Murari Sevaka Farm
Location
Mulberry, Tennessee
Project Managers
(under the guidance of Jayapataka Swami and Bir Krsna Goswami) Jvarajit Dasa, Nandanacarya Dasa, Nirguna Dasa, Gayatri Dasa, Vijaya Devi Dasi
The Beginning
Devotees bought the farm in 1975, and Srila Prabhupada named it Murari Sevaka "the place where everyone is a servant of Murari (Krsna)." The project is beautifully situated in an area where several small valleys run together. The first Krsna devotees here built a barn, a temple, and a few simple cabins. They also began adding to the temple building to make an extended complex. The project had a school. Devotees used oxen for some of the farming. In 1977 residents began worshiping Deities of Sri Sri Nitai-Gauracandra (Caitanya and Nityananda) and Srila Prabhupada.
Today
Though the project lost momentum during the 1980s, it is undergoing a new birth, with a new generation of devotees convinced that the land, the climate, and the location of the project make it an ideal place to develop a community where people can live simply in Krsna consciousness and give Krsna consciousness to others. Besides working to develop the farm, devotees go out to distribute Srila Prabhupada's books and put on Krsna conscious programs, especially in Nashville, the area's largest city.
The farm is home to twenty-eight cows, calves, and oxen. One cow is giving milk.
Devotees are starting a primary school, the earlier school having closed many years ago.
Plans
1. Finish the temple complex.
2. Develop cottage industries.
3. Take advantage of natural sources of power (by using windmills, for example).
4. Use ox power for farming, trans-port, and other kinds of work.
6. Construct buildings for schools, camps, retreats, festivals, and seminars.
7. Develop a health/healing center.
8. Start a cabin time-sharing program.
Obstacles
Because Murari Sevaka is lesser known than other ISKCON farms, devotees may have stopped considering it as a project they could get involved in. The project especially needs more devotees living and working on the land.
How you can help
Visit Murari Sevaka.
If you have knowledge or experience in planning or developing a project like Murari, give your advice.
Consider moving onto the farm. Land is available on a life-lease or service-agreement plan. You can also buy land next to the project.
For more information, or to send resumes, donations, or development advice, write or call:
Nirguna Dasa
ISKCON Murari Sevaka
Rt. 1, Box 146-A
Mulberry, TN 37359
Tel: (615) 759-6888 or 759-5785