PLEDGE PAYMENTS

Select Your Residency

INDIA

For all Indian residents/citizens - please donate via this page

INTERNATIONAL - ALL OTHERS

For everyone else please use this page

GIFT STORE · BOOK MARKETPLACE DONATE CRYPTO DONATE FROM RUSSIA

Temple of the Vedic Planetarium

  • HOME
  • NEWS
    • Archives
    • Architecture Dept. Reports
    • PMC Reports
    • TOVP in the Press
  • THE VISION
    • Founder’s Vision
    • Jananivasa Prabhu Speaks About the TOVP
    • A Landmark Spiritual Project of Universal Significance
    • Revealing The Heart of ISKCON
    • Prabhupada TOVP and Mayapur Quotes
  • VEDIC SCIENCE
    • Vedic Science
      • Vedic Cosmology
      • Vedic Cosmology Videos
      • Vedic Wisdom Videos
      • Intelligent Design Videos
      • Vedic Science Essays
      • Vedic Science Channel
      • Shabda Media
    • TOVP Highlights
      • Cosmic Chandelier
      • Vedic Science Center
      • Planetarium Wing
      • Exhibits
    • Learning Centers
      • The Bhaktivedanta Institute
      • Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies
      • Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha Research Center
      • Institute for Science and Spirituality
    • Book Marketplace
  • MEDIA GALLERY
    • Photos
      • TOVP Photos
      • TOVP Artwork Collection
      • Visions of the TOVP
      • Archival Photos
    • Videos
      • TOVP Videos
      • Vedic Science Channel Videos
      • Vedic Cosmology Videos
      • TOVP Talks – Vision of the Parampara
      • Archival Videos
    • Flipbooks
      • Flipbook Collection
  • ABOUT US
    • General Info
      • Chairman’s Message
      • Mayapur Vedic City
      • TOVP Foundation
      • A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Legacy MuseumNew
      • Contact Us
    • Useful Info
      • FAQ
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms and Conditions
    • Meet the Team
      • Construction Department
      • Fundraising Department
      • Planetarium Department
      • Our Worldwide Team
    • ISKCON Mayapur
      • Mayapur TV
  • DONATE NOW
    • Fundraising Director’s Message
    • DONATE NOW
    • Donation Details / Pledge Payments / Contacts
    • Russian Donations Details
    • Bank Transfer Details
    • Donate in Crypto Currency
    • Planned Giving (U.S. only)New
    • Donor Account Dashboard
    • Donation Hotlines
    • Save Dharma Campaign
    • Donor Lists
      • Our Trustees
      • 31 Dresses Campaign Donors
      • Diamonds of the Dome Donors
      • Doors of The Dhama Donors
      • Rooms of Worship Donors
      • Steps of Surrender Donors
        • Radha Madhava Steps Donors
        • Pancatattva Steps Donors
        • Guru Parampara Steps Donors
      • Pillars of Devotion Donors
        • Atma-nivedanam Pillar Donors
        • Smaranam Pillar Donors
        • Kirtanam Pillar Donors
        • Sravanam Pillar Donors
      • Nrsimha Sponsorships Donors
        • Maha Nrsimha Yajna Yajamans Donors
      • Prabhupada Murti Awards Donors
        • Sadhu Sanga Seva Award – Gold Donors
        • Prabhupada Seva Award (Bronze) Donors
      • Medallion Seva Donors
        • Harinam Medallion Donors
        • Bhagavatam Medallion Donors
        • Archa Vigraha Medallion Donors
      • Gratitude Coin Donors
        • Radharani Coin Donors
        • Caitanya Coin Donors
        • Nityananda Coin Donors
        • Advaita Coin Donors
        • Gadadhar Coin Donors
        • Srivas Coin Donors
      • Brick Donors
        • Radha Madhava Brick Donors
        • Mahaprabhu Brick Donors
        • Guruparampara Brick Donors
        • Nrisimha Brick Donors
      • Sq. Ft. Donors
      • General Donors
    • Financial Reports
      • 2013
      • 2014
      • 2015
      • 2016
      • 2017
      • 2018
      • 2019
      • 2020
      • 2021
      • 2022
      • 2023
    • FCRA Reports
      • Quarterly Report Apr – Jun 2021
      • Quarterly Report Jul – Sept 2021
PLEDGEPAYMENT
  • Home
  • NEWS
  • Inspiration
  • Ambarisa Prabhu on the Cover of the Times of India
Sunanda Das
Mon, March 04, 2019 / Published in Inspiration, TOVP in the Press

Ambarisa Prabhu on the Cover of the Times of India

This article appeared in the Kolkata edition of the Times of India, Times Nation, on February 27th, 2019. For the full article go to: https://goo.gl/qFnvJN

Why are the Jindals of JSW group of companies, the Goenkas of Welspun group and Goels of Essel group making a beeline to the world headquarters of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) at Mayapur in West Bengal, the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu? It is raining US dollars here from all over the globe — with USD 30 million from Alfred Ford, the great grandson of Henry Ford, another USD 30 million from international volunteers and more expected in the days and months to come. All this, towards setting up the Sri Chaitanya Cultural World Heritage Centre (SCCWHC).

The 700-acre ISKCON temple complex will house a Rs 3,000 crore World Heritage Centre, a new grand temple, the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP) and educational institutions that will impart not just science and humanities but spiritual knowledge and values, ethics and morals, too. The grand project is expected to be readied by the year 2022. The 68-year-old Alfred Ford (aka Ambarish Das), disciple of ISKCON Founder-Acarya AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada since 1975, is currently in India, using his good offices to inspire volunteers to give what they can for the Mayapur Project.

Speaking to The Times of India, Ford said, “In this day and age, people need inspiration from spiritually advanced people; they cannot become advanced spirituality, on their own. I try to serve my spiritual master; don’t we do that in the corporate world as well, serving our bosses?” Ford recalls being asked why he was willing to spend millions on a Temple, why couldn’t he build hospitals instead? His response was, “The best thing you can give someone is spiritual knowledge. Hospitals and food are temporary. But spiritual knowledge transforms your life — then maybe you will have less need for hospitals! Your life changes for the better. That is what the temple is all about. You will discard all your unhealthy habits and with a positive lifestyle, there is healing of mind, body and soul. There will be peace and harmony. Less greed and more selfless service.”

Ford says Mamata Banerjee was the first CM of West Bengal to visit Mayapur and she has promised all help in the making of the Centre. Says Ford, “The earlier regimes didn’t want to have anything to do with the Temple. Mamata Banerjee was very open-minded; she even made dinner offering to the deities. We were facing land issues and she has been helpful there and also in terms of putting in place infrastructure. She says she wants to make Mayapur a leading tourism/pilgrimage destination in the world.”

On February 26, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the world’s largest Gita weighing some 800 kg, at the ISKCON temple situated in East of Kailash, New Delhi. Alfred Ford and other prominent industrialists and devotees participated in the festive occasion.

The times of India – Kolkata edition

 

TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH

Visit us at: www.tovp.org
Follow us at: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
Watch us at: www.youtube.com/user/tovpinfo
Phone App at: http://tovp.org/news/announcements/new-tovp-phone-app-goes-live/
Mailing List at: https://goo.gl/forms/ojJ2WcUUuqWh8bXt1
Support us at: www.tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities

Tagged under: Alfred Ford, Ambarisha, Mamata Banerjee, Sri Chaitanya Cultural World Heritage Centre (SCCWHC), Times of India

Recent Posts

  • TOVP Gopal Krishna Goswami 13 Day Matching Fundraiser Final Day - Nrsimha CaturdasiTOVP Gopal Krishna Goswami 13 Day Matching Fundraiser Final Day &…
    The final day of the Gopal Krishna Goswami 13 Day Matching fundraiser is Nrsimha Caturdasi …
  • TOVP Fundraising Campaigns-at-a-Glance BrochureTOVP Fundraising Campaigns-at-a-Glance Brochure
    Haven’t given anything yet to help complete Srila Prabhupada’s most important …
  • Ambarisa Announces the TOVP Gopal Krishna Goswami 13 Day Matching FundraiserAmbarisa Announces the TOVP Gopal Krishna Goswami 13 Day Matching…
    Dear Devotees and Disciples of His Holiness Gopal Krishna Goswami, Please accept my …
  • Svaha Dasi Delivers Speech at 1st Annual Indian Community Association Forum, Atlanta, Georgia – March 8, 2025Svaha Dasi Delivers Speech at 1st Annual Indian Community Associa…
    India In USA (Consulate General of India, Atlanta) Dr. Sharmila Ford (Svaha Dasi), recipient …
  • TOVP Announces the 2025 Europe TourTOVP Announces the 2025 Europe Tour
    One Goal | One Seva | One Mission The TOVP Fundraising Team is pleased to announce the …

Categories

TOVP Mission 26 Marathon logo

JOIN THE TOVP MISSION 26 MARATHON

Help open the TOVP by 2026 and make Srila Prabhupada's dream a reality.

DONATE TODAY

GET IN TOUCH

Ph: +91 908-343-3981
Email: info@tovp.org

ISKCON Mayapur
TOVP Seva Office Sri Dham Mayapur, District Nadia West Bengal India 741313

NEWSLETTER & TEXT SIGNUP

Please sign-up to get periodic updates on news, products, programs, resources, and events related to Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

DOWNLOAD TOVP PHONE APP

Get it on Google Play

Download on the app store
  • GET SOCIAL
Temple of the Vedic Planetarium

A project of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
Founder-Acarya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

The ISKCON Mayapur City and Temple of the Vedic Planetarium welcome visitors of all nationalities, ethnicities, races, creeds, genders and religions.
© 2009 - 2025 Temple of the Vedic Planetarium. All rights reserved.

TOP
en_USEnglish
arالعربية bn_BDবাংলা zh_CN简体中文 hi_INहिन्दी pt_BRPortuguês do Brasil ru_RUРусский es_ESEspañol en_USEnglish
en_US English
en_US English
ar العربية
bn_BD বাংলা
zh_CN 简体中文
hi_IN हिन्दी
pt_BR Português do Brasil
ru_RU Русский
es_ES Español

Notifications