blanket, coir mattress, dari are readily made available. To safe guard the luggage of visitors
from theft, there is facility of big lockers.
Starting of Shobha Yatra
It was well wish of Pt. Hukam Chand Sharma (Teliwara) to organize a big level shobha yatra of Jangid samaj candidates like
other communities in Delhi. By the inspiration of him, Sh. Pooran Chand Sharma (Anand Parvat) organized a shobha yatra first time on 28-1-1991 at the time of
Lord Vishwakarma Jayanti from Jangid Brahmin Dharmshala Karol Bagh to the Temple. Lord Vishwakarma Jhanki with Ram Laxman Sita, Lord Shiva and others was
proceeded from Karol Bagh to Vishwakarma temple Pahadganj along with elephants, horses, carts, music, bands. But after the first year, the attraction of samaj
towards this programme became lethargy. Again, In the presidentship of Sh. Mangat Ram Sharma, this type of programme took large form.
Library
Visitors in the temple generally raised the demand of ancient literature of Jangid samaj. There were shown the way of Jangid Brahmin Mahasabha Bhawan,
Chandni Chowk. In the same process, it was also requested to Mahasabha to available the ancient literature of samaj in the temple. But all in vein. Pt.
Ratan Lal Jangid started the work of collecting the ancient literature in his secretary time. He took the cooperation of Sh. Mangal Sen Sharma (Chah Indara) &
collected 150 books from the the-then samaj candidates by personal relationship. The record was arranged systematically. But, the members after him removed the
records from the temple. For this act, Pt. Ratan Lal Jangid was very shocked. Now, Pt. Mangat Ram Sharma has again made collection of Vishwakarma related
literature, in which Pt. Anand Swaroop Bhardwaj and Pt. Hari Kesh Dutt Shastri written literature is available for sell also.
Jangid Co-operative Thrift & Credit Society Ltd., Delhi
For making available the money to Jangid samaj candidates for their small scale works/ industry on low interest rate, a
meeting was held at Pt. Durga Prasad Sharmas residence on 18 May 1966. In the meeting, a joint committee was formed which included Sh. Jagannath Sharma
(Haveli HyderKuli), Sh. Laxmi Narayan Sharma (Yaad Bhawan), Sh. Prabhu Dayal Sharma (Gali Shish Mahal), Sh. Jagannath Sharma (Indra Kua), Sh. Kirodi Mal
Sharma (Bazar Sitaram). On 19th Oct 1966, registration of Jangid Co-operative Thrift & Credit Society Ltd., Delhi was done. On 26th Jan 1967, the
inauguration of this was done by Sh. Shiv Charan Gupta (Member of Parliament). Initially, the bazaar Sitaram situated house of Pt. Durga Prasad Sharma was used
for the office purpose. Later on, in 1971 the office was shifted to Shri Vishwakarma Mandir. In the beginning, this society was listed in the best of one
among other cooperative societies. But it is sorry to say that presently there is no existence of this society.
Main arrangement
Presently, four nos. of main programmes are being organized by Jangid Brahmin Samaj.
1. Lord Vishwakarma Jayanti on Magh Shukla Trayodashi.
2. Lord Krishan Janmashthami.
3. Vishwakarma Pooja Day on 17th September.
4. Lord Vishwakarma Pooja & Annakoot Mahotsav on Kartik Shukla Ekam.
All the above listed programmes are celebrated pomply. On Magh Shukla Trayodashi, huge shobha yatra of lord Vishwakarma is carried out from Jangid Brahmin
Panchayati Dharmshala, Nai wala, Karol Bagh, New Delhi. The shobha yatra finishes at Pahadganj temple passing through Deshbandhu Gupta Marg, Police
Station Pahadganj, Chuna Mandi and main market Pahadganj.
Trying for campus release
In the presidentship of Sh. Pooran Mal Sharma and Sh. Ram Niwas Sharma (Secretary), a union of saints was formed for
releasing the temple campus. Non stop Ram Dhwani was pronounced. In 1997, social meeting was organized at Mavalankar Hall, Delhi in which requested
application was produced in Railway Department for releasing the campus. Sh. Mangat Ram Sharma (Pradhan) arranged a social meeting with Railway State
Minister Sh. Dattatrey along with MP Sh. Vijay Goyal in 2003. In this meeting, problem of shifting cycle stand build with in temple campus was put up to
minister. Railway State Minister assured for solution of the problem. But till date (2007) it could not take the shape. Continuous try is going on.
Step of success
Any one who comes in the temple with wish, his work definitely completes. Sh. Jai Prakash Agrawal, Sh. Vijay Goyal who came here with wishes they got success
in the election. From when Sh. Jai Prakash Agrawal closes to come here, he got defeated in the election. Recently in year 2004, Sh. Mange Ram Garg came to
temple before election, he got succeed in the on going election. Beside these, many other business men come here regularly and they got the heights of
business. When the donor pot of temple was opened, it surprises to see that thousand of rupees at a time. Who is that donor, no one know. It shows that
there is some spiritual power in temple, which attracts persons and complete the wishes.
However, the temple has seen many rises and falls, but from when Sh. Mangat Ram Sharma has been taken
the responsibility of arrangement, the temple has tremendous growth. All the members of the working committee have been working with faith & sacrifice.
Thats why they are serving the temple since long back. Visitors dont face any problem, it is considered sincerely. The treasure of temple is also growing
unexpected. The temple beauty is marvelous.
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