Vrinda Kunda Phase II Started

[Guest guest]

The sound of the 14" brass bell peals across the waters of Vrinda Kunda and

then beyond the borders across fields parched by the relentless Indian Summer

sun. Vrinda Kunda area is set like an emerald among these empty fields. Three

iridescent green English Flycathers perform their acrobats just above the cool

green waters. Two Kokilas, madly in love, warble on the fifth note as they flit

from tree to tree. The Kingfisher reveals himself like a flash of bright blue

lightning as he dives from the edge of the ghat to the water. The sandstone

temple shaded by the luxurious foliage of the Sami tree reflects in the waters.

The beautiful sun reflections play over the floral motifs in the carved

sandstone. The Kadamba flowers in the garlands spread their delicious fragrance

all the way to the back of the temple where I ring the bell. All the trees have

bloomed in succession assuring a constant supply of beautiful golden flowers

for Vrinda Devi and Giriraj throughout the whole summer. It is Sringar Artik at

Vrinda Kunda as the enchanting deity of Vrinda Devi smiles so sweetly on those

who have come for darshan.

 

Punctuating the rhythm of the kirtan are the clik clik clik of the stone

carvers as they carefully craft delicate floral designs in the hard stone

sitting beside the temple in the shade of the huge Sami tree. Their presence

marks the beginning of Phase II in the plan of Vrinda Kunda. A wide veranda

extending two feet over the water held in place by intricately carved brackets.

Then a gorgeous collonade with arches, with the three middle arches completely

open and the two arches at either end filled with intricately carved jali work

with tree and Vrinda Devi's parrots. Huge carved teak beam extending from the

collonade to the building with small wooden slats forming a trellis where

fragant flower creepers will entwine. These are some of the plans slowly taking

shape.

 

The ghats bordering the temple will also be completed as well as the large ghat

on the opposite side facing the temple. Then contractor has just gone to the

mines to look for strong stone that will match and withstand sitting in water.

 

Gupta Kunda is also being excavated and given a beautiful half eliptical shape

and moved away from the wall so there is more space for planting trees and

flowers between the wall and the kunda. Most of the old ghat is being taken up

and the top few steps will be laid with new stone and and veranda. To supply

shade a small gum drop tree has sprouted up by itself in soil so salty not even

weeds grow there and is growing luxuriously just behind the ghat.

 

Between the Gupta Kunda ghat and the temple buildings a long stone pillared

thickly thatch roofed hall is to be built. The floor will be soft Yamuna sand

as not even weeds grow here the soil is so bad. We can sit and have lectures

here in the shade and take prasdam here sitting in the soft sand. One nice

Indian lady from Sweden has donated for this.

 

Then ten foot deep and ten foot on all sides sweet water tank is almost

complete near the canal that connects Gupta Kunda with Vrinda Kunda. We will

store the sweet water that we pump from a little less than half a mile away

from bore well on a small plot donated by one of the local farmers named Shyam

in honor of his father Jholu. A solar pump will pump this water into overhead

storage tanks to be used in the kitchen and watering the fields. This solar

pump was kindly donated by Bhagwat Darshan Das who used to live in Orlando but

has retired to Vrindavan with his family.

 

The state government is giving 45% subsidies on solar lighting systems so

yesterday they arrived to install three so Vrinda Devi will have lights in the

evening and when we close the doors for the bhoga offering. The panels are

completely hidden behind the tall carved parapet wall over the kitchen and

Sringar Bhandar. One will be put on the two story building so I can read

Prabhupada's books at night.

 

And of course soon the rains will come and we will plant trees and flowers. The

whole summer we had an abundance of beautiful red and yellow flowers from seeds

given by Rupanuga Prabhu from Durban when I was there in January. So abundant

that the babajis from Nandagaon occasionly stop by to pick some for their

Giriraja Shilas. And someone is speaking Bhagwatam in some village and they

also stop by to pick some every day. Tulasi is growing in abundance after

almost completely drying up in the very dry and cold winter. So everyone is

taking advantage of them also.

 

When you all come for Kartik then we will have a special festival at the end of

Kartik to mark the completion of Phase II. Then you can experience the very

blissful atmosphere of this very special holy place I described in the

beginning.

 

In service of Sri Sri Krishna Balaram,

Deena Bandhu dasa

 

attached: Vrinda Devi with new back drop.