From the dawn of the millennium in the year 2000; members of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya began migrating to
Sydney to better their lives, to make Australia their home and of course to promote the glory and message of
Lord Shree Swaminarayan.
Just as our forefathers were pioneers who migrated abroad for a better life, there is a large flow of
devotees coming to Sydney, Australia. His Holiness Acharya Maharajshree and Bhuj Saints have stated in their
past speeches that they want to see the Swaminarayan Sampradaya grow and prosper throughout the world.
Followers migrate all over the world for many reasons, but the one valuable item they take with them is
SATSANG. Without Satsang a person can degenerate, but with Satsang a person can flourish and become stronger.
By associating with Saints and visiting our temples, devotees can enhance their knowledge of our religion.
Saints of Bhuj Mandir have written letters to the congregations of Temples throughout the world, guiding them
to remain within the wishes and teachings of Lord Shree Swaminarayan.
With such guidance and words of wisdom of Lord Shree Swaminarayan and with the divine blessings from His
Holiness Acharya Maharajshree and the Saints of Shree Swaminarayan Mandir, Bhuj Kutch; devotees first arrived
in Sydney in 1999. As per the guidelines of our Sampraday, all the devotees performed Daily Aarti, Thaal,
Katha, Varta, Kirtan, Dhun and Chesta at their residences. After a while a collective satsang-sabha was being
held every Sunday at devotee's residences.
The growth of our congregation we felt that more development was needed and decided to seek guidance from
the Late Pujya Mahant Swami Shri Hariswarupdasji of Bhuj Mandir to register a temple under Shree Nar-Narayan
Dev, Bhuj. Respecting the wishes of Mahant Swami a constitution adopting the laws and the regulations of this
country and of our Sampradaya, was formed and was sent to Bhuj Mandir for approval. Thus respecting the
orders given by Pujya Mahant Swami, "Shree Swaminarayan Temple Sydney Inc. (Under Shree Nar-Narayan Dev, Bhuj
Kutch)", was then registered as a non-profit making organisation in the Australian Business register in 2001.
The Sabhas being held at the residences of fellow devotees were becoming overcrowded and therefore to cope
with the increasing population, it was decided to hold Satsang Sabhas in a hired hall every Sunday, with
Thakarthali and Rasotsav, being held on the last Sunday of every month. Other utsavs like Ramnavmi,
Janmasthmi, Vasant Panchmi, Shiv Ratri, Hindola, Diwali, Ankoot and other prominent festivals are celebrated
with great pomp and passion.
With the increasing population of devotees the committee made a request to Bhuj Mandir to commence a routine
schedule of Saints to fly to Australia to spread the divinity of Lord Shree Swaminarayan and provide their
Spiritual guidance to the devotees residing in this southern hemisphere of the World. Thus respecting and
honouring the pleas of the devotees, the Saints of Bhuj Mandir agreed to commence a routine group of Saints
to annually visit Australia (Sydney, Brisbane, Newcastle, Melbourne, Adelaide & Perth) and Singapore. With
the grace of Lord Shree Swaminarayan the first Group of Saints of Bhuj Mandir arrived in Sydney for the first
time ever in 2003.
This Group consisted of Saints of great calibre in all aspects of Satsang. We were graced with the presence
of then Upmahant Sadguru Purani Swami Dharmanandandasji, Sadguru Purani Swami ShriHaridasji, Shastri Swami
Devcharandasji and Shastri Swami Bhaktvatsaldasji. With the presence of such Saints, Satsang Sabhas were held
daily at various venues. The attendance of the younger generation at these Sabhas amazed the Saints. The
Saints saw a divine vision of religious prosperity and established the very first overseas branch of the
"Kutch Shree Nar-Narayan Dev Yuvak & Yuvati Mandal". Since here forth we have been graced with visits by
Saints of Bhuj Mandir every year.
With the requisition of the Saints, the committee began searching for suitable premises for establishing a
Temple in Sydney. After considering various possibilities and options, the devotees all agreed to purchase
land and build a Temple. After nearly a year of searching, a suitable piece of land had been put up for sale.
The Trustees went to view this land and sought the guidance of Mahant Purani Swami Dharmanandandasji.
Honouring the advice and assurance of Mahant Swami and with the divine blessings of Lord Shree Swaminarayan
the land was purchased in 2006.
Bhoomi Poojan was done in the presence of Shastri Swami Laxmanjivandasji, Purani Swami Aksharvallabhdasji &
Shatri Swami Ghanshyamnandandasji in Jul 2007. Application was made to the Baulkham Hills Council to build a
Temple and the process became lengthy and unfortunately we were unsuccessful in obtaining the permission to
build a Temple on that Land. With the guidance and advice from Mahant Swami on his visit to Australia in Oct
2011, we sold that land and started searching for an appropriate premise in an industrial area.
A piece of land with approval to construct warehouse units was on sale in the suburb of Kings Park, we
decided to seek approval for place of worship before purchasing the land. Approval was granted in March 2012
and contracts were signed thereafter. Bhoomi Poojan was done in the presence of His Holiness Mota
Maharajshree, Mahant Sadguru Purani Swami Dharmanandandasji, Sadguru Purani Swami Keshavprasaddasji and other
prominent saints from Bhuj and Ahmedebad on 14th April 2012. Khat Muhurat was done the next day on 15th April
2012 in the presence of Pujya Mahant Swami, Sadguru Purani Swami Keshavprasaddasji and other prominent Swamis
from Bhuj. Drawings were modified to suit the Temple and the construction started in June 2012.
