Bells Ring in Commune
This article "Bells Ring in Commune," was published in Dayton Daily News, May 9, 1971, in Dayton, Ohio.
By DAN DAVIS
Daily News Staff Writer
'The whole world is going completely downhill ... people are serving their sense desires instead of God.'
COLUMBUS - It was feast day for the Hare Krishna commune in a battered brick house at Summit and 20th streets, near the Ohio State university campus. Sunday, in fact, is always feast day.
The chanting went on and on. The smell of incense and camphor overpowered the room. And finally the food was served.
One of the "main dishes" was a thick green mass. It was stewed spinach, egg plant and peas. Devotees to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness never eat any type of meat.
The ceremony preceding the feast requires about two hours. It includes a skit and a lesson, but is dominated by the chanting. The tempo is maintained with tamborines, drums, bells, shakers, flutes and hand-clapping.
Jananivas and nine others who live in the commune are joined by believers who are not necessarily devotees. To be a devotee is to preach as well as follow the faith, in this adaptation of Hinduism and yoga.
Devotees wear monk's robes and saris. The men shave their heads. Men and women both dab paint down their foreheads and across the bridges of their noses.
The Columbus commune is one of 52 Hare Krishna centers around the country, swift growth for a faith imported from India only five years ago.
Sunday is always special; the remaining six days of the week require a rigid schedule. The devotees rise at 3:30 a.m. The first hour of the day is for meditation.
Religious class follows from 4:30 to 8 a.m., after which a light breakfast is shared. The "work day" is from 8:30 a.m. to noon and includes housework and writings.
"The big meal of the day" is at noon, and from 1 to 6 p.m. the devotees go "into the world" - usually to downtown areas or college campuses - to preach their faith and seek converts.
At 6 p.m. they return to the commune, clean up, and hold class until 9:30 p.m. when rest is allowed until the following day at 3:30 a.m.
"The whole world is going completely downhill," said Jananivas. "That is why we must seek to spread Krishna consciousness. People are serving their sense desires instead of God. As many as possible must have the opportunity to attain pure God realization."
Life 'Not Always Perfect'
Taruni dasi, Yadunandan das' wife, readily admits communal life is not always perfect.
"There is good and bad," she reports. "The best is that with more devotees all living together it is easier to practice Krishna consciousness at all times, to exchange religious thoughts and chant together."
"But you have to be pretty open-minded about the other part," she continued. "Nobody minds doing their share, even the men take their turn cooking. But some people are more cleanly than others or have different habits and, if you don't try to be tolerant, it can be difficult."
Taruni and Yadunandan were married before they were converted to Hare Krishna, but they were married again in a Hare Krishna temple wedding. Members of the faith do not practice "free love" and wives are expected to remain faithful to their husbands, while single men are expected to practice celibacy.
Jananivas explained the faith encourages propagation and does not recognize over-population as a danger. He said four requirements dictate moral life of the commune - mercifulness, truthfulness, cleanliness and austerity.
'Things Must Go On'
"This is a fallen age marked by meat-eating, gambling, war and hypocrisy," Jananivas stated. "It is our job to save people. We have no quarrel with government or industry. Things must go on and people following the faith are expected to continue at whatever vocation they are suited for."
The commune in Columbus headed by Jananivas now includes six men, two women, an two young children. Conceivably, Jananivas believes, the faith could eventually attract all persons with the natural conclusion being "paradise for all society."
The only other Ohio commune is in Cleveland but Jananivas believes the next step, within two years, may be establishment of a center in Dayton.
"One of the best receptions we've ever had was at University of Dayton," he said of his clan's chanting excursions. The only source of income listed by the Hare Krishna devotees is the sale of incense on the street.
The incense is made by two plants operated by the faith. Also maintained is a publishing house in Boston for Krishna magazines and books, and a communal farm known as the New Vrndavaus near Moundsville, W. Va.
The faith claims to be "the essence of all religions" and devotees believe the beauty of Hare Krishna is that it is uncomplicated, requiring devotion to "the one God."
Photo 1: YADUNANDAN DAS BOWS BEFORE ALTAR OF COMMUNE IN COLUMBUS. Religious Class Begins at 4:30 a.m., Lasts for Four Hours.
Photo 2: ORGANIC FOODS PREPARED. Follower Shelly Berke.
Photo 3: FEMALE FAITHFUL CHANTS. Sound Goes On and On.
Photo 4: JANANIVAS DAS PLAYS DRUM, LEADS WORSHIPERS IN CHANT. Yadunandan das, His Wife Taruni dasi, Their Children.
Photo 5: YADUNANDAN DAS USES SPRING DAY TO EXPLAIN HARE KRISHNA TO DENISON STUDENT. Devotees Take Religious Names, Drop Old Ones, After Formal Initiation.
Wedding by Fire
"A Krishna Consciousness wedding is the most glorious, beautiful ceremony in the world," believes Taruni, who was re-wed in such a ceremony. The wedding includes a "fire sacrifice" and usually is held at night with a bed of sand as the focal point.
The priest initiates the fire with sticks of sandalwood and ladles of ghee. Spectators add to the fire by gradually emptying bowls of barley and sesame seeds into the flames as the priest chants secret rites.
The bride and groom, both covered with garlands of flowers, add the final touch to the fire by contributing unpeeled bananas to the flames.
The bride wears "a great deal of jewelry" and generally has dots painted around her eyes. At the conclusion of the rites the groom paints a red streak in his bride's hairline.
Photo: WORN FEET OF WORSHIPER. He Kneels in Prayer.