Author Archives: New Vrndavan, USA

This is the 4th and last in a series of entries from Gopisa das on his recent trip to India. DAY 7 Dearest family, Today was a very special day. We went to Srimati Radharani’s temple for mangal aroti. I was pushed to the middle quite close and had a wonderful view of Sriji. Sacinandana […]

A Swami’s Dream Comes to Life: Prabhupada’s First Visit to New Vrindaban Written by Madhava Smullen. Archival Research by Chaitanya Mangala. New Vrindaban, May 20th, 1969 – A small cluster of devotees waited at the entrance to the rural West Virginia property, hearts beating with anticipation. As the Lincoln town car turned the corner, they […]

This is the 3rd in a series of 4 entries by Gopisa das to his India Journal about his recent first-time pilgrimage to India. His 1st India Journal posting: Day 1 & 2 “Rotis and Spirituality”: http://www.brijabasispirit.com/2014/12/26/new-vrindabans-gopisa-das-discusses-rotis-and-spirituality-in-the-land-of-bharatavarsha/ His 2nd India Journal posting: Day 3 & 4 “Adventures”: http://www.brijabasispirit.com/2015/01/05/new-vrindabans-gopisa-dass-adventures-on-his-spiritual-retreat/ DAY 5 Dearest family, Today was a […]

  “The whole idea of New Vrindaban is that men who are living there should produce their own food, of which milk is the principal thing.” – Srila Prabhupada, July 1969. Click here to read the rest of the letter at the Vanipedia website.

by Lilasuka dasi New Vrindaban’s 1st New Year’s Bhakti Retreat from Wed. evening Dec. 31, 2014 to Sun. Jan. 4, 2015 was lively and family friendly. Devotees came in from many places outside West Virginia. His Grace Gopal Hari Prabhu came from Boise, ID. Several families from Detroit, MI mandir also came to participate. His […]

This week’s challenge: Who is this? Bonus challenge: What’s he doing and when was the photo taken? What to do: Post your guesses on the “who, what, when, where & why” in the comment section at the New Vrindaban Facebook page.

The Palace Restoration Committee explored the options discussed at the Community Dialog November 1st, 2014, in regards to the restoration of the Palace wall: A) remove the existing wall in its entirety and B) provide an open and more visually transparent type of wall such as a metal fence The committee decided after consultation with […]

This is a continuation of Gopisa das’s India Journal.  See DAYS 1 & 2 in this Brijabasi Spirit, Dec. 26, 2014.  The link follows. http://www.brijabasispirit.com/2014/12/26/new-vrindabans-gopisa-das-discusses-rotis-and-spirituality-in-the-land-of-bharatavarsha/ DAY 3 Dearest family, Day two was comprised of seminars, workshops and bhajans. Jaya Krsna and I went to the market in the afternoon for a cotton chadar (a gift […]

“Agriculture and protecting cows, this is the main business of the residents of Vrindaban, and above all simply loving Krishna.” – Srila Prabhupada, July 1973. Click here to read the rest of the letter at the Vanipedia website.

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 12/21/2014 Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes a simple, sustainable lifestyle centered on the care and protection of cows, local food production and the loving service of Lord Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban. Participating Members of the ECO-V Board of Directors: Bhima, Chaitanya Mangala, Navin Shyam, […]

This week’s challenge: Who are these pioneer New Vrindaban Brijabasis? Bonus challenge: What’s the occasion and when was the photo taken? What to do: Post your guesses on the “who, what, when, where & why” in the comment section at the New Vrindaban Facebook page.

“I am so pleased to learn of the increased development of New Vrindaban. Please now try to organize a children’s school.” – Srila Prabhupada, December 1969. Click here to read the rest of the letter at the Brijabasi Spirit website.

Gopisa das recently went, for his first time, on a pilgrimage to India.  First, he traveled to Switzerland, and then on to India. He wrote a daily journal back to his family, which he shared, below. DAY 1 Dearest family, Arrived in Delhi at 1am Sunday morning to an assault on the mind and senses […]

Here’s a reminder! We would be honored to have your association at New Vrindaban’s New Year’s Bhakti Retreat starting the evening of Wed. Dec. 31, 2014 through Sun. Jan. 3, 2015. Spend this New Year’s Eve along with your whole family in the scenic, rolling hills of West Virginia, getting spiritually re-charged.  Associate with experienced […]

This week’s challenge: Who is this? Bonus challenge: What is he doing and when was the photo taken? What to do: Post your guesses on the “who, what, when, where & why” in the comment section at the New Vrindaban Facebook page.

by Vyasasan das Back in August of this year, I began the overwhelming task of rebuilding the barn at New Vrindaban, West Virginia. As you will be able to see from the following pictures, the neglected barn was sadly in a state of disrepair and dilapidation. The building had been completely abandoned and neglected for […]

“I have got ambition to construct there 7 temples as follows: 1. Radha Madan Mohan, 2. Radha Govinda, 3. Radha Gopinatha, 4. Radha Damodara, 5. Radha Raman, 6. Radha Gokulananda, 7. Radha Syamasundara.” – Srila Prabhupada, November 1968. Click here to read the rest of the letter at the Vanipedia website.

This week’s challenge: Who is this happy young couple? Bonus challenge: What’s the celebration, where are they and what was the year? What to do: Post your guesses on the “who, what, when, where & why” in the comment section at the New Vrindaban Facebook page.

By Madhava Smullen “Krishna by His practical example taught us to give all protection to the cows and that should be the main business of New Vrindaban,” Srila Prabhupada wrote to his disciple Hayagriva Das in 1968, leaving little doubt as to the community’s focus. Since then, New Vrindaban has always protected cows. But this year, […]

“So these duties are there in New Vrindaban, and we shall have to live there self independently, simply by raising cows, grains, fruits, and flowers.” – Srila Prabhupada, January 1969. Click here to read the rest of the letter at the Vanipedia website.

This week’s challenge: Who’s that girl? Bonus challenge: What celebration was happening at the time of this photo? What to do: Post your guesses on the “who, what, when, where & why” in the comment section at the New Vrindaban Facebook page.

Sunday morning, Dec. 7, was the last day of the Deity Worship Seminars here in New Vrindaban.  This was the second Deity Worship Seminar taught by His Grace Jayananda prabhu in New Vrindaban.  Jayananda explained, “We did a very short seminar last year, but we wanted to increase the depth of this seminar.  So this […]

New Vrindaban Fall Board Meetings 2014: Community Parikrama Showcases Exciting Developments  By Madhava Smullen  On November 2nd, after spending the previous day hearing presentations on New Vrindaban’s many departments, board and community members wrapped up this fall’s meetings by seeing some of the latest developments for themselves in an enlivening community parikrama. At 10:00am, around […]

“You should also use the bulls by engaging them in tilling the ground. People may call this the primitive way but it is very practical for engaging the bulls – have them work in cart loading, transporting, etc.” – Srila Prabhupada, January 1974. Click here to read the rest of the letter at the Brijabasi Spirit website.

New Vrindaban Fall Board Meetings 2014: Madhava Gosh Das and Vidya Dasi Receive Appreciation Plaques for 40 Years of Service  By Madhava Smullen  During the ISKCON New Vrindaban and Eco-Vrindaban Fall Board Meetings on the first weekend of November this year, long-time residents Madhava Gosh Das and his wife Vidya Dasi were officially honored for […]

    We share two photos of the same event; one featuring women and the other featuring men. Between them there 11 people who can be identified. This week’s challenge: How many people can you ID? What are they doing? When and where were these photos taken? Bonus challenge: Can you name the person who appears in […]

New Vrindaban Fall Board Meetings 2014: Department Head Presentations Invigorate the Community By Madhava Smullen  ISKCON New Vrindaban and Eco-Vrindaban’s second annual board meetings, held from November 1st to 2nd this year, shone a light on the rejuvenating rush of energy currently flowing through the New Vrindaban community and were invigorating for all the participants. […]

The fall season has come and gone quickly this year in the garden. Many projects were completed in the Teaching Garden and the Garden of Seven Gates. An early frost drove our attentions into our new high tunnel for winter greens and building a new rose garden to be planted in the spring.   Throughout […]

“The cows, the trees, the cowherd men and gopis, their chief engagement was loving Krsna, and in New Vrindaban we want to create this atmosphere and thereby show the whole world how practical and sublime our movement is.” – Srila Prabhupada, July 1973. Click here to read the rest of the letter at the Vanipedia website.

This week’s challenge: There are nine people in this photo. Can you name them all and identify what are they doing? Extra credit: What year was this photo taken? What to do: Post your guesses on the “who, what, when, where & why” in the comment section at the New Vrindaban Facebook page.

New Vrindaban Fall Board Meetings 2014: An Evening with Srila Prabhupada at his Palace By Madhava Smullen At 6:00pm on November 1st, New Vrindaban board and community members ended their first packed day of meetings with a true treat – spending the evening with Srila Prabhupada at his Palace of Gold. The event was one […]

Bhakti Retreat: New Year’s in New Vrindaban Dham January 1st  – 4th 2015 Spend this New Year’s Eve in the scenic, rolling hills of West Virginia, getting spiritually re-charged.  Listen to enlivening Krsna Katha and Prabhupada Katha.   Attend enlightening devotional workshops/seminars, soothing bhajans, ecstatic kirtans, and enjoy sumptuous, healthy prasad.  Does life get any better than this? Special guest […]

“Your idea to start a nursery school in New Vrindaban is very good proposal and you may immediately try for it by cooperatively consulting amongst yourselves how to do it.” – Srila Prabhupada, February 1972. Click here to read the rest of the letter at the Brijabasi Spirit website.

  This week’s challenge: Many people will be enlivened to know the building in this photo is currently undergoing a major renaissance. Can you identify it, what purposes it’s served over the years, and possibly the era this photo was taken? Extra credit: Can you ID any of the Matajis in the foreground? What to do: Post […]

ECO-Vrindaban On-Site Board Meeting Minutes 11/2/2014 Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes a simple, sustainable lifestyle centered on the care and protection of cows, local food production and the loving service of Lord Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban. Participating Members of the ECO-V Board of Directors: Anuttama, Chaitanya Mangala, Krpamaya, […]

New Vrindaban Preschool Reopens by Lilasuka dasi The academic school in New Vrindaban has gone through many changes throughout the years.   From “Nandagram School” back in the 80’s, to the “New Vrindavan School” in the 90’s, to the current “Gopal’s Garden Home School Co-op”, all ages of kids and teachers have come and gone. Many […]