Building a Jain temple (derasar / basadi / jinalay) is first of all a spiritual project, not only an architectural one. Very simply, you can think in these stages:

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1. Right intention (bhav)

• The main purpose must be dharma, bhakti and updesh (spiritual teaching), not show, business or prestige.
• Before anything, do prayer and samayik asking for:

- purity of mind - non‑violence in all steps - correct use of money and effort

Often, elders take small vows (anuvrat), extra pratikraman, or tapas for the success of the project.

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2. Guidance from Jain acharyas / pandits

• Meet a learned Jain acharya, muni, or senior pandit (according to your sampraday – Digambar or Shwetambar).
• They can guide on:

- suitability of the project - basic shastra‑based rules for location, layout and pratishtha (consecration) - which Tirthankar will be Moolnayak - which rituals must be followed step‑by‑step

Without proper guidance, a temple can be beautiful outside but weak from the dharma side.

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3. Selecting the land

Traditional Jain guidelines (for both Digambar and Shwetambar, with small variations) say:

• Land should be:

- peaceful and clean - away from slaughterhouses, liquor shops, gambling places, and cremation grounds - not obtained through violence, cheating or injustice

• Avoid low, marshy, or frequently flooded land.
• Try to keep some quiet space around the temple (not packed with noisy business at the door).

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4. Basic orientation and layout

Common Jain principles:

• Moolnayak idol should usually face East or North (confirm with your tradition’s acharya).
• Main entrance should be respectful and not directly facing toilets, drains, or kitchen smoke.
• The garbhagriha (sanctum) is the purest part and should be:

- highest or most central point - closed to unnecessary traffic

• There should be:

- a mandap / hall for devotees - space for parikrama (pradakshina) - area for Puja / Abhishek - clean storage for puja materials

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5. Materials and construction

• Use clean, non‑violent materials:

- avoid leather, bone, or anything coming from killing.

• Workers should be instructed:

- not to bring meat, eggs, alcohol, tobacco etc. on site - to keep speech and behaviour decent on the premises.

• Try to avoid unnecessary harm to living beings during construction:

- careful digging, proper waste disposal, avoid stagnant water where insects breed.

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6. Idol (Jin pratima) – design and rules

• Idol must represent a Tirthankar only, in:

- Padmasan or Kayotsarg posture - with shant (peaceful), detached expression

• It should be:

- carved from a single piece of stone or metal - free from cracks or defects - proportionate and serene, without worldly decoration (weapons, sensual poses, etc.).

• Here, Digambar and Shwetambar traditions differ in:

- style of idol (clothing / no clothing) - certain symbols and ornaments - details of pratishtha vidhi So, always follow your own parampara properly.

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7. Pratishtha (consecration)

• The most sensitive part:

- Must be led only by qualified Acharya / Vidhikar / senior Jain sadhus or scholars.

• Includes:

- selection of auspicious muhurt - detailed Anjanshalaka / Pratishtha rituals as per tradition - recitation of sutras, mantras, and stavan

• Once pratishtha is done, the temple becomes a full tirth‑sthan, so:

- behaviour standards rise - rules of entry and purity become stricter.

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8. Daily discipline and management

To “build” a Jain temple truly means to maintain it in a Jain way:

• Shuddhi (purity):

- daily cleaning, no leather, no non‑veg, no intoxicants inside

• Puja / Abhishek:

- done only by those in proper shuddh dhoti / clothes, following sect rules - use violence‑free items (water, clean cloth, etc.; rules for flowers/sweets differ by sampraday).

• Atmosphere:

- maintain silence or soft stavan - no loud gossip, business talk, or entertainment music.

• Committee (trust):

- manage funds honestly - use donations mainly for: - temple maintenance, pathshala, updesh - genuine charity (aushadh, aahar, shastra‑daan) in line with Jain ethics.

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9. Support activities: making it a center of dharma

A Jain temple is not just a building; it is a school of right faith, knowledge and conduct:

• Arrange:

- pathshala for children - pravachans, swadhyay, samayik, pratikraman - library or at least basic Jain granths

• Celebrate Paryushan, Mahavir Jayanti, Ayambil Oli, Diwali (Mahavir Nirvan) etc. with more swadhyay and tapa, not only decoration and crowd.

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10. Legal and technical steps (worldly side)

Along with the dharmic part, practically you must:

• Register a trust / society as per your country’s law.
• Get:

- land and building permissions - structural design by a qualified architect / engineer - safety measures (fire, crowd management, etc.).

These are not “religious rules” but are necessary so that the temple is safe and legally protected.

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Simple summary

To build a Jain temple:

1. Start with pure intention and guidance from Jain acharyas / pandits.
2. Choose pure land, design the temple as per Jain shilpa and shastra, keeping ahimsa and shuddhi central.
3. Install the Tirthankar idol through proper pratishtha.
4. Maintain strict purity, non‑violence, and devotion in all daily activities.
5. Use the temple as a place for bhakti, swadhyay and character‑building, not just festival crowds.

For a more detailed rule‑based explanation, you can read a related Q&A here: “100 rules to make Jain temple”