New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

Under a tree by the Yamuna’s shore Radha and Krsna thirst to enjoy transcendental amorous pastimes. Please worship Them with pure, unalloyed love.

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, Sataka-2, Text-66, Translation.]

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New Vrindaban’s Transcendental Throwback Thursday – 06/19/14.

Each week we highlight an earlier era of ISKCON New Vrindaban.

This week’s challenge: There are no people in this photo and we’re looking for answers to when and where. Can you identify the location?

Extra credit: What year do you think it was taken?

What to do: Post your guesses on the “who, what, when, where & why” in the comment section at the New Vrindaban Facebook Page.

Technical stuff: We share a photo Thursday and confirm known details Sunday. Let’s keep it light and have a bit of fun!

Special request: If you have a photo showing New Vrindaban devotees in action, share it with us and we’ll use it in a future posting.

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Srimati Radharani’s maidservants are very beautiful. The vines of their arms and wrists are charmingly decorated with bracelets and armlets. The bells on their sashes and anklets tinkle melodiously. Their jewelled earrings are lovely. Their glistening braided hair is charming and splendid and the flower buds of their breasts are nicely decorated with necklaces of jewels. They have given all their love to their mistress, Sri Radha. In this way please meditate on the golden-complexioned maidservants of Srimati Radharani.

Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, Sataka-2, Text-59, Translation.]

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Throughout the winter in New Vrindaban, four new bull calves have joined the herd.

Priya Darshana, chief in soliciting head scratches

On Christmas Eve Priya Darshana aka “Priya D”was born to Asha & Dharma. Priya D is a sweet, innocent & goofy calf. He LOVES to have his head scratched endlessly & is known to lick faces & chew on arms.  He’s a gentle, obedient fellow (unless he is drinking milk!) & always goes straight to his mom, Asha when milking time approaches.

All in all Priya D is a big baby that the cowherds think might have part pig or goat in him due to his voracious & indiscriminate appetite. Priya D. has recently graduated & been sent down to Bhadraban (aka the big barn) with his older oxen friend, Pundarik (aka Rico).

Amani hanging out in the calves’ pasture

On March 7th, Amani was born to Anjali & Dharma. Amani is quite a character! Unlike Priya D, Amani is a trickster — he’ll do the opposite of what you like him to do on most occasions. He’s learned to relish the nectar of head-scratching from Priya D. Amani will follow you around the pasture, rubbing his head up against your leg until you to surrender to give him the scratching that he’s after. When it’s milking time, he’s always quick to find his mother. He’s a very outgoing calf & from day one has been running & jumping around like a bull. He’s a very sweet, loving & outgoing fellow.

Hari Chand & Amani, brothers from another Mother

On March 10th, Nandi was born to Laxmi & Hari Chand was born to Anjani.  Laxmi & Anjani came to New Vrindaban on November 11, 2013. That being the case Nandi & Hari Chand’s father are unknown to the Brijabasis as their mothers were pregnant upon them taking shelter at New Vrindaban Dham.

Nandi licking his lips in the pasture

Nandi much like his mother is shy & silent. He’s got long, lanky legs & is a little awkward as he’s still growing into his body & figuring out how to use it gracefully. Nonetheless, he’s strong as an ox already! He doesn’t discriminate when drinking milk & will go to whichever cow he can get to first.

Hari Chand, the gentle sage

Hari Chand was slow to get started with drinking his mom’s milk. It took him a few days to get the hang of it, but now he’s a pro. Hari Chand is the sage of the group. The cowherds described Hari Chand as the perfect calf as he’s very, well behaved & mellow. Despite he’s sagelike persona, he’s quite strong & will hopefully get the proper training to become a good working ox when he grows up.

The four oxen calves hanging out in the pasture

As of right now these 3 out of the 4 new Brijabasis are residing at Radha-Vrindaban Chandra’s Goshalla across the street from the temple. Priya D. has been transferred down to Bhadraban & is currently hanging out with Pundarika. We encourage all pilgrims & Brijabasis to come visit these beautiful boys during morning (7am) or evening (6pm) milking times. Please consult the cowherds present before feeding them anything.  Kindly bestow your blessings & prayers upon these fellows that they may be engaged nicely in Krishna’s service throughout their lives.

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They have given Their lives to each other. During bathing, sleeping, eating, and all other activities, Their intense, ever-new love does not allow Them to remain separated. They eternally enjoy transcendental pastimes together in the newly blossoming groves of Vrndavana forest. Let me worship that supremely sweet, splendid divine couple.

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, Sataka-2, Text-63, Translation.]

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Here’s a reminder of New Vrindaban’s summer 24 Hr Kirtan.

Sat. July 21 beginning at 11 AM.

See you there!

300 foot long terrace of tomatoes, marigolds, peppers, and basil

Over the past two weeks the garden has been transformed.  All of our early season crops and flowers have been planted.

A few new items include:

1000 Beauregard Sweet Potatoes

3 varieties of bush green beans

2 varieties of pole beans

radishes

watermelons

a small field of giant golden amaranth

sunflowers

75 strawberries

50 new asparagus

We are also at the stage in which we are harvesting some of our earlier spring plantings.  This week we picked 3 bushels of spinach from the teaching garden.  There are many types of mixed greens and head lettuce we will be picking for this weekend. We have also picked  delicious sugar snap peas and beets. In the coming weeks we look forward to providing the temple and community with many types of fresh produce.

Green beans mulched with hay in the Garden of Seven Gates

Srila Prabhupada Offers Guidance on Acceptable Foods, Yogurt  Making and Sees New Vrindaban Devotees as Experts – February 1970.

From a series of letters written by Srila Prabhupada outlining his vision for New Vrindaban.

Thanks to Vanipedia for the source material.

——————————————————————

February 11, 1970

Boulder, Colorado

My Dear Harer Nama,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 2 February, 1970, and thank you very much.

Actually, Sankirtana is our life and soul, and if we execute this transcendental business in all earnestness, then there will be no difficulty in any way. We should not pray to Krishna anything except to ask to engage in His service. If we are engaged in His service then automatically everything will be revealed.

Any foodstuff suspected to contain untouchable ingredients should never be used in the temple. Yogurt can be prepared in the temple, it is not very difficult. Boil the milk at night, put a little yogurt in it, and next morning you will find it full of yogurt. You can ask New Vrindaban, they are practically preparing all these things.

Please let me know how many members are there, what is your source of income, and what is your program of expenditure. I shall be glad to know these things. I would also like to know if the initiated devotees are chanting regularly sixteen rounds and following the regulative principles rigidly. This is very essential.

Hope this will meet you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS:db

Gopal’s Garden Home School Co-op End-of-the-Year Party

By Lilasuka dasi

“Why did Krsna ask, ‘Which Brahma?’”

This question came from a puzzled Lord Brahma, played by nine year old Josh Fintel, during the dramatic reading of Sankirtan das’s play Which Brahma? at the end of the year school party for Gopal’s Garden.

Reciting favorite Bhagavad Gita verses

The students at Gopal’s Garden Home School Co-op ended another school year with some very fine presentations. The recited their five favorite Bhagavad Gita verses by heart; then they each read their favorite story out of many stories that they themselves had written throughout the school year, and finally, they performed the dramatic reading Which Brahma?.

Their audience, made up of parents, teachers and interested residents of NV, were delighted at the entertainment, and impressed at the level of education of the kids.

Veteran teacher, Ruci dasi, acknowledged each and every one of her students for his or her individual strengths and interests.

Ruci dasi, long-time teacher

“If you have any questions about killer whales, just ask Josh – he did a lot of research and is expert in the subject! He’ll be ten years old in a few weeks.”

“The nine year old twins, Ram and Shyam, are both such willing and eager helpers. This party wouldn’t have come together if they hadn’t come down early to clean and vacuum in here.”

“Brinda, who is now 11 years old, is a poet. She’s an artist and a writer. She’s amazingly talented, as are all the kids!”

“Seven year old Jacob could hardly speak English when he first came to the school, and now he’s got an amazing grasp of both reading AND writing in English. He’s curious about everything around him and Jacob loves to learn.

“Jacob’s older sister, 12 year old Shemaella, is a thoughtful and caring girl who is also a creative artist. She brings a lot of sensitivity to her art and writing.”

We took the opportunity to interview Brinda, who is going to 7^th grade next year.

“This school has a very good environment. It’s spiritual, plus the work is more individualized than in public school. We have a one on one relationship with the teacher, which is great. I mean, it’s not that everyone has to do the same lesson, that’s easy for some and very hard for others. The level of the lessons are just perfect for you.

Like, last year I had a spelling program, and if you don’t finish it in one year it’s ok, you just finish it next year. Or, if you can finish it before the year is up, that’s ok too. You go at your own pace. My older sister Visakha, who used to go to this school, was saying that this kind of teaching is good for all students, no matter what level you’re at. She says that she learned more when she was here than when she spent this last year in public school.”

Brnda doesn’t feel she’s missing anything by not going to public school.

“Art is one of my favorite things, and Krsna Bhava is a really good art teacher,” claims Brnda.

Some of the kids’ artwork

Shyam, a very polite and respectful boy, was born in New Vrindaban nine years ago.

He relates, “I was here at Mother Ruci’s school for five months this year. And what I appreciate most is that my teacher, Mother Ruci, is a Prabhupada disciple! My favorite subject here is the kirtan and the Bhagavad Gita classes.”

The kids love kirtan!

Any guest to the school will agree that it’s always a treat to visit Gopal’s Garden Home School Co-op, and see the refreshing faces of the talented students and their dedicated teacher.

Ah! In Vrndavana Forest all the animals, birds, trees, vines and countless other living entities, who are all very sweetly beautiful and as splendid as gold, have now become stunned by drinking the maddeningly sweet nectar of the bliss of great transcendental love. Ah! Induced by all of them, the most enchanting, priceless teenage treasure has now appeared before me.

Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, Sataka-2, Text-60, Translation.]

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