Maharishi Vedic City, Iowa: Difference between revisions
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A double golden dome is planned for the center of the city to serve as a venue for [[yogic flying]], similar to a facility already in use at the nearby university, Maharishi University of Management. Residents subscribe to the theory and research that group practice of this technique "will create coherence for the whole country".<ref name="NYT"/> 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]],<ref name="NYT"/> it was incorporated as Iowa's newest city on July 21, 2001—the first in Iowa since 1982. The city is expected to have a population of over 1,000 by 2010, chiefly made up of meditators already living in Fairfield.<ref name="NYT"/> |
A double golden dome is planned for the center of the city to serve as a venue for [[yogic flying]], similar to a facility already in use at the nearby university, Maharishi University of Management. Residents subscribe to the theory and research that group practice of this technique "will create coherence for the whole country".<ref name="NYT"/> 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]],<ref name="NYT"/> it was incorporated as Iowa's newest city on July 21, 2001—the first in Iowa since 1982. The city is expected to have a population of over 1,000 by 2010, chiefly made up of meditators already living in Fairfield.<ref name="NYT"/> |
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[[Sanskrit]] has been named the city's "ideal language", although other languages are used. In November [[2001]], the city's name was expanded to Maharishi Vedic City. In November [[2002]], the [[city council]] passed an [[local ordinance|ordinance]] banning the sale of non-[[organic production|organic]] food. 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. |
[[Sanskrit]] has been named the city's "ideal language", although other languages are used. In November [[2001]], the city's name was expanded to Maharishi Vedic City. In November [[2002]], the [[city council]] passed an [[local ordinance|ordinance]] banning the sale of non-[[organic production|organic]] food. 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. In 2003, the city began offering tours to the public.<ref name="DMR">{{cite news |
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| url = http://desmoinesregister.com/life/stories/c2224444/21999670.html |
| url = http://desmoinesregister.com/life/stories/c2224444/21999670.html |
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| title = Vedic City opens its doors for tours |
| title = Vedic City opens its doors for tours |
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Revision as of 04:12, 13 September 2009
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 the name to "Maharishi Vedic City" five months later. The Census Bureau's 2006 estimates listed the city's population as 222 people.[1] Maharishi Vedic City is Iowa's newest city. The architectural design of the buildings in the city is based on the Maharishi Sthapatya Veda of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who developed the Transcendental Meditation program.[2] The city's governing principles are drawn from the Maharishi's philosophy of universal natural law.[3]
History
The concept of a "Vedic City" was conceived by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi the founder of the Transcendental Meditation program. [citation needed] Chris Johnson, a real estate developer from San Francisco, along with Bob Wynne and several others, began to actualize their joint vision in 1991.[4] This concept evolved into a working municipality centered on the principles and teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, including his system of building design called Maharishi Sthapatya Veda architecture. This ancient Indian system, part of Maharishi Vedic Science, is said to promote happiness and energy. Each building includes a gold-colored fixture on the roof, called a "kalash". In addition, all structures face due east.
Johnson, and a dozen other developers purchased 50 farms totaling 3,000 acres (12 km2), some 1,200 of which were designated for the town itself.[4] Together they they planned a development in an arrangement of 10 circles totalling about one square mile, along with paved roads, utilities, sewage and Internet. They then the first phase of construction including two hotels, various houses, office buildings.
One of the unique features of the city is an outdoor Vedic Observatory. This consists of a group of 10 white concrete-and-marble astronomical instruments, each 6 feet tall. While they are precisely aligned with the sun, stars and moon, and could be used to calculate their movements, they also have the potential to enliven inner happiness and balance a person's physiology, according to Tim Fitz-Randolph, the developer who oversaw their design and construction.[4] [5]
A double golden dome is planned for the center of the city to serve as a venue for yogic flying, similar to a facility already in use at the nearby university, Maharishi University of Management. Residents subscribe to the theory and research that group practice of this technique "will create coherence for the whole country".[4] 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,[4] it was incorporated as Iowa's newest city on July 21, 2001—the first in Iowa since 1982. The city is expected to have a population of over 1,000 by 2010, chiefly made up of meditators already living in Fairfield.[4]
Sanskrit has been named the city's "ideal language", although other languages are used. In November 2001, the city's name was expanded to Maharishi Vedic City. In November 2002, the city council passed an ordinance banning the sale of non-organic food. 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. In 2003, the city began offering tours to the public.[6]
Geography
Maharishi Vedic City is located approximately two miles north of Fairfield, the home of Maharishi University of Management. The capital of the Global Country of World Peace is housed in a building known as "The Mansion" located in the heart of the city. [citation needed]All addresses in Maharishi Vedic City fall under the 52556 ZIP code.
Government
Maharishi Vedic City is administered by a five-person city council and a mayor. Few laws or ordinances exist, citing natural law as the governing principle of the city. The city council's first resolution announced that the constitution of the city is "the Constitution of the Universe—Total Natural Law—RK Veda".[7] The current mayor is Bob Wynne.
References
- ^ "Subcounty population estimates: Iowa 2000-2006" (CSV). United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 2007-06-28. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ http://www.maharishivediccity.com/
- ^ http://www.maharishivediccity.com/welcome.html
- ^ a b c d e f Jennifer 8 Lee (April 17, 2001). "In Many Ways, a New Iowa Town Looks to East". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ AAA Magazine, Iowa Shangri La, Linda Egenes [1]
- ^ Ellen Heath (August 17 2003). "Vedic City opens its doors for tours". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2007-03-05.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Resolution No. 1: To Adopt the Constitution of the Universe—Total Natural Law—as the Constitution of the City and Sanskrit as its Ideal Language" November 13, 2001
External links
- City website
- Seattle Times, "Southeast Iowa becomes a Mecca for meditation"
- In*Tandem Magazine, "Vedic City, USA"
41°03′03″N 91°59′38″W / 41.050732°N 91.993976°W
Municipalities and communities of Jefferson County, Iowa, United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Townships | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |