Here are the basic religious and traditional requirements to build a Jain temple (derāsar / mandir). I’ll keep it practical and simple.

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1. Intention (Bhāv) and Funding

• The main purpose must be devotion to Tirthankaras, not show, business, or politics.
• Money used should be:

- Earned honestly (no violence, cheating, gambling, etc.). - Free from sin (himsā-based businesses are avoided).

• Ideally, construction is done with aparigraha-bhāv (non-attachment) – not for name plates and ego, but for seva.

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2. Land / Location

Tradition prefers:

• Pure and peaceful place

- Not next to slaughterhouses, bars, big kitchens of non-veg food, or places of heavy violence. ( jainknowledge.com)

• Land should not be:

- Grabbed, disputed, or taken by force.

• The surroundings should allow:

- Clean access - Quiet atmosphere for prārthanā, pāṭh, and samayik.

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3. Direction and Layout (Basic)

• Mūlnāyak idol (main Tirthankar murti) is usually installed facing East or North as per common Jain tradition. ( jainknowledge.com)
• Temple entrance should not directly face:

- Toilets - Kitchen or eating area

• There should be:

- A proper compound / boundary to keep the place peaceful and controlled. - Garbha-gṛih (sanctum) for the main idol – the most sacred inner area, usually at the center or highest, and kept very pure. - Maṇḍap / Hall where devotees stand/sit for darshan, pāṭh, pravachan.

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4. Materials and Construction Purity

• Use clean, non-violent materials:

- No leather, bone, horn, or any animal product in construction or decoration. ( jainknowledge.com)

• Workers and organizers are encouraged to:

- Maintain basic vows like vegetarian food, no alcohol, and as much ahiṁsā as possible during construction.

• Avoid images or carvings showing:

- Violence, sensuality, or worldly luxury inside the main sacred area.

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5. Idols (Mūrtis) – Making and Installing

• Idol should represent a Tirthankara only, generally in:

- Padmāsan (sitting lotus posture) or - Kāyotsarga (standing meditation posture). ( jainknowledge.com)

• Idols are usually:

- From a single piece of stone or metal. - Without cracks or defects. - With very calm, symmetrical, serene face.

• Pratiṣṭhā / Anjanśalākā:

- Done only under guidance of a qualified Āchārya / learned saint or as per that paramparā. - On an auspicious day and with proper Jain rituals (no non-Jain style).

(Some details can differ between Digambar and Shwetambar traditions – e.g., dress of idols, style of eyes, metal vs. stone – but core principles of purity and Tirthankar-bhakti are same.)

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6. Temple Usage Rules (What must be planned)

While designing, keep in mind that:

• No cooking or eating is allowed near the main idol hall.

- If the campus has bhojanalay / dining, it should be in a separate area or floor, not directly over/around the bediji if possible. ( jainknowledge.com)

• No non-veg, eggs, alcohol, onion–garlic anywhere in the temple premises.
• Provide:

- Proper shoe stands outside - Separate wash areas - Clean toilets at a distance, not attached to garbhagriha walls.

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7. Daily Rituals & Management Planning

A temple is not only a building – it must run in a Jain way:

• Make arrangements for:

- Daily pūjā, āratī, prakṣāl / abhiṣek, and cleanliness. - Trained pūjārīs who follow Jain codes (vegetarian, no intoxicants, vow of purity). ( jainknowledge.com)

• Decide and write basic rules:

- No leather items inside. - Modest dress code. - Silence / no loud gossip.

• Managing committee should uphold:

- Ahiṁsā, satya, brahmacharya, aparigraha in decisions. - Financial transparency.

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8. Separate Spaces (Optional but Ideal)

If budget and space allow, tradition encourages:

• Upashray / Sādhu-sādhvī niwas:

Living and pravachan space for saints, kept separate from the idol hall but in same complex.

• Pathshala / Library:

For Jain education, scriptures, and children’s classes.

• Dharmashala / Stay for yatris – again, food must follow strict Jain rules.

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9. Legal / Government Permissions

This is practical (not scriptural) but necessary:

• All local building permissions, land papers, and approvals must be clean and legal to avoid future disputes – also a part of satya and non-violence.

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10. Essence

In simple words:

• Money: Shuddh and ahimsak
• Land: Peaceful, non-controversial, and pure
• Design: Idol-focused, simple, and sattvic
• Usage: No himsā, no non-veg, no business in the name of dharma
• Spirit: Nirmān, not ego; bhakti, not show

If you share where you are (city/country) and whether you’re thinking of a small community derāsar or a big sangh project, an architect and local Jain samaj can work out the exact technical details based on these core principles.

You can also see more guidance-type discussions here: “100 rules to make Jain temple”