Maharishi Vedic City, Iowa

Coordinates: 41°03′03″N 91°59′38″W / 41.050732°N 91.993976°W / 41.050732; -91.993976
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Typical houses in Maharishi Vedic City, showing the gold-colored "kalash" on the roof

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 "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 idea evolved into a working municipality centered on the principles and teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, including his views on architectural design. These views, part of Maharishi Vedic Science, are said by the Maharishi to promote happiness and energy, and include having a gold-colored kalash on the roof of each building, and having all structures face east.

Johnson, and a dozen other followers of the Maharishi, purchased 50 farms totaling 3,000 acres (12 km2), some 1,200 of which were designated for the town itself.[4] They laid out development in 10 circles ringing about one square mile, and paved roads, installed utilities from sewage to Internet, and constructed buildings including two hotels, houses, office buildings, and a Vedic observatory with ancient astronomical instruments to orient the town within the cosmos.[4] Eventually a double golden dome in the center of the layout will 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 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. As of 2003, the city began offering tours to the public.[5]

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.[6]

ZIP codes

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

  1. ^ "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)
  2. ^ http://www.maharishivediccity.com/
  3. ^ http://www.maharishivediccity.com/welcome.html
  4. ^ 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)
  5. ^ 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)
  6. ^ "Capital of the Global Country of World Peace Established Here at The Mansion"
  7. ^ "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

41°03′03″N 91°59′38″W / 41.050732°N 91.993976°W / 41.050732; -91.993976

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