The Melbourne Shwetambar Jain Sangh (MSJS) is making significant strides in the construction of a Jain temple located in Melbourne’s south-east. President Nitin Doshi has shepherded the small, tight-knit community over the last 10 years. Together, they have successfully raised tens of millions of dollars and planned for this monumental project. They plan to build a beautiful cultural and spiritual center reflecting their culture, faith, and values.
This ambitious project would need the assembly of 5,000 exquisitely worked pieces of Makrana marble. This beautiful marble is known worldwide for its use in the Taj Mahal. When in Rajasthan we carefully labelled and numbered each section before taking them apart. This meticulous planning helps avoid the circus on about day one of a jigsaw puzzle reconstruction. The community hopes to complete the temple by late 2026. As the first Jain temple built on Melbourne dirt, this monumental project will establish this historic milestone as its crowning achievement.
A Decade of Dedication and Fundraising
Moreover, over the past decade, the MSJS community has raised more than $12 million to help build the temple. This financial commitment stems from heartfelt efforts within the community, including visits to 275 families in the 2016-17 period, where members shared their vision and sought funding support.
It’s been an exhilarating and eclectic fundraising journey, mostly because we cast such a wide net. We had a founder’s ceremony that raised a staggering $3.8 million and received deity statues from India at another event—bringing in an additional $2 million. Fasting community members have completed more than 3,500 fasts. Most importantly, this demonstrates their steadfast commitment to working the project through to completion.
Nitin Doshi, the president of MSJS, emphasized the significance of this endeavor, stating, “We have not approached anybody for financial help. It was our wish and will that we build this community centre and temple with our own money.” He added, “However small we are, our vision is not small. Our dream is not small.”
Unique Construction Techniques
The design and construction of the Melbourne Jain Temple is particularly notable for its unconventional approach. It closely adheres to Jain religious tenets, which traditionally prohibit the incorporation of steel in any building materials. As a result, this principle has driven creative engineering solutions similarly inspired and directed by structural consultant Shwetal Shah of CP&Y, Inc. He explained, “We designed the structure and proved it was possible that concrete could sustain the load with the glass reinforcement.”
With a focus on quality and longevity, the project utilizes heirloom quality craftsmanship, modern joinery, and finishes to create artistic and beautiful structures. Every marble is a design studio – a construction set. It is a further sign of the community’s steadfast commitment to their faith.
“Once we knew it worked, we brought it here and put it back together like a jigsaw puzzle.” This careful balance highlights the community’s dedication to protecting their religious traditions while adapting to modern construction methods.
A Vision for Future Generations
The Melbourne Jain Temple architecturally may be the largest of its kind, but it is more importantly an important and necessary cultural landmark for generations to come. Nitin Doshi expressed the hope that this temple will serve as a place where members of the Jain community can connect with their religion, saying, “We wanted this and future generations to remain in touch with the religion and preach and practice the principles of Jainism over here in Melbourne.”
The community members all agree that their spiritual energy has played a big role in helping to overcome challenges faced during construction. Shanya Shah mentioned, “We believe this collective spiritual energy helps overcome obstacles along the way and allows smooth progression of building our [temple].”
As they move forward with construction, Ms. Shah conveyed her personal reflections on being involved in this project: “It fills me with a deep sense of fulfilment, gratitude and pride, to be part of something.” She called the temple a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the community.
Vikram Jain echoed this sentiment, emphasizing their commitment: “It reminds us that we must complete this properly with full faith. No matter how long it takes, we are committed to it.”
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