September 28, 2004
By Lucille Davie
JOHANNESBURG has had a special visitor this month - the most holy Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the world head of the Swaminarayan Hindu order, out from India to consecrate the first temple in South Africa, in Lenasia, south of the city.
The 84-year-old Maharaj opened the Swaminarayan Mandir or temple on 10 September, followed by a three day celebration, attended by around 28 000 people.
The building is a flat rectangular shape with a small, central dome, and supported on its corners by ornate, beautifully sculpted PVC white and pale pink pillars. Down each side are doors, supporting by moulded pillars. The interior has a sleek, marbled floor surrounded by intricate, moulded pillars and with PVC moulded latticework in the dome. The building took 18 months to construct, and was imported from India in 18 containers.
Described by Maharaj as "a beautiful Mandir", he proclaims that the new temple will "inspire countless people and bless them with peace and prosperity".
President Thabo Mbeki sent his wishes: "It is perhaps no coincidence that the Vedic Mandir is opening on the 10th anniversary of our democracy but rather yet another manifestation of the fact that all religions have a home in South Africa and we are committed to protecting this important tenet of our Constitution."
Johannesburg mayor Amos Masondo added his support: "I wish the Shri Akshar Purshotam Swaminarayan Sanstha of South Africa all the success for its temple consecration and welcome all national and international visitors to our city."
The temple cost R7-million to build, raised entirely by the Hindu community in the city, 400 people of a total 700 Swaminarayan devotees nationwide. Worldwide there are some 3-million Swaminarayan followers, and, according to Mukesh Patel, chairman of the Swaminarayan Hindu Mission of South Africa, it is one of the fastest growing branches of Hinduism worldwide.
The community has been using a converted Dutch Reformed Church in Mayfair, acquired 13 years ago. Patel says very little of the exterior of the building was altered - the bell was removed from the central tower - and it has served the community well. The Swaminarayan community in Durban also uses a converted church.
Maharaj opened a small temple in Botswana as well. Says Patel: "It is this Upasana (the manner in which an aspirant endeavours spiritually to eternally reserve a seat near God) that has brought about the fairytale-like construction and completion of the intricate mandirs of both Lenasia and Botswana." The projects both started back in 1988 but have taken "persistence, trial and error" to reach fruition.
The Swaminarayan Mandir or temple, Lenasia
Patel expresses his "warmest appreciations" to those involved in devoting their time and money to the project.
"May I also take this opportunity to express my most sincere gratitude to the Lord Almighty and Swamishri for blessing us with these 'Universities of Character'. And to pray that these projects will benefit and sustain a democratic, diverse and cultured South Africa, ensuring that South Africans may be nurtured with spiritual bliss and flourish in character for years to come."
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