New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

On Saturday September 15, 11am – 6 pm

Color your life and throw your worries to the wind! That’s the Festival of Colors.

We’re all in this together. We all speak one language on this ecstatic day. Come and celebrate the variety of life. The Festival of Colors is neither religious nor secular – it is a family friendly gathering of people united in their desire to celebrate life.

This day will energize and bring colors into every aspect of your life.

COUNT DOWN!!!

5   –   4   –   3  –   2      –     1    –           THROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Every two hours there will be a unified “color throwing”!! And ”Ecstatic Mantra Music”!!

Many of you have heard of the Holi celebration where brightly colored, organic powdered chalk is thrown into the air in a tradition dating back thousands of years in India. For safety and health reasons, colors from outside are strictly prohibited.

Visit the vendors on the field between each throwing to get all kinds of souvenirs and other merchandise.

At New Vrindaban Community (Palace of Gold), 3759 McCreary’s Ridge Road, Moundsville, WV 26041

Prepay online:

Discounted festival package

Limited tickets – book now!

For more information:

Vrindavana Das

Tell: 304-845-1600 ext. 120 or

Email: nvfestivalofcolors@gmail.com

website: www.nvfestivalofcolors.com

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Dear Brijabasis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Annie Warmke and her husband Jay will give a public presentation on Sustainable Construction and Renewable Energy on Weds., August 29, 2012, in New Vrindaban.

The Warmkes own Blue Rock Station, an ecovillage in Ohio. They have built different houses with reused materials and low energy consumption. They have published about 10 books on environmental issues.

Annie and Jay have a vast knowledge on sustainability, environment, renewable energy, water collection etc. They are a very valuable source of information for the different issues important to New Vrindaban.

Date: August 29, 2012
Hour: 5:30PM Prasadam Available
6PM Presentation, discussion
8PM end
Place: Under the Lodge

Happy to see you at the event.
Hare Krishna.

Your servant,
Jaya Krsna das

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by Ken Lahmers

Auroraadvocate.com

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

This maha (great) mantra is traditionally used in association with India’s Gaudiya Vaishnava theology, more commonly known as Hara Krishna.
But one doesn’t have to go overseas to hear people chanting it; a three-hour trip to the West Virginia hills 10 miles east of Moundsville will suffice.

Believe me, the single-day experience in the 2,000-acre New Vrindaban community is well worth the time, as I discovered on the weekend right before Independence Day.

The centerpiece of the community, which boasts about 200 members — only some of whom live on the grounds — is the Palace of Gold, or sometimes called “America’s Taj Mahal.”

It might not be as impressive as the real Taj Mahal, but it is impressive.
A couple of years ago I visited Moundsville to tour the old West Virginia Penitentiary and the Marx Toy Museum, which I wrote about in this column. At that time, I didn’t know about the Palace of Gold.

When I found out about it on the Internet, I knew I had to return to the area.

The community is about as isolated as a place can be. One has to drive about 6 miles from Moundsville on windy Route 250, then 4 miles on a narrow, roller-coaster like back road.

There’s a hairpin curve on Route 250 at the eastern edge of Moundsville which is a real eye-opener.

THE PALACE AND GROUNDS

The Palace of Gold was begun in 1973 by followers of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, or ISKCON.

In 1968, New Vrindaban was founded to fulfill Prabhupada’s dream of an ideal society based on Krishna consciousness, or love of God. He came to the U.S. from India in 1965.

He wanted it to resemble Vrindaban, India, a town with seven temples.
The community’s original members handcrafted the Palace of Gold as a place for Prabhupada to live. However, he died in 1977 at age 81 before the palace was completed.

Prabhupada actually visited New Vrindaban only a handful of times from 1968-77 since he was busy setting up Krishna consciousness settlements throughout the U.S.

The community was started on a run down farm of about 100 acres, with no electricity or run in the lone building.

After the grounds were developed, they became a huge attraction, drawing hundreds of thousands of Hare Krishna followers and tourists each year.
The palace was to be a simple house where Prabhupada could meditate, study and write books, but the idea steamrolled into something the untrained and unpaid workers never dreamed of.

Prabhupada is entombed in Vrindaban, India, but the Palace of Gold has become his samadhi tomb in the United States. It is under the altar, which visitors can see during a tour.

The palace opened to the public in 1979. Some of the biggest news outlets in America heralded it.

Life magazine called it “a place where tourists can come and be amazed.” CBS’s “PM Magazine” said, “The magnificence of the Palace of Gold would be hard to exaggerate.” The Louisville, Ky. Courier-Journal said, “It’s hard to believe that Prabhupada’s palace is in West Virginia. In fact, it’s hard to believe it’s on this planet.”

The palace is made of gold, marble and teakwood. There are about 30 stained glass windows on the exterior walls, which are magnificent when viewed from inside out.

The original materials reportedly cost $600,000, and a restoration in recent years is estimated to have cost more than $4 million.

Fifty-two varieties of marble and onyx came from Europe, Asia and Africa. The furniture is made of teakwood from India.

Ten elaborately decorated rooms are displayed. In the Grand Hall hangs a large French chandelier more than 150 years old. Murals depicting ancient classics are painted upon the ceiling in the tradition of Renaissance masters.

The guide told me painters laid on their backs on scaffoldings for hours to paint images on ceilings.

Under the 30-ton main dome is a 4,200-piece crystal ceiling. The palace is built on a platform/patio-like structure with domed gazebo-like structures at the four corners.

At the front and back of the palace, four royal peacock windows contain more than 1,500 pieces of handshaped and stained glass. Peacock and lotus motifs pervade the building, etched into windows and carved into doors.

Peacocks are particularly associated with Lord Krishna, who wears their feathers in his hair and imitates their dancing.

Another level down are fountains, an award-winning rose garden and more flower gardens. Two lion statues guard the main stairway to the entrance.
Roses bloom three times a year. Since I visited between two peak periods, the sight was less impressive than I’d have liked.

A lotus-covered pond surrounded by more gardens is down another set of concrete steps in back of the building, while on the opposite side is an overlook where visitors can see the vast expanse of the surrounding hilly terrain.

Down the road a quarter-mile is another pond with decks/gazebos extending into the water, the large Radha Vrindaban Candra Temple, a lodge and cabins for overnight stays and restaurant.

At one end of the pond are two huge statues of 16th century Pancha-Tattva deities Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda. Their heads are 25 feet above the ground and their outstretched hands are more than 30 feet up.
There were dozens of people milling around enjoying the hot summer day and eating prasadam (organic) cuisine. A storyteller was slated to speak in the temple that evening.

MORE ABOUT THE MOVEMENT

The core beliefs of Krishna consciousness are based on traditional Hindu scriptures such as the Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita, which date back 5,000-plus years.

The appearance of the movement and its culture come from the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, which has had adherents in India since the late 15th century and Western converts since the early 1930s.

Prabhupada prescribed four regulative principles as the basis of the spiritual life: No eating of meat (including fish) or eggs, no illicit sex, no gambling and no intoxication (including alcohol, caffeine, tobacco and recreational drugs).

The Hare Krishna influence appears in several songs by the Beatles, including “My Sweet Lord,” “I Am the Walrus” and “It Don’t Come Easy.” Beatle George Harrison actually was an ISKCON member.

All has not been as peaceful as the religion prescribes at New Vrindaban over the years. The community was involved in a scandal in the 1980s, during which two of its devotees were murdered.

The scandal involved issues dealing with fundraising fraud, child sexual abuse and racketeering.

Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada, the spiritual leader of New Vrindaban from 1968 to 1994, served eight years in prison after pleading guilty to racketeering (mail fraud) in 1996. He died in India last year.

Another devotee was convicted in connection with the two murders.
In 1987, ISKCON ex-communicated  Bhaktipada and New Vrindaban. It was allowed back into the society in 1998, and the community has been much tamer since. But its devo-tees have shrunk from 600-plus to about 200, and fewer tourists go there.

Festivals, seminars and conventions on issues such as organic farming and stress management attract throngs, as do motivational speakers, and the community is slowly recovering from the scandal.

Every so often, 24-hour kirtans take place, where devotees from all over the world descend upon the complex to chant the mantra for as long as they can stay awake. The last one was June 16-17, two weeks before my visit to the sacred hillside.

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Dear Brijabasis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I am very happy to report that we received so many wonderful feedbacks over the last week for the different festivals in New Vrindaban. We could see that pilgrims and visitors had a big smile on their faces the day they left. The stay in the Holy Dhama as well as the participation in the different spiritual activities transformed many pilgrims.

A good number of pilgrims expressed that it was the best Janmastami (or Janmastami Abhisheka) celebration they ever attended in New Vrindaban. Srila Prabhupada Appearance Day celebration at the temple and at the Palace of Gold have been very transcendental and well attended. I would like to thank all the community members and temple devotees who worked so hard to make the festivals such a big success.

It was so nice to see the nice cooperation among so many devotees.

Looking forward to serve again in cooperation Sri Sri Radha Vrindabanchandra.

Hare Krishna.

Your servant,

Jaya Krsna das

Community President ISKCON New Vrindaban

New Vrindaban’s recycling and environmental team has been meeting weekly for about 4 weeks now and we’re building up a good momentum.

We’ve had some new members join and many great ideas have come up.

Right now, we’re just at the point of discussing the possibilites of getting NV on the  track towards less waste, and recycling, and all that it takes to get the  whole community on track with us..

WE MEET EVERY SUNDAY AFTER THE FEAST, AT 3 PM IN THE BIG ROOM UNDER THE LODGE.

NEXT MEETING IS SUN. AUG. 19 AT 3 PM.

We welcome all positive input.0700

Thank you.  Hare Krsna.

The Reduce, Reuse, RecycleTeam

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It looks like this group of visitors to the Palace of Gold left very satisfied.

Read their report here and see the link below.

“You cannot imagine how wonderful a surprise it is to see such an amazing place in the middle of nowhere. I arranged a large group visit, I cannot begin to tell you how helpful and respectful the staff was from the planning stage to the visit with sleeping arrangements, meals and tours. Do not expect luxury or even the basics of the lowest star hotel if you plan to stay there, you will receive the very simple camping/dorm style accommodation with shared toilet and showers. What you will receive in return is an understanding of how we can very easily live without the comforts we take for granted and think we cannot live without. I left there with a new respect for the way these people live and how talented they all are, the realization that I am spoilt and need the pampering a fine weekend away delivers is making me plan another weekend to this fine place as a reality check is in need. Wonderful architecture, amazing artisans, peacocks roaming freely, delicious vegetarian indian food and if you are able to, go during one of there festivals.

You will leave at peace and feel totally relaxed. Again, if you’re planning an overnight or weekend trip I must caution you, if you need soft fluffy towels and ensuite bathrooms, stay at a local hotel and commute. I am all about the finer things in life when travelling and had to make a serious attitude adjustment when entering my dorm style bunked bedroom and rather run down shared bathroom/shower. I took my own bed linens and pillows and slippers for the showers.

Even if you do not stay, just go and explore the grounds you will not be disappointed.”

ShowUserReviews-g59336-d257664-r136979221-Palace_of_Gold-Moundsville_West_Virginia.html

Composed by Sankirtan and Ruci

From the Elephant Journal

With the ever growing proliferation of yoga and music festivals (Wanderlust, Bhaktifest, Hanuman Festival, Tadasana Fest, etc.), one may begin to wonder, “Which one (or two, if you’re lucky), should I check out?”

If you were to ask me, I won’t pretend to be unbiased, or objective in my recommendations. I have my favorites for sure. However, I know, more often than not, that location and life schedules play a significant role in making such decisions, so I say first and foremost get to anyone which works.

But, I thought I might let you in on perhaps the best kept secret in yoga festivals out there. The annual 24 Hour Kirtan, held in the secluded hills of West Virginia.

This past weekend, I had the good fortune to travel to New Vrindaban, the home of the 24 Hour Kirtan in America, to participate in what is the simplest (and I mean this in the best possible way) celebration of yoga and the community surrounding its practice.

Temple Hall, New Vrindaban

Forget all the hype and hoopla, you won’t find any of that in New Vrindaban. But what you will find is a large community in support of chanting without end, well, or at least for 24 hours. The premise and the practice of the festival is pure kirtan. Beginning at 11:00 am Saturday morning and continuing until 11:00 am Sunday, kirtan leader after kirtan leader takes the reins and leads the assembled congregation in the chanting of the Mahamanta:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

Madhava Prabhu doing what he does best.

Nothing else and nothing more. Sleep if you want or eat if you get hungry, but just know that you will potentially miss some of the most amazing kirtaniyas out there today. Some you may have heard of, such as Gaura Vani, the Mayapuris, Madhava, but many you would fail to recognize if they passed you the street. Don’t let their seeming anonymity fool you. These “unknown” singers can belt it out with the best of them and do so simply to please God and those in attendance.

That’s right. This festival is not about the money. In fact, you can attend for as little as you would like, or are able to give, assuming you are willing to offer some assistance in other ways. The suggested donation is $25, which, when you consider that this includes three meals, makes the 24 Hour Kirtan the best bang for your buck out there. And keeping the money to a minimum, in my humble opinion, clears the stage for those simply devoted to singing and hearing kirtan as a practice of linking with the Divine.

So, next year, if you find yourself with some free-time around the middle of June consider traveling to West Virginia for the 24 Hour Kirtan. Love it or hate it, I guarantee you won’t be the same when it’s all said and done.

Or, if that’s a bit outside your area consider looking somewhere a wee-bit closer to home. You may not find a full-fledged 24 hour event in your neighborhood, but there are an increasing number of six and 12 hour kirtan celebrations occurring in places like New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Toronto and even internationally across the pond in London.

The spirit and good vibrations of kirtan are beginning to be felt far and wide and as the path of yoga prescribed for the age of Kali by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, you can’t go wrong by jumping on board. So whether you make it to the next 24 Hour Kirtan or not, be sure to take advantage of the amazing wealth of kirtan flooding the yoga and festival scene.

Hope to see you out there.

If the above isn’t enough to whet your appetite, then check out the little video below for a sense of the positive vibrations generated from singing to Lord Krishna for 24 hours straight.

The Janmastami Story 2012

There was a lot going on at our Janmastami Celebration this year on Aug. 9, 2012.
We had a transcendental drama, puja for Gomata (our mother cow), storytelling of the birth of Lord Krsna, Maha Kalash Abhishek, and more.

Getting ready for Maha Kalash Abhishek

 

Gita Panda Drama

 

Storytelling