Maharishi Vedic City, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Maharishi Vedic City is a city in Jefferson County
, Iowa
, United States. The city was first incorporated in 2001 as "Vedic City" but then officially changed its name to "Maharishi Vedic City" five months later. It was the first city to incorporate in Iowa since 1982. Maharishi Vedic City consists of approximately one square mile, located about four miles north of Fairfield
, the home of Maharishi University of Management
.
The city plan and buildings are based on Maharishi Sthapatya Veda
, an ancient system of architecture and design, revived by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
, who founded the Transcendental Meditation program
and the Transcendental Meditation movement
. Its goals, as stated in its constitution, are to "protect, nourish, and satisfy everyone, upholding the different social, cultural, and religious traditions while maintaining the integrity and progress of the city as a whole".
Financial and infrastructure needs led Maharishi Vedic City to seek formal approval as a city from the state, and after petitioning the Iowa City Development Board and holding a referendum
, it was incorporated as Iowa's newest city on July 21, 2001 — the first in Iowa since 1982. Planners expected the city to have a population of over 1,000 by 2010, many of them transplants from nearby Fairfield
.
Johnson and a dozen other developers purchased 50 farms totaling 3000 acres (12.1 km²), some 1,200 of which were designated for the town itself. Together, they planned a city arranged in ten circles totaling about one square mile, along with paved roads, utilities, sewage and Internet. They then began the first phase of construction which included two hotels, various houses and office buildings. After one year, 46 structures had been built and more than $35 million spent on development. According to city officials in 2004, more than $200 million of venture capital had been invested in Fairfield and Vedic City companies during the past 13 years. By 2006, the city consisted of more than 200 buildings.
In the early stages of development, Vedic City set aside 50 acres as land for conservation and preservation. This acreage was then transformed from farmers' fields to native prairies, wetlands and forest.
In 2002, a building known as "The Mansion" became a headquarters for the Global Country of World Peace
(GCWP). The Mayor of MVC is Bob Wynne who is also the GCWP's Raja (administrator) of the Center of Vedic America and of New Zealand.
In November 2002, the city council
passed an ordinance
banning the sale of non-organic food within its borders.
In 2003, the city began offering tours to the public and has several thousand visitors per year. The city runs an organic farm that sells its produce to Whole Foods
. Maharishi Vedic City receives federal grants from agencies including the Departments of Energy and Agriculture for developing renewable energy sources and recycling programs.
The city council voted to ban the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers within the city limits in April 2005, becoming the first all-organic city in the country.
The city's residents include about 1,000 pandits from India who live on the Pandit Campus on the edge of the city. The 2010 census counted 259 people, placing the Pandit Campus outside the city. However, city officials said the pandits were mistakenly counted as county residents rather than part of the city's population and asked for a correction from the U.S. Census Bureau. According to the New York Times, the count was then increased to 1,294 by the Census Bureau "to reflect misplaced housing".
, the city has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²) all land.
design architecture. This ancient Indian system of architecture and city planning, part of Maharishi Vedic Science, is said to promote happiness, peace and prosperity for its occupants. In Maharishi Sthapatya Veda, all structures are built according to precise Vedic proportions with rooms placed according to the movement of the sun and entrances that face due east. In addition, each building includes an interior, silent core called a "brahmasthan", a perimeter boundary called a "vastu fence" and a gold-colored fixture on the roof, called a "kalash
" (meaning vessel in Sanskrit
).
One of the unique features of the city is an outdoor Vedic Observatory. It consists of ten, six feet tall, white, concrete-and-marble astronomical instruments arranged in a circle. According to the Observatory developer, Tim Fitz-Randolph, each instrument is precisely aligned with the sun, moon and stars, and could be used to calculate their actual movements and has the potential to create inner happiness and balance in the physiology.
The city also owns and operates a 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) organic farm which includes a 1.2 acres (4,856.2 m²) greenhouse. A wind turbine operates the green houses and was paid for in part by a USDA renewable energy grant. The farm distributes its "50 varieties of fruits and vegetables" locally as well as to restaurants in Iowa City, Des Moines and Chicago. The city has plans to expand the greenhouses to 70 acres (283,280.2 m²). The city does not have any streetlights or utility poles and its master plan includes only electric cars within the city limits. The city council has voted to provide its residents with "off-grid power" from wind and solar generated power.
A Maharishi Ayur-Veda Spa Center and Hotel called "The Raj", is located in MVC on a 100 acre (0.404686 km²) estate with gardens, lakes and nature trails. It offers a variety of treatments in accordance with the Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health. The city also features the Rukmapura Park Hotel, a "25-room wood structure in the tradition of European country inns".
As part of the 2001 master plan, two golden domes are to be built in the center of the city to serve as a venue for Yogic Flying, similar to the facilities already in use at the nearby Maharishi University of Management
. Residents subscribe to the theory and research that group practice of this technique "will create coherence for the whole country". A 2010 article reported that city officials were working with Tom Doak
on the construction of a public golf course.
The Los Angeles Times
reported in 2006 that Maharishi Vedic City "displays all the architectural characteristics of a new exurban development: gaudy, oversize construction that has no stylistic relation to its environment but instead vaguely alludes to a theme-park version someplace sort of magical and far away."
). Maharishi Vedic City is administered by a five-person city council. Sanskrit has been named the city's "ideal language", although English and other common languages are also used.
Jefferson County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 16,843 in the county, with a population density of . There were 7,594 housing units, of which 6,846 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, United States. The city was first incorporated in 2001 as "Vedic City" but then officially changed its name to "Maharishi Vedic City" five months later. It was the first city to incorporate in Iowa since 1982. Maharishi Vedic City consists of approximately one square mile, located about four miles north of Fairfield
Fairfield, Iowa
Fairfield is a city and the county seat of Jefferson County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,464 in the 2010 census, a decline from 9,509 in the 2000 census. - History :...
, the home of Maharishi University of Management
Maharishi University of Management
Maharishi University of Management , formerly known as Maharishi International University, is a non-profit, American university, located in Fairfield, Iowa. It was founded in 1973 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and features a "consciousness-based education" system that includes the practice of the...
.
The city plan and buildings are based on Maharishi Sthapatya Veda
Maharishi Sthapatya Veda
Maharishi Sthapatya Veda is a set of architectural and planning principles assembled by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi based on "ancient Sanskrit texts" Maharishi Sthapatya Veda architecture is also called "Maharishi Vastu" architecture, "Fortune-Creating" buildings and homes, and "Maharishi Vedic...
, an ancient system of architecture and design, revived by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi , born Mahesh Prasad Varma , developed the Transcendental Meditation technique and was the leader and guru of the TM movement, characterised as a new religious movement and also as non-religious...
, who founded the Transcendental Meditation program
Transcendental Meditation technique
The Transcendental Meditation technique is a specific form of mantra meditation often referred to as Transcendental Meditation. It was introduced in India in 1955 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi...
and the Transcendental Meditation movement
Transcendental Meditation movement
The Transcendental Meditation movement is a world-wide organization, sometimes characterised as a neo-Hindu new religious movement, founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the 1950s...
. Its goals, as stated in its constitution, are to "protect, nourish, and satisfy everyone, upholding the different social, cultural, and religious traditions while maintaining the integrity and progress of the city as a whole".
History
The concept of a "Vedic City" was conceived by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Chris Johnson, a real estate developer from San Francisco, along with Bob Wynne and several others, began to actualize their joint vision for a vedic town in 1991. The first resolution of the city council was to announce the constitution of the city to be the same as "the Constitution of the Universe — Total Natural Law - RK Veda".Financial and infrastructure needs led Maharishi Vedic City to seek formal approval as a city from the state, and after petitioning the Iowa City Development Board and holding a referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
, it was incorporated as Iowa's newest city on July 21, 2001 — the first in Iowa since 1982. Planners expected the city to have a population of over 1,000 by 2010, many of them transplants from nearby Fairfield
Fairfield, Iowa
Fairfield is a city and the county seat of Jefferson County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,464 in the 2010 census, a decline from 9,509 in the 2000 census. - History :...
.
Johnson and a dozen other developers purchased 50 farms totaling 3000 acres (12.1 km²), some 1,200 of which were designated for the town itself. Together, they planned a city arranged in ten circles totaling about one square mile, along with paved roads, utilities, sewage and Internet. They then began the first phase of construction which included two hotels, various houses and office buildings. After one year, 46 structures had been built and more than $35 million spent on development. According to city officials in 2004, more than $200 million of venture capital had been invested in Fairfield and Vedic City companies during the past 13 years. By 2006, the city consisted of more than 200 buildings.
In the early stages of development, Vedic City set aside 50 acres as land for conservation and preservation. This acreage was then transformed from farmers' fields to native prairies, wetlands and forest.
In 2002, a building known as "The Mansion" became a headquarters for the Global Country of World Peace
Global Country of World Peace
The Global Country of World Peace was declared by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder and guru of the Transcendental Meditation movement, on Vijayadashami , October 7, 2000. He described it as "a country without borders for peace loving people everywhere"...
(GCWP). The Mayor of MVC is Bob Wynne who is also the GCWP's Raja (administrator) of the Center of Vedic America and of New Zealand.
In November 2002, the city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
passed an ordinance
Local ordinance
A local ordinance is a law usually found in a municipal code.-United States:In the United States, these laws are enforced locally in addition to state law and federal law.-Japan:...
banning the sale of non-organic food within its borders.
In 2003, the city began offering tours to the public and has several thousand visitors per year. The city runs an organic farm that sells its produce to Whole Foods
Whole foods
Whole foods are foods that are unprocessed and unrefined, or processed and refined as little as possible, before being consumed. Whole foods typically do not contain added ingredients, such as salt, carbohydrates, or fat. Examples of whole foods include unpolished grains, beans, fruits, vegetables...
. Maharishi Vedic City receives federal grants from agencies including the Departments of Energy and Agriculture for developing renewable energy sources and recycling programs.
The city council voted to ban the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers within the city limits in April 2005, becoming the first all-organic city in the country.
The city's residents include about 1,000 pandits from India who live on the Pandit Campus on the edge of the city. The 2010 census counted 259 people, placing the Pandit Campus outside the city. However, city officials said the pandits were mistakenly counted as county residents rather than part of the city's population and asked for a correction from the U.S. Census Bureau. According to the New York Times, the count was then increased to 1,294 by the Census Bureau "to reflect misplaced housing".
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²) all land.
Features
Maharishi Vedic City is centered around a system of building called Maharishi Sthapatya VedaMaharishi Sthapatya Veda
Maharishi Sthapatya Veda is a set of architectural and planning principles assembled by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi based on "ancient Sanskrit texts" Maharishi Sthapatya Veda architecture is also called "Maharishi Vastu" architecture, "Fortune-Creating" buildings and homes, and "Maharishi Vedic...
design architecture. This ancient Indian system of architecture and city planning, part of Maharishi Vedic Science, is said to promote happiness, peace and prosperity for its occupants. In Maharishi Sthapatya Veda, all structures are built according to precise Vedic proportions with rooms placed according to the movement of the sun and entrances that face due east. In addition, each building includes an interior, silent core called a "brahmasthan", a perimeter boundary called a "vastu fence" and a gold-colored fixture on the roof, called a "kalash
Kalasha
Kalasha, also spelled as Kalash and kalasa , is a metal pot with a large base and small mouth, large enough to hold a coconut. Sometimes "Kalasha" also refers to such a pot filled with water and topped with a coronet of mango leaves and a coconut...
" (meaning vessel in Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
).
One of the unique features of the city is an outdoor Vedic Observatory. It consists of ten, six feet tall, white, concrete-and-marble astronomical instruments arranged in a circle. According to the Observatory developer, Tim Fitz-Randolph, each instrument is precisely aligned with the sun, moon and stars, and could be used to calculate their actual movements and has the potential to create inner happiness and balance in the physiology.
The city also owns and operates a 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) organic farm which includes a 1.2 acres (4,856.2 m²) greenhouse. A wind turbine operates the green houses and was paid for in part by a USDA renewable energy grant. The farm distributes its "50 varieties of fruits and vegetables" locally as well as to restaurants in Iowa City, Des Moines and Chicago. The city has plans to expand the greenhouses to 70 acres (283,280.2 m²). The city does not have any streetlights or utility poles and its master plan includes only electric cars within the city limits. The city council has voted to provide its residents with "off-grid power" from wind and solar generated power.
A Maharishi Ayur-Veda Spa Center and Hotel called "The Raj", is located in MVC on a 100 acre (0.404686 km²) estate with gardens, lakes and nature trails. It offers a variety of treatments in accordance with the Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health. The city also features the Rukmapura Park Hotel, a "25-room wood structure in the tradition of European country inns".
As part of the 2001 master plan, two golden domes are to be built in the center of the city to serve as a venue for Yogic Flying, similar to the facilities already in use at the nearby Maharishi University of Management
Maharishi University of Management
Maharishi University of Management , formerly known as Maharishi International University, is a non-profit, American university, located in Fairfield, Iowa. It was founded in 1973 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and features a "consciousness-based education" system that includes the practice of the...
. Residents subscribe to the theory and research that group practice of this technique "will create coherence for the whole country". A 2010 article reported that city officials were working with Tom Doak
Tom Doak
Tom Doak is a golf course architect. He currently has 4 courses ranked among the top 100 in the world according to Golf Magazines "Top 100 Courses in the World" list, including Pacific Dunes in Oregon, Ballyneal in Colorado , Barnbougle Dunes in Tasmania and Cape Kidnappers in New Zealand...
on the construction of a public golf course.
The Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
reported in 2006 that Maharishi Vedic City "displays all the architectural characteristics of a new exurban development: gaudy, oversize construction that has no stylistic relation to its environment but instead vaguely alludes to a theme-park version someplace sort of magical and far away."
Government
The city has a commitment to balance, natural law and the principals of the Veda (ancient texts in SanskritSanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
). Maharishi Vedic City is administered by a five-person city council. Sanskrit has been named the city's "ideal language", although English and other common languages are also used.