Melbourne — A magnificent Jain temple crafted with 1,500 tonnes of marble from Makrana, Rajasthan, is nearing completion in Melbourne, Australia, marking a milestone achievement for the city’s small yet determined Jain community.
Spearheaded by the Melbourne Shwetambar Jain Sangh (MSJS), the temple will be Victoria’s first Jain temple, bringing to fruition a project that has taken over 20 years of vision, planning, and community effort.
“It was our wish and will that we build this community centre and temple with our own money,” said Nitin Doshi, president of MSJS. “We have not approached anybody for financial help.”
An $18 Million Dream
The temple project carries a price tag of $15 to $18 million (AUD). So far, MSJS families have already raised $12 million, mostly through community donations and fundraising efforts.
“We raised $3 million from 200 families to purchase the land,” Doshi said. “Another $5.8 million was raised through donations and events.”
With a population of just 750 Jains in Melbourne, most of whom are first-generation immigrants from India, the effort has been described as nothing short of extraordinary.
“However small we are, our vision is not small. Our dream is not small,” Doshi emphasized.
Marble Shipped and Crafted in India
The temple is being built with 5,000 intricately carved marble pieces imported from Rajasthan. The pieces were crafted and assembled in India, then disassembled, numbered, and shipped to Melbourne, where they are being reassembled “like a jigsaw puzzle.”
“Once we knew it worked, we brought it here and put it back together,” said Shwetal Shah, a structural consultant for the project.
Built Without Steel — In Line With Jain Beliefs
In keeping with Jain religious teachings, no steel is used in the temple’s construction. Instead, the structure is being supported using glass fibre reinforced concrete, a modern solution aligned with spiritual traditions.
Shah explained that this approach was essential to respect Jain doctrines, which discourage the use of materials considered impure for spiritual spaces.
Looking Ahead
The Jain community hopes to complete construction and fundraising by next year, establishing the temple not only as a spiritual centre but also as a lasting symbol of cultural identity, faith, and community unity.