Cultural Mapping: A Comparison of Significant Historical Buildings

Local history of the area

Strathfield Synagogue

The building’s history dates back to the early 1940s, during World War II (September 1, 1939 – September 2, 1945). Several Jewish families migrated to Strathfield from the Eastern Suburbs at the period to get away from a feared Japanese invasion on the harbor or Kingsford Smith Airport (Gibson, 2014). Some continue to stay in Strathfield since they had business interests in Parramatta. ‘The Centre’ attracted a multitude people in the 1950s that it needed to expand. As a result, the historic building at 19 Florence Street was purchased. Phillip’s organizational framework encouraged communal solidarity and collaboration, emphasized learning, and formed the Strathfield Centre’s distinct tone and mood. H. P. Oser, an architect, crafted the New Synagogue Building. In June 1959, the foundation stone was placed, and the synagogue inaugurated in September of that year.

Sri Karphaga Vinayakar Temple

From around the 3rd century BCE, the early Pandya dynasty governed the southern section of the ancient Tamil peninsula, and they stayed a leading force for close to 1,000 years. They relinquished their empire to the Cholas for several centuries until regaining control around the 12th century. They were important patrons of literary, the arts, and sacred architecture, and the exchange of ideas and commerce with early India’s northern kingdoms. The Karpaka Vinayakar temple is a testament to the ancient Pandya dynasty’s contributions to South Indian heritage. The current temple features various layers of extensions and renovations that have been done over over 1,400 years. The 7th-century rock-cut temple complex is the first stratum that can be documented with surety. Narasimhavarma, c. 650 CE, is credited with creating this rock-cut cave. This first stratum has several rock-cut Hindu figures and goddesses. Manuscripts and strange iconography can also be found in the cave.

Shirdi Sai Temple

This temple is in the Maharashtra town of Shirdi, in the Ahmednagar district. This is claimed to be Sai Baba’s hometown, where he came in the mid-nineteenth century and resided for sixty years. His corporeal remnants are entombed in the temple. Folks come to this temple now because of its spiritual splendor and tranquility (Travelogy India, 2021). Sai Baba came to Shirdi and stayed for years in the hamlet, educating, preaching, and worshiping. After his demise, the people interred his corporeal remnants in a chosen location and constructed the Samadhi Mandir on top of it, as per his wish. In 1954, a massive marble sculpture of Sai Baba in a seated pose was erected adjacent to the Samadhi. The temple that houses his grave was built on the grounds of a huge private residence that he constructed while he was still living. Sai Baba irrigated and planted plants around the house. The house was constructed by Gopalrao Booty, a multimillionaire from Nagpur, as a rest home for the saints. When the saint became sick, he remained in the monastery and was buried there after he died. Later, the real temple, that was twice as large of the home, was constructed.

Debates

Sri Karphaga Vinayakar Temple:

The council to rule on historical classification is one of the current disputes swirling around the temple, but the proposal has struck a roadblock in the guise of a proposal to classify the synagogue as a local heritage object (Narunsky, 2021). The council must decide if the structure or the memorials therein have historical and cultural significance and are therefore worth protecting.

Sri Karphaga Vinayakar Temple

The current debate surrounding this temple is Development Application. Existing structures to be demolished, and build a Hindu Temple to serve as a centre of public devotion, relocating the amenities.

Shirdi Sai Temple

There may not be any debates about the location of the Shridi Sai Temple. 1. A Baba devotee, Kishen Bhaisaheb, selected a location from an Indian rental agency. 2. Guruji, another Baba devotee in India, had pledged to build 108 Baba temples all across the globe, and he did not mind if the site in Sydney was temporary, so he immediately informed Kishen Bhaisaheb to choose this location.

Similarities

All of the temples are utilised as cultural centres. In the case of Strathfield Synagogue, Judaism is the dominant culture. The majority of the events were focused on either education or fundraising. The yearly Purim celebration, the demo Seder, the Chanukah parade, and the Sukkah decorating were all fun for the kids. Adults had the yearly fete, monthly card parties, anniversaries, and house parties, as well as an infinite series of meetings that doubled as social gatherings. Both the Sri Karphaga Vinayakar Temple and the Shirdi Sai Temple are used for practicing Hinduism.

Differences

Strathfield Synagogue:

The initial purpose for the structure within the community was to educate the younger generation about Judaism (Malone, 2021). There was a period when cheder lessons were also conducted on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons after class. The Yolanda Kramer Kindergarten: which did serve the local area till the synagogue was acquired. Within, a memorial to Jewish war victims was established, as well as a commemoration wall recording the names of people murdered by the Nazis.

Sri Karphaga Vinayakar Temple:

Sri Karphaga Vinayakar Temple is a canteen that serves not only Garnish as well as other deities. Worshippers hold auspicious events for all blessings and barriers to be removed.

Shirdi Sai Temple

In commemoration of Ebenezer Vickery, an Australian industrialist, pastoralist, and philanthropist, the site has been utilized as an organic chapel. Brundah, a Victorian-style mansion, Leigh College Hall, a neo-Georgian Revival-style building that served as an educational facility for the Islam, and the E. Vickery Memorial Chapel, which was renovated into Shirdi Sai Temple, are all part of the property. Because Hindu structures are constructed within madrasas, it is a combination of Islam and India to a certain degree. Shirdi Sai Baba has followers in both Hinduism and Islam, but he lacks the sense of freedom that belonging and believing imply.

References

Gibson, E. (2014). Architectural Projects 1480– Strathfield Synagogue Heritage

Assessment http://jewsofnsw.info/heritagelists/StrathfieldHeritageAssesment.pdf 10 March 2014

Malone, U. (2021). Strathfield Synagogue faces sale due to dwindling congregation.

Abc.net.au. Retrieved 2 November 2021, from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-16/strathfield-synagogue-faces-sale-due-to-dwindling-congregation/5456326.

Narunsky, G. (2021). Strathfield Synagogue sold. Australianjewishnews.com. Retrieved

2 November 2021, from https://www.australianjewishnews.com/strathfield-synagogue-sold/.

Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, Maharashtra – History, Visiting Time, How to Reach.

Travelogyindia.com. (2021). Retrieved 2 November 2021, from https://www.travelogyindia.com/mumbai/shirdi-sai-baba-temple.html.