The desire to build a temple in Phoenix was first proposed by Suren Valabjee (Sundarananda Gopal Das). The proposal was approved by the GBC in 1989, and the Vallabjee Family Trust sponsored the purchase of the land. Suren, Bhakti Brhat Bhagavata Swami (known at the time as Brhat-Mrdanga Das) and several devotees began planning for construction of the temple.
It was considered that opening a Govinda’s Take Away would help facilitate the preaching in Phoenix and provide a useful conduit for additional funds. Suren and Rupanuga Das opened the restaurant in the late 1980’s in Gem City, with Rupanuga Das relinquishing his lucrative career as a salesman in favour of managing Govinda’s despite the many endeavours made, the restaurant did not pan out according to expectation due to the underdeveloped nature of the area, and consequently the business was closed.
In early 1990 the Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture(BCEC) was formed, and it was managed from a house in Whitlen Avenue in Phoenix. Bhakti Brhat Bhagavata Swami was instrumental in the educational venture. This programme took off very nicely and a nama-hatta was started in a school in Phoenix thats was being run as a model school staffed by devotee educators.
The local municipality had been exerting pressure on the society because the land, purchased in 1991, had not yet been developed. In 1996 the late Triyuga Das strongly motivated plans for a food for life kitchen and made submissions to the municipality for approval. the municipality rejected the proposal on the grounds that the land had not been allocated for a ‘soup kitchen’. Christian organizations began to compete for the land as well because the land was prime temple space. Had construction not materialized, the plot could have been reallocated to another organization.
At the time, some building work was under way at the Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple by Mr Bala who owned a construction company. He was tasked with the service of building the temple, and Prabhanu Das was co-opted as site manager.
Excavation of the land began on 11 October 1997 and the project was underway. The original plan, drawn by Deena Naidoo, was given to J&H Architects who submitted it for approval. Sur Vallbhajee was largely responsible for pushing the project forward and for the construction of the hall on the ground floor. A committee involving Prabhanu Das, Bhakta Vinesh (now Visvambara Das) and Bhakta Rajen (now Radhapriya Das) was formed to oversee the entire construction and coordinate the
collection of funds to the end. The main people involved in building the project were Radha Govinda Das and Tony Naidoo who were employed as carpenter and bricklayers.
The construction process went through difficult phases as endeavors were made to collect sufficient funds to ensure that building continued. Many donors and well-wishers of the society came forward and through their generosity the hall was completed in 2001. A few names that deserve particular mention for their large donations that helped to complete the hall timeously are that of Niemesh Singh, Shaun Mack, Don Singh and Jay Sookoo
In 2003 His Holiness Bhakti Balabha Puri Goswami came to the Phoenix Centre and management appealed to him to become involved in the temple construction project. By the mercy of Lord Krishna and by Maharaja’s enthusiasm to please Srila Prabhupada; this became reality. Maharaja got involved and began to collect funds for the project. He successfully raised over R2 million and proceeded to donate over R1 million of his own towards the completion of the temple.
When the ground floor was completed, it served as our temple room and was the venue for all regular programs common to the Krishna Conscious mission. It was often packed to capacity, especially during major festivals, and the mood of excitement intensified amongst devotees and guests for the rapid completion of the second phase of construction.
The premises were hired out to devotees for weddings, Krishna-Kathas and similar programs, all dovetailed in increasing the flow of capital necessary to finish the project. The festival of Chariots of the Phoenix yatra was inaugurated a few years ago, and the glorious arrival of Their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannath, Baladeva and Lady Subadra at the site amplified the wonderful transcendental atmosphere a million fold, drawning even greater numbers of spiritual seekers to the mission.
Over a period of sixteen years from a dream in service to His Devine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada to it’s fruition, through sturdy surrendered determination, construction of the Hare Krishna Phoenix temple was completed in the year 2005 and the grand opening set for 30-31 December 2005 and January 2006.
The glory of Srila Prabhupada lives on!
