Mount Soma

Mount Soma
Mount Soma
Mount Soma

Location in the United States

Coordinates: 35°39′25.8″N 82°51′56.0″W / 35.657167°N 82.865556°W / 35.657167; -82.865556Coordinates: 35°39′25.8″N 82°51′56.0″W / 35.657167°N 82.865556°W / 35.657167; -82.865556
Country United States
Founded by Michael Mamas
Language
 • Official English

Mount Soma is a 435-acre Vedic Vastu community in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, near Asheville. The location is best known as a non-denominational retreat and spiritual destination center. Mount Soma also has a community of residents at its site.

Mount Soma was first established in 2002 by Michael Mamas when he organized founders to purchase the land. In 2008, the first retreat and class was held at the Visitor Center, and Sri Somesvara Temple was completed in 2011. Since then the location has prospered to become a Vedic Vastu community, which is known throughout the United States to host meditation retreats and spiritual development activities on the site.

Architecture

Vedic Vastu architecture, which is the time-honored architectural science from the Himalayas and the predecessor of the popular Chinese Feng Shui architecture, has been incorporated into each aspect of Mount Soma's development.[1][2] This includes the layout of the land, public buildings, private residences, and landscaping.

According to Dr. Ganapati Sthapati, the master sculptor and building designer who revitalized the ancient art of Vedic Vastu architecture, Vastu design allows "harmonic resonance" with the fundamental energy structure underlying everything in the universe. Each building then becomes a "coherence generator," aligning the inhabitants with the laws of nature, thereby increasing health, prosperity, and spiritual progress.[3][4] Vedic Vastu principles can be applied not only to buildings, but also to the design of communities, towns, and cities.[5] These Vedic Vastu concepts are the premise upon which Mount Soma is being built.

Significance and temple construction

Sri Somesvara Temple is a Vedic Shiva temple, which was consecrated over a five-day period from May 11–16, 2011.[6] It was built according to Vedic Vastu guidelines and is an authentic Vedic temple with 46 tons of hand-carved granite from India.[7][8]

Sthapati S. Santhanakrishnan of K&SK architects, a student of Dr. V. Ganapati Sthapati, was the architect from India. Russ Woods of Woods Architecture, Inc. was the American architect with Andy Bailey doing the interior design of the domed ceiling. Marcia Bowes coordinated design perspectives and requirements between the Indian architect/work force (using strict Vastu guidelines down to 1/16 of an inch so that the building would properly vibrate, much like a musical instrument)[9] and American architects and builder (who ensured the temple matched building codes and regulations). This required merging the U.S. customary measuring system with the metric system used in India.

The Vastu for the temple is based on an 8x8 grid, known as Manduka Vastu Purusha Mandala.[10] The walls are 15-7/16 inches thick: 8 inches of solid concrete and 7-7/16 inches of framing. Sri Somesvara Temple is 1200 square feet. The interior ceiling above the inner sanctum is a tiered dome ceiling that goes up ten feet, and another step of one foot.

Much engineering went into the foundational structure for the tremendous weight of the solid concrete and granite. The foundation is elaborate and looks like a maze.[11] The building was a completed skeleton structure built according to U.S. codes, before the ornamentation, granite shrines, sanctums, and deities were then installed by the artisans from India. Embellishments made by hand on site are seen throughout the building.

The granite for the temple was specially selected for the quality of its resonance according to its use. The inner sanctum and all subsidiary shrines and pedestals are hand-chiseled granite. Everything was hand-carved in India and shipped to Mount Soma.

Vastu technicians assembled everything by hand. They are carriers of a lineage and storehouse of an ancient technology that allowed people to build large stone civilizations without equipment (for instance, the Mayans).[12][13] This has been a technology almost lost for millennia, but was revitalized by Dr. Ganapati Sthapati during the current century.[14]

The plan is for Sri Somesvara Temple to be the first of several Vedic temples. This would be in accordance with the Vaastu Shastra guidelines for building an enlightened city.[15][16]

Buildings and amenities

The Visitor Center was the first public building to be completed at Mount Soma. The Vastu design was executed by Michael Mamas and the Vastu consultant was Michael Borden of VastuVed International Inc. It is a U-shaped building (one of the Vastu building shapes) with the opening to the east (considered most favorable in Vastu). The Brahmasthan is outdoors within the U. The roof line view from the east creates the mountains of the Mount Soma logo. The Visitor Center functions as a welcome center for the temple, and accommodates meditation twice daily, meditation retreats, classes, lectures, and cultural celebrations.

The Vastu design for the Student Union was executed by Michael Mamas with Andy Bailey as the draftsman and Michael Borden of VastuVed International Inc, as the Vastu consultant. The Student Union building has a main floor with dining room, kitchen, lounge area and a basement where most accommodations are located. The Student Union provides ashram-style accommodations and meals for retreat and class participants, temple visitors, and long-term work-study participants.

Mount Soma has four small parks: Sri Somesvara Temple Park, Mahanandi Park, Sri Hanuman Park, and Ganga Park. Sri Somesvara Temple Park is located to the southeast of the temple with benches, shade trees, and a path towards the Visitor Center. Mahanandi Park holds a sculpture of Mahanandi, Shiva's vehicle, sculpted from brick and cement by artisans from India.[17] Sri Hanuman Park holds a 15-foot solid black hand-carved granite statue of Sri Hanuman from India that was installed with five days of Vedic ceremonies.[18][19] Ganga Park has two Shiva Lingas installed under the two waterfalls of Ganga (Maynor) Creek.[20]

References

  1. ↑ Mercay, Jessie J. ND, PhD, PhD, mst (March 2008). "Fabric of The Universe: The Origins, Implications, and Applications of Vastu Science." Dakshinaa Publishing House.
  2. ↑ Mercay, Jessie Ph.D., Ph.D. mst. "Vaastu Shastra: Ancient Science for Modern Times." SERI-Worldwide July 2013.
  3. ↑ Borden, Michael (September 2011). Vastu Architecture: Design Theory & Application for Everyday Life. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 9781456491789.
  4. ↑ Dr. V. Ganapati Sthapati, The Building Architecture of Sthapatya Veda. Chennai: Dakshinaa Pub. House. 2004. ASIN: B0006E8WGY.
  5. ↑ GD Vasudev (2001), Vastu, Motilal Banarsidas, ISBN 81-208-1605-6.
  6. ↑ "Forum on Religion – Consecration of Srī Somesvara Temple". Yale University.
  7. ↑ "Sri Somesvara Temple, Mount Soma, North Carolina". K&SK Architects.
  8. ↑ "Broadcast about Sri Somesvara, Mount Soma & Michael Mamas". TV Asia. January 24, 2016.
  9. ↑ Mercay, Jessie J. ND, PhD, PhD, mst (March 2008). "Fabric of The Universe: The Origins, Implications, and Applications of Vastu Science." Dakshinaa Publishing House.
  10. ↑ "Gallery of Temple Progression". Sri Somesvara Temple.
  11. ↑ Dr. V. Ganapati Sthapati, Significance of Vimanam & Gopuram. Chennai: Dakshinaa Pub. House. 2002.
  12. ↑ O’Kon, James (April 2012). The Lost Secrets of Maya Technology. Wayne, NJ: New Page Books. ISBN 978-1601632074.
  13. ↑ Craft. "Bringing Stone to Life." Hinduism Today May/June 2000.
  14. ↑ Bruno Dagens, Mayamata: an Indian treatise on housing, architecture, and iconography, chapters 9–10, Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Scientific Research (1985), OCLC: 15054108; Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts and Motilal Banarsidass (1994), OCLC: 60146035.
  15. ↑ Manasara on Architecture and Sculpture, Manasara Series 1–4, chapters 9–10, Oxford University Press – A version was reprinted in 1995 as ISBN 978-8186142721.
  16. ↑ Danielou, Alain (1991). The Myths and Gods of India. Rochester, VT: Inner Traditions International. ISBN 0-89281-354-7
  17. ↑ Danielou, Alain (1991). The Myths and Gods of India.
  18. ↑ Harrell, Shelby (June 5, 2014). "Hanuman Has Arrived". The Mountaineer.
  19. ↑ Danielou, Alain (1991). The Myths and Gods of India.
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