Important Jain temple in Mumbai installs solar panels in inspiring rooftop project

The Times of India reports that the Manas Mandir Jain temple has installed solar rooftop panels - which will not only reduce pollution and reduce its own annual electricity costs, but which also acts as an inspiring example to Jains and others around India and the rest of the world, in how to live, build, and plan ahead in faith-consistent ways.

The full report is here.

Manas Mandir derasar is set in a 100-acre grounds in Shahapur, along the Mumbai-Nashik highway. Every year more than half a million pilgrims visit it, and stay in the temple lodging houses - dharamshala - and enjoy the kitchen's vegetarian food. Each year, the Times of India reports, it uses some 250 kW of power, 40% of which will now be met from solar power on two rooftops - 70kW on the bhojanalay terrace and 30kW on the yatri niwas.

"This solar project is one of the largest rooftop projects around Mumbai. It will account for a third of their annual energy requirement, saving lakhs in electricity bills," Rajesh Mammen of Excelsior Engineering (the firm that has executed the task) told the newspaper.

Since it was installed in November devotees have been "pleasantly surprised to see that with the advent of newer technology, solar energy can be harvested to operate all electrical appliances," he said.

Temple trustee Minesh Shah added: "We were not motivated by thrift alone. Our move to adopt solar energy is consonant with Jain principles of protecting the environment by using natural resources. It will reduce pollution. Moreover other institutions may be inspired to replicate the effort."

The derasar invested Rs 40 lakh (approximately USD 62,600). "But it is a good investment because after all we ourselves are the customers," said Shah.

In 2008 the Jain statement on the environment referred to Jainism as a "religion of ecology".

"Jainism is fundamentally a religion of ecology and has turned ecology into a religion. It has enabled Jains to create an environment-friendly value system and code of conduct.

"Because of the insistence on rationality in the Jain tradition, Jains are always ready and willing to look positively and with enthusiasm upon environmental causes. In India and abroad, they are in the forefront of bringing greater awareness and putting into practice their cardinal principles on ecology."

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