KULADRI DASA: (Arthur Villa) met devotees while attending the University of Pittsburgh. In 1970, he came to New Vrindaban and soon became community president. He was involved in almost every aspect of the work, from desgin to the final touches of gold leaf. He organized the entire community into working teams and coordinated the different departments."New Vrindaban has grown so much, and we've learned that the seemingly impossible is made possible by divine inspiration."

NITYODITA DASA: In 1973, Carlos Ordonez had a dream of "an ideal life in the country and doing good for people." Leaving his job at an Ann Arbor co-op, he came to New Vrindaban. Like most of the devotees, he learned his skills on the job, mixing and laying cement by hand. Later, he learned marble-cutting and polishing. His skill can be seen in the finely-cut inlaid marble work throughout the Palace. "I found the teamwork amazing, " he said. "We all had the feeling that we weren't building the Palace as much as the Palace was building us, making us into better devotees."

SUDHANU DASA: Sudhanu (George Weisner) has always had a practical bent. In 1975, he was sent to India to learn carving. Returning, he helped set up the casting shop. He would carve models, build models, and cast ornaments - like the 4,200 piece ornamentation inside the main Palace dome - that would take months to assemble.

ISANI DEVI DASI: The beautiful chandeliers seen throughout the Palace were designed and hand crafted by Isani Devi Dasi (Ellen Schramm). She also crafted the jewelry decorating the murti of Srila Prabhupada on the altar. Suprisingly, she had no formal training. "I had to learn by trial and error," she said. "If you want to make something beautiful, why not do it for the most beautiful person - GOD, or his representative." A Tiffany jewelry admitted that her work surpasses his own, and even displays photos of it in his showcases.

KASYAPA DASA: Arriving in 1973, Kasyapa (Jack Mowen) headed the massive land clearing job for the Palace. At first, he worked alone with a team of Belgian work horses, hauling logs and pulling tree stumps out of the ground. He then managed the blasting crews and other heavy equipment for over eighteen hours a day. "I could never think of a better way to offer something to Prabhupada."

MURALIDHARA DASA: Since 1969, Muralidhara Dasa (Mark Missman) has executed dozens of exquisite paintings of Krishna's pastimes. Many of these are found in Prabhupada's books and temples around the world. In 1978, he began contributing his art to the Palace. His works include the paintings on the vaulted ceiling of the temple room: Krishna and his expansions dancing with the gopis, and Lord Chaitanya dancing with his disciples. He also painted the large portrait of Srila Prabhupada on the temple wall.

BHAGAVATANANDA DASA: Bhagavatananda (Joseph Cappelletti) came to New Vrindaban in 1970 and helped construct the first houses in the fledgling community. Serving as a structural engineer and scupltor for the Palace, he supervised the construction of the massive 300-ton dome and scuplted the peacocks, elephants, oranments, and the walls and columns. "The Palace is a monument to the Lord's pure devotee," he said. "It is not a mere memorial to someone no longer present. It is a place of daily worship, and proof that that Prabhupada's mission is being fulfilled."

NARENDRA DASA: Narendra (Don McAdams) worked on the windows of the Palace. Assisted by apprentices, he served long hours engaged in cutting and fashioning the thousands of pieces of fine glass into intricately framed windows. "Stained glass used to play a very important role in the teachings of the Christian Church." he said. "The same can be done at the Palace and future temples here."