Hare Krishna Appalachia – The Palace of Gold
Submitted by FreebieJunkieWV on May 10th, 2013 – Category: Cool
When one thinks of West Virginia, the images that come to mind are beautiful rolling hills.
Long, winding country roads, farms and forests.
Usually not elaborate, intricate, golden Hindu temples, but this state’s got one, and it is a beauty.
Originally dreamt up during the heyday of the late 60s, a group of devotees living in a small, run down farm without electricity or running water — none of whom had any background or experience in construction — were charged with turning this somewhat abandoned, extremely remote location into a shrine over seven years.
And they did it. I’m not sure exactly how, but they did it.
It takes forever to get there, and it’s a ride through the hills not for the faint of heart. Your GPS won’t work around these parts, but if you google the directions you’ll be fine. As you come around the bend, you’re treated to a site out of a dream. You can see for miles, and not hear one sound other than the buzzing of bees and the call of birds. While it’s lovely year round, the best time to visit is in summer when the rose garden is in bloom and the swans are drifting across the lotus ponds.
The temples and grounds are beautiful, and the guided tour lasts just under an hour at a reasonable cost of $8.00 for adults and $6.00 for children. There is a wonderful little gift shop there, and probably one of the best Indian restaurants hands down on site. For those who aren’t fans of Indian food, they also serve pizza and fries.
Some people are afraid to visit, thinking they’ll try to convert them, but nothing could be further from the truth. They just want people to come visit and enjoy the beauty of what they created.
You need to visit the website to see their images and videos, because they are not to be believed. The official site of the temple is at www.palaceofgold.com/ and the official site of the community is wwww.newvrindaban.com/
Recent reviews of the site on places such as Yelp and TripAdvisor mention that the temple is sorely in need of repairs. We won’t be visiting there again until later this summer, so I’m not sure the current condition. What people sometimes can’t appreciate is how harsh the elements are here, even in the summer. Rain and wind can take a brutal toll, and the community is entirely dependent on donations for upkeep of the temple. I’m used to many buildings around here needing some elements-related repair work (our home included!), but I can understand how visitors to the state may view normal weather wear as neglect.
The temple is always open to the public, and they have many fun festivals and events year round. The most popular, and colorful, of all, The Festival of Colors, I’ll cover in a later post.
Two Great Reasons to Visit New Vrindaban in June
Cottage Building and 24 Hour Kirtan!
A quick look at the Garden of 7 Gates in New Vrindaban will show a cabin with a rammed tire base well on its way to full construction.
Even one of New Vrindaban’s favorite swamis came to work there, alongside the others! (see photo of Radhanath Swami below)
Missed this workshop? June 10th and 11th 2013 will be the second part of the ECOV Green Builders Workshop at New Vrindaban. Join Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station Sustainable Living Center for two (2) days of learning the basic techniques of earth plastering. Participants will work on finishing the walls of the new 200 square foot cottage now being constructed in the Garden of Seven Gates as part of an ongoing education program. Contact: Lilasuka at 304-843-1600 ext 106, www.newvrindaban.com or Annie Warmke at (740) 674-4300, www.bluerockstation.com
Free scholarships are available to all devotees, so cost is no bar.
This is the same week as the 24-Hour Kirtan, which is celebrating its 7th Anniversary! The dates for this year’s festival are June 15-16, 2013.
Seva & Kirtan: Two great reasons to visit New Vrindaban next month!
A Creamer For The Deities In New Vrindaban
Spring is a time of new beginnings, and New Vrindaban has launched a new initiative to bring us one step closer to self-sufficiency. While our cows supply plenty of fresh milk, we’ve lacked the resources to produce our own yogurt, butter and ghee. But no longer! Krpamaya das and Nityodita das recently convinced the ECOV Board to purchase a creamer, which will enable the milk to be transformed into a multitude of first-class offerings.
Nityodita, who is managing the 3-month pilot program, shared the following: “Lalita Gopi and Shatendriya have agreed to share the responsibility of producing special yogurt made entirely of cream and then churning that sweet yogurt into butter. Part of that butter will be made into Ayurvedic ghee. These special nectarean substances will be offered exclusively to Radha Vrndavan Candra in Their offerings.”
“The goal is to only offer Their Lordships milk products from Their cows… no more store-bought butter or cream! This is real opulence! Simply by pleasing Krsna in this way, we can expect an unprecedented loving reciprocation from Him in ways we can only imagine!”
Ananda Vidya das demonstrates how the cream is separated from the milk. It takes about 8 gallons of milk and 45 minutes to produce one gallon of cream.
New Vrindaban Rebuilds, Sees Bright Future Ahead
New Vrindaban Board Members with Srila Prabhupada in his Palace of Gold
Established in 1968 in West Virginia, New Vrindaban was ISKCON’s first rural community.
Over the following years, the pioneer community made a series of well-documented mistakes in its early attempts, going through some of ISKCON’s darkest and most difficult times. Resources were affected, but most of all people—many of whom left the community.
Still, a skeleton crew remained through the toughest times, working through the repercussions and doing their best to correct the errors of the past.
In more recent times, there has been renewed energy to rebuild New Vrindaban and to turn it into the exemplary self-sufficient, Krishna conscious community that Srila Prabhupada envisioned.
New key personnel have been brought in to help with the transition, including community president Jaya Krishna Das. Formerly the administrative director for Bhaktivedanta College, Belgium, Jaya Krishna took up his new post in spring 2011 and has been working hard since to help New Vrindaban grow into a thriving, attractive community.
During an annual board meeting on the weekend of April 20th and 21st, New Vrindaban devotees discussed some exciting developments in the first phase of the community’s transition.
ISKCON Governing Body Commisioners Anuttama Das, Malati Dasi and Tamohara Das joined board members from two non-profit organizations at the meeting—ISKCON New Vrindaban and ECOV, which focuses on the community’s self sufficiency efforts.
“Everyone came in looking for ways to answer the question: how can we better serve the devotees of New Vrindaban, and improve the overall community spirit?” says Chaitanya Mangala Das, a second generation devotee and member of both boards.
Answers fell into two categories. The first was improving the physical environment, an effort that’s already in progress in a big way.
Early this year, for example, the residential quarters for devotees in the Radha Vrindabanchandra temple building were completely renovated.
“The wood paneling that had been on the walls since the early 1980s was removed, and the rooms were sheet-rocked,” says Chaitanya Mangala. “They also put in new windows, and fully furnished each room with basic living amenities such as a bed, chair, and desk. The floor mats and sleeping bags of the past are done away with, and it’s been made a more comfortable environment for residents.”
Standard capacity for the residential quarters is fifty-four devotees, but they can accommodate ninety-six at full capacity during festivals.
Meanwhile rooms at the community’s guest lodge are also being completely remodeled in time for the Festival of Inspiration on May 10th, 11th and 12th this year. The old bunk-bed style lodgings of yesteryear are gone, to be replaced with queen beds and motel quality accommodations. Altogether the rooms will have a total capacity of 130 persons.
The New Vrindaban Welcome Center is also receiving a full do-over to create a warm, inviting atmosphere for guests.
In addition the community’s snack bar is being transformed into an elegant Govinda’s Vegetarian Restaurant with sit-down menu service as well as a full buffet. After a partial opening for the Festival of Inspiration, it will be fully functioning by the end of May.
Restoration work is also beginning on Srila Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold, which has been a sacred place of pilgrimage and major tourist attraction for New Vrindaban over many years but had fallen into disrepair.
The full cost of all needed renovations falls somewhere between three and five million dollars. While the community does not have these funds and is discussing ways to raise them, devotees are already getting started on renovations with the funds they do have.
Work has already begun on the stairs leading up to the Palace, and will commence on the entrance walk-way in the summer.
“Then as more funds are raised, additional repairs will be ongoing for as long as it takes,” says Chaitanya Mangala.
New Vrindaban is also planning to tear down old and unsightly buildings. During the meeting, board members took a walking tour of Bahulaban, where devotees resided in the early years before moving to the current location in the mid 1980s.
Bahulaban was essentially closed down after the move, and the three main buildings there have not received any maintenance for two decades. One building is salvageable, but the other two, a barn and an old guesthouse that was damaged by fire in the 1990s, are not. Both are eyesores and visual reminders of darker and sadder days at New Vrindaban, and will be taken down.
Materials from them such as oak beams and concrete, however, will be recycled into other projects. This is evocative of the “green” way in which New Vrindaban is approaching its renovations.
For instance, the guest lodge has been remodeled using low volatile organic compound paint, energy saving CFL bulbs and non-toxic floor underlayment. And water-filling stations are being installed throughout the property, with reusable metal water bottles being made available to guests. Eventually, the community hopes to completely eliminate the use of plastic water bottles.
There are other self-sufficient initiatives, too. A team of devotees will soon be producing cream, yogurt, butter, ghee and other milk products for the Deities’ daily offerings using only milk from New Vrindaban cows.
And the garden crews are busy. They’re planting seedlings for the Deity Flower Garden with a goal of providing all of the temple’s flower needs throughout the 2013 summer growing season.
They’re also planting 100 fruit trees, 50 nut trees, 110 berries, 20 grape vines and a variety of perennial vegetables. And they’re installing three green houses to expand agricultural production by starting the growing season earlier in the spring and extending it later into autumn.
Meanwhile New Vrindaban’s unique festivals are exploding with popularity. There’s the Festival of Inspiration, now in its thirteenth year; the 24 Hour Kirtan, held every June; and the brand new Festival of Colors, which drew over 1,000 youthful and energetic college students for its inaugural event last September.
“The long range goal is to eventually fill up every weekend from May through September with a different festival that attracts different types of crowds,” says Chaitanya Mangala.
But with all these projects, the New Vrindaban board members are not forgetting that people are the most important part of a community.
“In our meeting we discussed how to improve community spirit, so that the devotees are feeling strong in their relationships with each other and inspired, enthusiastic and supportive of one another,” Chaitanya Mangala says.
Ideas included taking lessons for success from other devotee communities, developing devotee care, training leaders to become better servant leaders, and strengthening the relationships amongst devotees.
The latter includes developing an underlying assumption of goodwill amongst the community members.
“Disagreements are going to come up no matter what,” says Chaitanya Mangala. “Prabhupada would say, ‘People who believe in Utopia are impersonalists.’ There is no such thing as a perfect scenario in this world. There are always going to be challenges and disagreements. But the mindset in which you approach them can make all the difference in the world.”
At the end of the meetings, board members also invited community residents for an afternoon in which they presented what they had discussed, then opened up the floor for questions and concerns.
Overall, they’re feeling very positive that New Vrindaban can progress on from its past into a very bright future.
“We’re blessed to be able to participate in manifesting Srila Prabhupada’s grand vision of New Vrindaban,” Chaitanya Mangala says. “Along the way, we all fall short and fail at times to live up to all of the ideals. But as long as we continue to participate and perservere, through that process we become stronger, and eventually we do succeed.”
Thursday Evening Kirtan Opening Sanga for Festival of Inspiration:
Kirtan Sanga Inaugurating
Festival of Inspiration_13
Begining 7 pm Thursday May 9
Radha Vrindaban Chandra’s Temple
(Many newly arrived kirtanya’s will be chanting with us)
Latest Update on the Festival of Inspiration 2013 in New Vrindaban
The 13th annual FESTIVAL OF INSPIRATION is the weekend of May 10, 11 and 12.
Update: The last few accommodation vacancies have just opened up. Call us to reserve your spot. This is the only onsite accommodation left for Festival of Inspiration 2013. This will be a most inspiring festival! Call now! 304-843-1600 Ext 128 or Ext 111 . Ask for Rupa Manjari. Hare Krsna!
New Welcome Center in New Vrindaban
A New Welcome
When you visit New Vrindaban next, you will be happy to see the new Palace Lodge and Community Welcome Center as you arrive.
Our transcendental receptionists will greet you, make you feel right at home, and offer you comfortable accommodations if you’d like to spend the night, or arrange for you to have a tour of the beautiful spots found all throughout New Vrindaban, such as the peacock aviary, the serene swan lakes and the Palace Rose Garden, which will have its first bloom in early June.
The Welcome Center is the newly renovated little cabin centrally located in front of the temple, right across from Govinda’s Vegetarian Restaurant.
Visit New Vrindaban now, when spring is breathing fresh life into the green Appalachian hills.
Call the Welcome Center at 304 843 1600 xt 0 or visit us at www.newvrindaban.com
Hare Krsna
Welcome Center waiting for its facelift.
!
Just a little cleanup and it’s done.
Sequel to the Green Builders’ Workshop in New Vrindaban after Festival of Inspiration
A follow-up to the Workshop directly following the Festival of Inspiration:
June 10th and 11th 2013 EcoVillage Green Building Earth Plastering Workshop at New
Vrindaban’s Garden of Seven Gates, Moundsville WV
Contact: Lilasuka at 304-843-1600 ext 106, www.newvrindaban.com
or Annie Warmke at (740) 674-4300, www.bluerockstation.com
Join Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station Sustainable Living Center at New Vrindaban Community
for two (2) days of learning the basic techniques of earth plastering. During this two-day
workshop, participants will work on finishing the walls of the new 200 square foot cottage in the
Garden of Seven Gates as part of an ongoing education program sponsored by EcoV, a
sustainable program of the New Vrindaban Community.
Skills taught during the build will include how to make and apply various types of earth plaster.
The walls of the cottage are made if rammed-earth tires, bottles and straw bales, and also learn
how to apply plaster around window and door framing. Private room/bath, or private room with
an adjoining bath in the lodge at New Vrindaban (total cost for workshop, breakfast/lunch, and
lodge accommodations $290). Bring your own tent and camp on site ($190 includes workshop
and breakfast/lunch). Scholarships may still be available. Visit – Sequel to the 1st Green Builders’ Workshop in New Vrindaban for more details or telephone 304-843-1600 ext 111 for more details or to register.
ECOV 3/30/13 Board Meeting Minutes
ECOV Board Meeting – Minutes 3-30-2013
Participating Members of the Board of Directors (constituting a quorum for said meeting to be held): Anuttama, Chaitanya Mangala, Krpamaya, Madhava Gosh, Navin Shyam, Ranaka
1. Approve agenda
2. Review and approve previous meeting minutes – Completed over e-mail
3. E-mail approvals completed:
Sustainability poster display
WHEREAS: The ECOV Board wishes to promote sustainable practices that are consistent with our dedication to simplicity, and to cooperate with other local organizations doing the same.
RESOLVED: The Board authorizes up to $500 to laminate and display eighteen posters from the “Lexicon of Sustainability” to be exhibited at the Festival of Inspiration and other community events in the area. The grant supplements $500 from West Liberty University.
The easels will become the property of ECOV, and the posters will become part of a permanent display at the temple.
Old business
4. Cream separator request (Nityodita via Krpamaya)
WHEREAS: The ECOV Board wishes to promote use of milk from community cows to make dairy offerings for the deities.
RESOLVED: The Board authorizes up to $3,700 for a 3-month pilot program to cover purchase of a cream separator and compensation for those using it to make butter and other dairy products. Nityodita Prabhu will manage the project during this pilot period.
5. Proposal: $5K for restoring Prabhupada house in Madhuban
The Board granted Pending status to a proposal to spend up to $5K to preserve the last remaining rammed-earth house built following Srila Prabhupada’s plan.
The following is a quote referring to this kind of structure:
“For the small cottages I suggest to construct as the diagram below —wooden beams and between the beams fill with gravel cement. The roof may be tile. The size may be 12′ x 15′. This design is especially suitable for grhasthas, who can feel very comfortable there, and you may house four brahmacaris in such place. Every day you can build one such house, ten may be required, and in one month you will have 30 such nice shelters.”
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Kirtanananda – July 27, 1973.
6. Proposal: $1500 for lighting projects for INV (Gosh)
WHEREAS: The ECOV Board wishes to promote energy efficiency in New Vrindaban.
RESOLVED: The Board authorizes up to $1,500 for purchase and installation of two light-tunnels for the prasadam room at the temple, and several motion-sensor lights for the hallways.
New business
7. Grants for INV (Navin)
WHEREAS: The ECOV Board wishes to create a standardized and simple way for INV to request funding.
RESOLVED: The Board approves of the INV version of the grant application created by Navin Shyam
8. Bhumi Project (Navin)
This international organization headed by an ISKCON member is promoting green pilgrimage and green temples, but ISKCON temples have not been very active. Navin Shyam will make contact with them to inquire how we might work together, and Gosh will review their site http://bhumiproject.org for materials that can be posted on our site.
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Thank you for taking the time to visit the New Vrindaban community blog. Think of visiting our blog as making a virtual pilgrimage.
Hare Krishna Hare KrishnaKrishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
"May cows stay in front of me; may cows stay behind me; may cows stay on both sides of me. May I always reside in the midst of cows."
Hari Bhakti-vilas 16.252
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