Last week, Gaura Shakti performed the Herculean devotional service of donating his time, energy and money by renting and jack hammering all the excess concrete “bumps” in the driveways and parking lots around the temple and cabins! These bumps have been an annoyance for over a decade as they gradually surfaced from the settling of the brick pavers.

This effort took several days of strenuous and exhausting work. He very wisely left two official speed bumps on the main entrance driveway and painted them red to slow vehicles down to a safe speed. He was ably assisted by Janardana das, who, being younger and actually built for this kind of work!, was able to carry the project to completion! As Gaura Shakti himself said, “I could not have done it without him!”

The ritual is to fast the entire day of Janmastami, followed by a midnight celebration with singing, dancing, and a free vegetarian feast commemorating the birth of Lord Krishna.  “Last year, New Vrindaban had approximately 100 different preparations.  The midnight feast is a great opportunity to try out a smorgasbord of eastern and western dishes, all of which are made with love,” said Malati Dasi, one of New Vrindaban’s GBCs.  For those who may feel hunger pangs earlier in the day, Govinda’s Snack Bar and Restaurant will be open all day.

“New Vrindaban is holding four Janmastami celebrations this year, due to the large number of out-of-town we will receive,” explained Malati.  “We hold one celebration on August 28, and we will hold two more during Labor Day on September 4 and 5.  But there is only one midnight celebration – on the actual day of Janmastami.  On the other days, the celebration is earlier in the evening.”

The story of Lord Krishna’s birth, described in the ancient Vedic treatise Srimad-Bhagavatam, is a story full of political intrigue and mystic occurrences.  Just after the marriage of Vasudeva and Devaki, Devaki’s brother, the powerful King Kamsa, heard a celestial voice call to him and say that the eighth child of Devaki would kill him. Immediately after hearing this prophesy from the sky, Kamsa caught hold of Devaki’s hair and was about to kill her with his sword.  Vasudeva, who was shocked by the behavior of his cruel, shameless brother-in-law, immediately tried to pacify Kamsa in order to save Devaki’s life.  Finally, in desperation, Vasudeva offered to bring all of Devaki’s future children to Kamsa as soon as they were born.  At first, Kamsa agreed to this proposal.  Later, however, Kamsa reneged on the agreement and imprisoned Vasudeva and Devaki in a cell in his kingdom of Mathura.    Years later, Lord Krishna was born at midnight in the jail cell in Mathura.  Just after his birth, Krishna unlocked the jail cell and put the guards to sleep by his mystic power.  Vasudeva then carried Krishna across the Yamuna River to Vrindaban, where Krishna was raised by his foster parents, Nanda and Yashoda. “Every year, millions of pilgrims visit the jail cell of Krishna’s birth in Mathura, located in north-central India.  This jail cell really exists and it matches the description in Srimad-Bhagavatam, which dates back over 5,000 years,” said Malati.  “There are also innumerable artifacts in Vrindaban that match descriptions in Srimad-Bhagavatam. This is proof that Krishna is a historical figure, and not simply a mythological figure as propounded by the nineteenth-century British who colonized India.”        Although Janmastami has been celebrated for thousands of years in India, this festival was introduced world-wide in the 1960’s and 1970’s by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).  “The first Janmastami celebration by westerns and for westerners was in 1966 at ISKCON headquarters in New York City,” said Malati.  “Since then, Janmastami has grown into a non-sectarian festival of India’s ancient culture and tradition.”    On Thursday, September 2, the day following Janmastami, Hare Krishna devotees around the world will observe Prabhupada’s birthday.  “Although there will be festivals all over the planet, the celebration in New Vrindaban is special for North Americans.  Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold, located in New Vrindaban, is the official memorial site for Prabhupada in North America, and a special evening celebration dedicated to his life and memory will be held at the Palace,” said Malati.           New Vrindaban Community and Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold are located south of Moundsville – Wheeling, off Route 250.  For more information about the Janmastami festival or about Prabhupada’s birthday celebration, contact (304) 845-9591 or mail@NewVrindaban.com.

Here is  current information about the New VrindabanArt Seminar with Dhriti &  Ram das that runs from Sept. 13 th through Sept 22  cd.

Costs are as follows:

10 -day course &  materials:

$200 (covers materials  & travel expenses for Dhriti &  Ram)
Lodging (if required):  $150 from Sept. 12 th through 23 rd in Guest Lodge.
(Option is there for  Ashram accommodation: $60 for duration)
Meals (if required): $135  (breakfast, lunch, light dinner for 10  days)
Round trip from Airport  (if required): $75 (Pittsburgh  International)

The following  supplies should be brought by each participant:

*   Sketch book  12×16
*   Easel
*   Brushes :  bristol filberts or flats   #   4, 6, 8,  10,
sable or mongoose rounds  # 6
mongoose hair filberts #  4,6 (optional)

We recommend  purchasing  supplies at ASW.com best prices . Vermeer mongoose  brushes are also available.  Further information as things  develope.

Feel free to  contact me with any questions: 304-845-9591 or
_malatidevi@aol.com_ (mailto:malatidevi@aol.com)

Hare  Krishna!

I am looking for temporary assistance between now through Oct.  5 th or 13th.

Need  basic computer skills, English spoken and written,  ability to communicate with other, and visible sadhana. Main services  will include Janmastami Festival Planning and  execution as well as Radhastami Festival.  Assist with Art  Seminar (can even take the seminar, if inclined) and Vaishnavi Retreat.

Must be  able to relocate to New Vrindaban during this time and be willing to work  outside of the box!

Ability to drive &driver’s license is helpful but  not essential.

For further details, please contact:

malati dasi: 304-845-9591
_malatidevi@aol.com_ (mailto:malatidevi@aol.com)

Also needed: an assistant between April and November, 2011.

5:00PM___5:15PM :Welcome

5:15PM___5:30PM: Special dance performances by devotee children!

5:30PM___6:00PM: Balarama Quiz – special surprises for winners!

6:00PM___7:00PM : Class by Malati Devi Dasi

7:00PM___7:30PM : Artik

7:30PM___Feast in Honor of Lord Balarama’s Appearance Day

They discussed a number of different items, including Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold, Janmastami, and Prabhupada’s Appearance Day.

This 30-minute interview will appear on “Your Town with Steve Mazure.” The show will air for one week, beginning Friday, August 20 at 9:30 pm. “Your Town” airs eight times each day, and Damodara’s interview will probably run during most of those airings.

The crew said “the camera loved Damodara.” Please tune in to this show if you get the chance.

Friday, August 20 @ 9:30 pm — Friday, August 27 )begins

10:30 am
1:00 pm
3:00 pm
5:00 pm
9:30 pm
12:30 am
2:30 am
4:30 am

On Saturday, August 21, New Vrindaban Community will host Devananda Pandit, formerly Denis Moreau, live in concert at Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold. The concert will begin at 7:45 pm. Devananda will be playing his own original contemporary folk songs, with which many of his fans are already familiar. He will also be including a new element to his repertoire – kirtan – a genre of music with a call and response format that is becoming trendy in the US and Europe.

Born in Quebec, Canada, in 1955, Devananda is a bi-lingual singer, songwriter, and recording artist. “I started playing the guitar and writing lyrics when I was 16. I started playing music full-time in 1994 while I was living in New York City,” said Devananda. In 2000, he released his first CD, Pearl Without a Price, which has sold 10,000 copies. His second CD, Borrowed Goods, was released in 2003. He is working on a third CD, Windows to the Other World.

“Playing at Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold is like playing at the Taj Mahal,” said Devananda with excitement. “The Palace is gorgeous at sunset. It will be lit up for the concert, and the fountains in the rose garden will stay on.” The Palace will stay open during the concert, and guided tours will be available throughout the show. Guests are also invited to visit the award-winning rose garden, and other attractions in New Vrindaban.

Concessions will be available during the concert, including World’s Best Cookies and veggie burgers produced by local businesswoman Dharma Dasi of New Vrindaban. Guests are also invited to bring their own vegetarian snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as lawn chairs and cushions for outdoor sitting.

Devananda is a folk rock singer with a style reminiscent of Bob Dylan. His lyrics, which have a definite spiritual message, are broad enough to appeal to Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and agnostics alike. He plays at inter-faith events, pubs, and coffee houses. One fan said about Devananda’s first CD Pearl Without a Price (2000), “There’s a couple tracks on here with a Native American theme, but most are thoughtful examinations of his own inner-life. He doesn’t shy away from tackling the ‘big questions.’ But he’s not preachy, preferring instead to view these subjects through a more personal prism.”

The Sunset Concert marks a turning point in Devananda’s career, who up until now, has been known professionally as Denis Moreau. From the Sunset Concert onward, he will be performing exclusively under the name Devananda Pandit, the name he received when he took spiritual initiation into the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in 1981 in New Vrindaban. “I was living in Ottawa at the time, and I traveled to New Vrindaban to receive initiation,” says Devananda.

Why is he making a name change mid-career? “I want to enter the kirtan venue, both locally and internationally,” explained Devananda. “My personal experience is that West Virginians love kirtan – and it’s not just the young people. When I play at retirement homes, I chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. Those folks get up, and they sing and dance with me. The holy name is universal,” said Devananda, referring to the names Hare, Krishna, and Rama in the now-famous Hare Krishna maha-mantra: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

“The Sunset Concert at Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold will be very special,” confided Devananda. “I have fond memories of the Palace when it first opened.” Devananda is one of the many Hare Krishna devotees who helped build the Palace. “I did a lot of sanding – I sanded the columns in the former restaurant, among other things.”

The Sunset Concert on August 21 will begin at 7:45pm. Admission is $5 for ages 16 and over, and free for 15 and under. Guests are invited to bring lawn chairs and cushions for this outdoor event.

Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold is located south of Moundsville – Wheeling, off Route 250. For more information, contact (304) 843-1812 or www.PalaceOfGold.com.

Monday August 30th

8: 00 am Temple ….. ( followed by Community Breakfast under tent )

6:00 pm Guest Prasad Room ….. ( light refreshments served )

ys, Sankirtana das

Class Topic: In It For The Long Run

Sankirtana Dasa is a long time resident of New Vrindavan. For many years he was involved in performing Krishna Conscious themed dramas, including presenting Mahabharata to Off Broadway audiences in NYC. Now he offers dramatic Krishna Katha programs at New Vrindavan as well as at colleges and temples. He is also a multicultural storyteller, offering programs in schools, libraries, and special events. He is a recipient of a WV Artist Fellowship Award. For more info see www.nytsanga.blogspot.com and www.sacredvoices.com He has also authored a site on New Vrindavan sponsored by Hanover College at www2.Hanover.edu/NewVrindavan.

Date: Saturday August 7th, 2010

Time: 08:00am – 09:00am EDT

Conference Number: 1-218-862-1300

Code: 527071

To Self Mute: Press 4* on your handset

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