Artisans of a Spiritual Order

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The Arts

“Here our ambition is not to become great artists but sincere devotees of God.”

by Yogesvara dasa

Immersed in working his loom, Bhakta Claude, a devotee artisan at the Krsna conscious farm in Valencay, France. prepares cloth from hand· spun wool.
Immersed in working his loom, Bhakta Claude, a devotee artisan at the Krsna conscious farm in Valencay, France, prepares cloth from hand-spun wool.

1980-09-03Real craftsmanship is, above all else, a spiritual exercise.” A mass of spinning clay turns between his fingers. The clay gradually grows into a slender urn that curves and tapers beneath his touch.

“Art is a way of glorifying God. He’s in the clay we dig out of the ground. He’s in the water that softens it. Our tools are given by Him. Isn’t it only right that our work be for His pleasure?”

1980-09-06While speaking, Sadasiva-priya dasa guides the hands of a young man working diligently to mold a vase. Slowly, as the boy repositions his fingers, the vase straightens its posture.

“My father used to teach me like this,” Sadasiva-priya says, “When I became a devotee, he gave me one of his potter’s wheels so I would continue my crafts.”

Claude shares his craft with a student from the farm 's primary school. Together they weave a simple sitting mat.
Claude shares his craft with a student from the farm ‘s primary school. Together they weave a simple sitting mat.

Sadasiva-priya shared an aspiration with other devotee artisans in France. They wanted to establish workshops where craftspeople could exercise their talents in service to Krsna, the Supreme Lord. In 1975 the Hare Krsna movement purchased a farm in the Tourraine region of central France, and the artisans took charge of several old buildings on the property. They cut wood to renovate floors and roofs and hauled stones from nearby quarries to repair broken walls. Within a year the first ateliers were finished, and the potters and weavers installed their equipment. Word of the artisans group spread, and soon other crafts-people came to the farm and started workshops for painting, design, horticulture, naturopathy, and a factory that produces incense and vegetable-based soap.

Having chosen a variety of dried herbs, Avyaya dasa  mixes remedies for common ailments. Medicinal plants grow wild on the New Mayapur farm.
Having chosen a variety of dried herbs, Avyaya dasa mixes remedies for common ailments. Medicinal plants grow wild on the New Mayapur farm.

“We have many friends who sympathize with our principle of dedicating artistic skills to God’s service,” says Bhuta-bhavana dasa, who directs the silk-screen and press operation at the farm. Before becoming a devotee he was a student at l’Ecole des Beaux Arts and previous to that a missionary student in Chile.

“I needed to express myself artistically,” he says, “but the same lack of substance I had known in the Church came back to haunt me in the theater. My friends and I had mastered many innovative dance forms and dramatic techniques, but we had nothing of value to say to people. The theater itself was void of real meaning.”

Bhuta-bhavana dasa offers Paris artist Ramon Dilley a Krsna conscious critique on a painting for public exhibition
Bhuta-bhavana dasa offers Paris artist Ramon Dilley a Krsna conscious critique on a painting for public exhibition

In 1972 he met devotees on the streets of Paris and soon after began chanting Hare Krsna as a daily meditation. Gradually he adopted the principles of devotional life. He never forgot that he had left the theater to become purified. He wanted his talents to have deeper meaning for people. Like most of the artisans at the New Mayapur farm, he says his artistic abilities have blossomed since he dedicated himself to Krsna conscious practices.

“For a devotee,” Bhuta-bhavana explains,” every act—whether it be weaving cloth or washing dishes—is meant to be an offering to God. If we concentrate on our tapestry or painting but neglect to keep Krsna’s temple clean, then we have missed the point of devotional service. Here our ambition is not to become great artists but sincere devotees of God.”

In the silk-screen workshop at New Mayapur, Bhuta-bhavana inspects a poster announcing an upcoming festival.
The workshop also produces two- and three-color calendars and lithographs of devotional subjects. Sadasiva-priya dasa decorates a vase before glazing it. Potters at the farm cut their own wood to fuel a kiln built with hand-made bricks.

The devotees welcome everyone who wants to take part in the crafts work, but only those who agree to follow the devotional principles—no meat-eating, intoxication, extramarital sex, or gambling—are allowed to live on the farm. Those who are still in the process of adopting these devotional standards are “friends of Krsna,” as the devotees call them. Some of Krsna’s friends rent homes nearby to make it easier to attend workshops and temple ceremonies. Others, like Ramon Dilley, an artist of some repute in France, have started building country studios on land adjoining the farm.

In the silk-screen workshop at New Mayapur, Bhuta-bhavana inspects a poster announcing an upcoming festival.
In the silk-screen workshop at New Mayapur, Bhuta-bhavana inspects a poster announcing an upcoming festival.

“We extend ourselves to visitors and friends,” Bhuta-bhavana says. “We don’t expect that everyone can adjust to a strict devotional life right away, so here is a chance for them to take to spiritual life without having to make a ‘leap of faith.’ By coming here to exercise their artistic skills, they associate with the devotees, and they learn what to expect if they want to advance further in Krsna consciousness.

Visiting the wood-and-brick homes on the farm property, one sees bedspreads and sitting mats from the weavers’ loft. Devotees serve guests their meals in clay bowls, cups, and plates made at the pottery barn. Bhuta-bhavana’s silkscreen posters illustrating verses from the Bhagavad-gita and other Vedic scriptures adorn walls and classrooms. Sticks of homemade incense burn long into the night.

“We would like people to recognize through our work that the true creator is God,” Bhuta-bhavana explains. “He is the ability in man, the source of all inspiration and intelligence. Our art is merely an imitation of His, a rearranging of elements He has created. If even one person becomes inspired to serve Krsna by seeing our work, we will consider our efforts successful.”

Devotional arts around the world. Devotees of Krsna collaborate on a sculpture of Garuda, the eagle carrier of Lord Visnu
Devotional arts around the world. Devotees of Krsna collaborate on a sculpture of Garuda, the eagle carrier of Lord Visnu
Their creations, in the ancient art form called putula, the crafting of earthen dolls, fill a Vedic museum at the Hare Krsna community in Los Angeles. Bhakti-siddhanta dasa adds highlights to a head for one of the museum's exhibits.
Their creations, in the ancient art form called putula, the crafting of earthen dolls, fill a Vedic museum at the Hare Krsna community in Los Angeles. Bhakti-siddhanta dasa adds highlights to a head for one of the museum’s exhibits.
an intricate jeweled pattern absorbs the attention of a pujari or attendant to the Deity of Lord Krsna.
an intricate jeweled pattern absorbs the
attention of a pujari or attendant to the Deity of Lord Krsna.
A painting of Lord Krsna's pastimes receives details on the ceiling of the Hare Krsna palace in West Virginia.
A painting of Lord Krsna’s pastimes receives details on the ceiling of the Hare Krsna palace in West Virginia. Devotee artists and artisans worked for six years to complete the palace.
Painters concentrate on canvases depicting events from the Vedic literature.
Painters concentrate on canvases depicting events from the Vedic literature.
Painters concentrate on canvases depicting events from the Vedic literature.
Painters concentrate on canvases depicting events from the Vedic literature.
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