The current temple in New Vrindaban is a wonderful place, but it is a post Prabhupada era project. Bahulaban is where Srila Prabhupada actually visited three times and is very historical. Unfortunately, as New Vrindaban contracted after the troubles, it was abandoned. Adi Guru has been organizing a project to restore it.
Today a lot of members of a team that has been assembled to do the needful came together for some hands on. While they work in offices during the week, this weekend they came out for some old fashioned New Vrindaban style service involving a lot of dirt and sweat.
I went out for as long as I could last until I wasn’t able to stand anymore and needed to go take my afternoon nappy. As I was leaving I realized I had my camera so snapped some quick random pics.
It was a BYOW event. That would be Bring Your Own Weedwacker.
There was a lot of hauling of debris, clearing out the inside of the temple as well as around the outside.
The backhaul. Don’t they look snazzy in their new gloves.
A lot of miles were put on accumulating the debris piles by hand.
A lot of weeds were also cleared around the temple so Soma will be able to get into work on the foundation. Lots of Japanese Knotweed.
Where else could you have seen a scythe hauled in a minivan?
The overgrown steps from the main parking lot to the temple were opened up so next time there will be room for even more participants to park.
I was thinking about all the devotees who climbed these steps over the years to the temple. I conferred with Varsani Swami and we conservatively estimate that Radhanath Swami would have taken these steps over a 1000 times, for example, just in case anyone wants to “follow in the footsteps”.
Janardan showed up, shown here in a rare nonmoving moment.
This day filled my heart with joy that the place I worked so hard at and for won’t just rot away, that some folks have understood its importance and there is a realistic hope it can be restored.
