Author Archives: New Vrndavan, USA

Back to Godhead Magazine, January/February 2018 issue New Vrindaban: An Overview in Honor of Its 50th Anniversary By Satyaraja Dasa Archival Research by Chaitanya Mangala Dasa With the successful worldwide celebration of ISKCON’s fiftieth anniversary in 2016, another semicentennial event naturally follows in its wake: commemoration of the founding of New Vrindaban in 1968, two […]

For the first time in 37 years, New Vrindaban is the featured article on the front cover of the Jan/Feb 2018 issue of Back To Godhead magazine. Perfect timing, as the village residents and well-wishers begin their 50th anniversary celebrations!

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ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 02/11/2018 Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes simple living, cow protection, engaging oxen, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban. Participating Directors: Chaitanya Mangala (chair), Jamuna Jivani (board secretary), Olivia, Makara, Ranaka, and Vraja. Participating Advisors: Jaya Krsna 1. Welcome New Directors […]

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 01/07/2018 Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes simple living, cow protection, engaging oxen, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban. Participating Directors: Anuttama, Chaitanya Mangala (chair), Kripamaya, Ranaka, and Vraja. Board Secretary: Jamuna Jivani 1. New Directors After four months as a […]

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 12/17/2017 Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes simple living, cow protection, engaging oxen, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban. Participating Directors: Chaitanya Mangala (chair), Kripamaya, Ranaka, and Vraja. Participating Advisors: Jamuna Jivani (secretary), Kalakantha (partial attendance), Makara, and Olivia. 1. Ranaka’s […]

  Where is your hometown?  I was born in Norfolk, VA where my father was in the Navy.  After his discharge from the duty, we relocated to my family’s home town in NW Iowa when I was 2 weeks old.  I lived in my family’s farm near Paullina IA until I graduated from High School […]

  ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 12/03/2017 Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes simple living, cow protection, engaging oxen, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban. Participating Directors: Anuttama, Chaitanya Mangala (chair), Kripamaya, Ranaka, and Vraja. Participating Advisors: Bhima, Jamuna Jivani (secretary), Jaya Krsna, Kalakantha (partial attendance), […]

Where is your hometown? I am a New Yorker by birth. I was born in Brooklyn and brought up in the rural area of Rockland county, near very small town called Spring Valley. At the age of ten, I moved back to NY and lived in Queens. What initially attracted you to Krishna Consciousness? I […]

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 10/29/2017 Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes simple living, cow protection, engaging oxen, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban. Participating Directors: Chaitanya Mangala (chair), Kripamaya, Ranaka, and Vraja. Participating Advisors: Bhima, Jamuna Jivani (secretary), Jaya Krsna, Kalakantha, Makara, and Olivia. 1. […]

  Where is your hometown?  Syama Kunda was raised in Cambridge, Maryland. When & where did you get married?  While living in Maryland in 1969, Syama Kunda met his wife Girindra Mohini, the youngest girl of 10 siblings. When he was 16 and she was only 15, they were married by her minister father. When […]

By Madhava Smullen for ISKCON New Vrindaban Communications At the second annual Rathayatra in Wheeling, West Virginia – New Vrindaban’s neighboring city – on July 8th, over two-and-a-half thousand locals delighted in Lord Jagannath’s parade. When interviewed they said they loved the energy, prasadam, trying out japa meditation, and the family-friendly activities. Wheeling Mayor Glenn […]

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 10/01/2017 Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes simple living, cow protection, engaging oxen, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban. Participating Directors: Chaitanya Mangala (chair), Kripamaya, Ranaka, and Vraja. Participating Advisors: Jamuna Jivani (secretary), and Makara. 1. Ranaka’s Monthly Report Caitanya Bhagavat […]

By Madhava Smullen for ISKCON New Vrindaban Communications     Born to a devotee family in New Vrindaban, West Virginia in 1977, Bhagavan Bauer lived and attended gurukula there until the age of eighteen. While he developed great friendships with the other gurukula students and has good memories of fun times with them, he also […]

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 08/27/2017 Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes simple living, cow protection, engaging oxen, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban. Participating Directors: Anuttama (partial attendance), Chaitanya Mangala (chair), Kripamaya, Ranaka, and Vraja. Participating Advisors: Bhima, Jaya Krsna, Kalakantha, Makara, and Olivia (partial […]

  By Madhava Smullen for ISKCON New Vrindaban Communications   ECO-Vrindaban and ISKCON New Vrindaban are extending an invitation to every Hare Krishna temple and farm in North America to attend the 2017 Annual North American ISKCON Farm Conference from October 13th to 15th. The Conference will be hosted at INV in West Virginia, and […]

By Madhava Smullen The gardens at Srila Prabhupada’s Palace have always been jewels that enhance the beauty of this place of pilgrimage; while themselves becoming more beautiful by serving the pure devotee. In 2014, after a long and illustrious history, they began their transition from chemical to organic. And today, like much of New Vrindaban, […]

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 07/30/2017 Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes simple living, cow protection, engaging oxen, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban. Participating Directors: Chaitanya Mangala, Kripamaya, Ranaka, Sri Tulasi Manjari, and Vraja. Participating Advisors: Jaya Krsna, Makara, and Olivia Recording Secretary: Jamuna Jivani […]

By Madhava Smullen for ISKCON New Vrindaban Communications   Neither Filippo Paonessa nor his wife-to-be Sukhayanti Dasi had any previous experience in cow protection or agriculture when they met at the Toronto ISKCON temple. But they found that they were both inspired by Srila Prabhupada’s words on simple living and shared a desire to follow […]

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 06/25/2017 Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes simple living, cow protection, engaging oxen, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban. Participating Directors: Chaitanya Mangala, Kripamaya, Ranaka, Sri Tulasi Manjari (Board Chair) and Vraja. Participating Advisors: Jaya Krsna, Makara and Olivia. Participating Managers: […]

By Madhava Smullen “We never thought a spiritual event could be so much fun – we would love to come again!” wrote one family after attending the Children’s Summer Camp in New Vrindaban last year. “Wonderful event – we can’t wait till next year,” wrote another. “Our son says he will miss New Vrindaban very […]

By Madhava Smullen  for ISKCON New Vrindaban Communications Archival Research by Chaitanya Mangala Das Prabhupada’s Palace View from His Lotus Pond It’s a crisp, frosty November day in the Appalachian foothills of West Virginia, bare trees silhouetted against a clear blue sky. On one hilltop, an unusually royal building stands out, sunlight glinting off its […]

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 05/21/2017 Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes simple living, cow protection, engaging oxen, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban. Participating Directors: Anuttama, Chaitanya Mangala, Kripamaya, Ranaka, Sri Tulasi Manjari and Vraja. Participating Advisors: Devala, Jaya Krsna, Makara, Olivia, Venkatachalapati Participating Managers: […]

By Madhava Smullen for ISKCON New Vrindaban Communications On the afternoon of March 25th—after hearing inspiring news from ISKCON New Vrindaban and ECO-Vrindaban’s various department heads—Board members and Village Association members settled in for a lively community dialog on some important topics. Village Association Foundational Document The first was the presentation of a foundational document […]

A Facelift for Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold Back to Godhead May/June 2016 By Satyaraja Dasa In the 1970s a dedicated group of devotees cooperated to build it; now a new group is determined to restore it to its former glory. (Archival research by Chaitanya Mangala Dasa) In the summer of 1965 His Divine Grace A. […]

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 04/30/2017 Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes simple living, cow protection, engaging oxen, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban. Participating Directors: Chaitanya Mangala, Ranaka, Sri Tulasi Manjari and Vraja. Participating Managers: Nitaicandra Recording Secretary: Jamuna Jivani 1. Ranaka’s Monthly Report 6 […]

By Madhava Smullen for ISKCON New Vrindaban Communications The sixth New Vrindaban Service Appreciation Ceremony, held on Sunday March 26th during the ISKCON New Vrindaban and ECO-Vrindaban Spring 2017 weekend gathering, reached an impressive benchmark. Including Sunday’s event, the ceremony, launched by board members in November 2014, has now honored 25 of Srila Prabhupada’s ‘jewels’ […]

By Madhava Smullen This Spring’s ISKCON New Vrindaban (INV) and ECO-Vrindaban (ECO-V) Board Meetings saw another inspiring round of Department Head Presentations on March 25th, as everyone gears up for a busy 2017 summer season and New Vrindaban’s 50th anniversary in 2018. Varsana Swami opened the session with an invocation reminding an audience of GBC, […]

Kulimela: The Next Generation Back to Godhead March/April 2017 By Madhava Smullen On the tenth anniversary of the first Kulimela, Kulis explore how to create a new and better world for future generations. In a leafy yard in New Vrindaban, West Virginia, a large group of children is leaning forward, riveted, as award-winning storyteller Sankirtana […]

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 03/19/2017 Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes simple living, cow protection, engaging oxen, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban. Participating Directors: Chaitanya Mangala, Kripamaya, Ranaka, Sri Tulasi Manjari and Vraja. Participating Advisors: Devala, Jaya Krsna Participating Managers: Nitaicandra Recording Secretary: Jamuna […]

By Madhava Smullen for ISKCON New Vrindaban Communications Tejomaya & Manonath in the Bahulaban gardens – New Vrindaban 1974 Tejomaya Das grew up in some of New York City’s roughest neighborhoods in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan. For him and his best friend, Manonatha Das, leaving them to forge a different life for themselves seemed […]

By Madhava Smullen for ISKCON New Vrindaban Communications Kelly Carter, a science and social studies teacher at a middle school in Moundsville, never “joined” ISKCON. But she’s been a part of the New Vrindaban community longer than many devotees. Set to be honored at this spring’s Service Appreciation Ceremony, she has both love and a […]

By Madhava Smullen for ISKCON New Vrindaban Communications One of the first of the retreat-style festivals currently so popular in ISKCON, Festival of Inspiration, launched in New Vrindaban in 2000, has always offered something a little unique. Now, in its 17th year, with the tagline “Rethink. Refresh. Renew,” FOI is again taking a fresh approach, offering […]

By Madhava Smullen for ISKCON New Vrindaban Communications As residents and aficionados of ISKCON history know well, New Vrindaban winters are not exactly forgiving. And with the austerity, guests decrease, some residents go traveling, and the hustle and bustle of the summer season quietens down. Still, the show must go on, and core crews continue […]

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 02/26/2017 Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes simple living, cow protection, engaging oxen, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban. Participating Directors: Chaitanya Mangala, Kripamaya, Ranaka, Sri Tulasi Manjari (Chair) & Vraja. Participating Advisors: Jaya Krsna Participating Managers: Ranaka & Nitaicandra Recording […]

You are cordially invited to a service appreciation ceremony. Honorees: Kelly J. Howard Carter, Tejomaya & Kelly, Advaita & Madri. When: Sunday March 26th, 2017 Time:  3:30 PM, immediately following the Sunday Feast Where: Community Hall, under the Palace Lodge Please come and celebrate their many years of friendship & service in the development of New Vrindaban.   […]

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 01/29/2017 Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes simple living, cow protection, engaging oxen, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban. Participating Directors: Anuttama, Chaitanya Mangala, Kripamaya, Ranaka, Sri Tulasi Manjari (Chair) and Vraja. Participating Advisors: Bhima, Devala and Jaya Krsna Participating Managers: […]

OPEN INVITATION: The board members of ISKCON New Vrindaban, ECO-Vrindaban & the Village Council invite all New Vrindaban residents, neighbors and well-wishers to participate in the upcoming weekend activities. MARCH 24th, 25th & 26th WEEKEND ACTIVITY SCHEDULE: Friday, March 24th 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm: Dinner Prasad with members of the Village Council, INV & […]

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 01-22-2017 Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes simple living, cow protection, engaging oxen, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban. Participating Directors: Anuttama, Bhima (Chair), Chaitanya Mangala, Kripamaya, Ranaka and Sri Tulasi Manjari. Recording secretary: Jamuna Jivani 1. Directorship Renewal Chaitanya Mangala […]

  Pujari Sanga Inspires North American Priests By: Madhava Smullen for ISKCON News Malati Devi shares stories of Srila Prabhupada and Deity worship Pujaris from all over North America gathered in New Vrindaban, West Virginia in January to gain inspiration, support and training from two events organized by the ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry: the inaugural North American […]