Now, a new, ambitious project is coming to life thanks to Melbourne’s Jain community. That’s not stopping them from building a huge new temple on the south-east edge of the city. Nitin Doshi, president of the Melbourne Shwetambar Jain Sangh (MSJS), is spearheading the effort on this extraordinary undertaking. The temple will be built of 1,500 tons of beautiful Makrana marble—a stone famous for its affinity with India’s Taj Mahal. The temple’s distinct interlocking construction method is similar to that of a jigsaw process, using 5,000 detailed marble jigsaw pieces cut beforehand in Rajasthan.
That’s why, over the last decade, this community has worked with unprecedented diligence and determination. They have raised a truly impressive $12 million to cash flow the project! Fundraising events in recent months have tripled the temple’s finances. A chariot-pulling ceremony itself netted an astonishing $3.8 million, and a separate event that welcomed the temple’s deity statues from India raised another $2 million.
The community has a renewed feeling of hope about completing the temple by late 2026. For them, this accomplishment will be the biggest highlight on the journey to provide a house of worship for generations to come.
A Unique Construction Process
The build of the Melbourne Jain Temple was truly one of a kind. Every one of the 5,000 marble pieces that go into the Taj have been carefully numbered in detail before disassembling and shipping from Rajasthan. Once on the ground in Melbourne, the pieces are re-assembled, sort of like building a gigantic jigsaw puzzle.
Shwetal Shah, the project’s structural consultant and a member of the Jain community, explains the innovative design approach: “We designed the structure and proved it was possible that concrete could sustain the load with the glass reinforcement.” This technique to construction not only allowed for a majestic structure, but provided a practical and durable temple. It obeys Jain religious principles by not using any steel in its construction.
Mr. Shah echoes that sentiment, underscoring the value added by this distinctive collaborative assembly process. “Once we knew it worked, we brought it here and put it back together like a jigsaw puzzle,” he stated. The community’s dedication is on display with meticulous handiwork and thoughtful design. They are passionate about building a temple that reflects their principles and culture.
Community Commitment and Support
Since August 2015, members of Melbourne’s Jain community have displayed extraordinary commitment. They pray and fast every single day to raise money to build their temple. As of this writing, more than 3,500 fasts have been completed, and the initiative will continue until the temple is completed. Vikram Jain noted the significance of this collective effort: “It reminds us that we must complete this properly with full faith. Whatever the time frame, we’re in it for the long haul.
More than just fasting, council member Nitin Doshi has drawn a hard line on financing the pipeline entirely himself. “It was our wish and will that we build this community centre and temple with our own money,” he stated. “We have not approached anybody for financial help.” This determination to self-preserve demonstrates the community’s will to preserve their autonomy and make sure their temple serves their community values.
Shanya Shah, active member of the community and frequent voice at heal the highway meetings, shared her love at being involved with such a momentous project. “It fills me with a deep sense of fulfilment, gratitude and pride, to be part of something,” she said. She highlighted the importance of this temple for future generations: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because this [temple] is being built for the first time on Melbourne soil.”
A Vision for the Future
Besides being a beautiful building, the Melbourne Jain Temple project clearly offers more. It is a testament to the community’s aspirations and dreams of preserving their cultural and religious identity in Australia. Mr. Doshi articulated this vision succinctly: “However small we are, our vision is not small. Our dream is not small.” The community aims for this temple to serve as a beacon for future generations, ensuring they remain connected to their faith.
Shanya Shah elaborated on the spiritual significance of their collective efforts, stating, “We believe this collective spiritual energy helps overcome obstacles along the way and allows smooth progression of building our [temple].” This belief rings true in every corner of this community as they face adversity, but continue to keep their eyes on the prize.
