TOVP Daily Tour Day 49 – Afternoon Home Program and TOVP Presentation at ISKCON Silicon Valley (ISV)

On Wednesday, April 29th, on the auspicious day of Rohini ekadasi, a special home program was arranged by Giridhari das, a disciple of Radhanath Maharaja who lives in Singapore, for several wealthy Indian friends of his from Silicon Valley.

He flew all the way from Singapore for the occasion. After some initial informal talks and prasadam a full TOVP presentation was given by Ambarisa, Radha Jivana and Jananivas prabhus. The receptive group left with a high impression of the project.

In the evening we made our way to the temple of Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan and Lord Gauranga (ISV) for our TOVP presentation there to the local devotee community. 150+ devotees came to have darshan of the Padukas and Sitari and eagerly hear about the TOVP. Vaisesika prabhu introduced the TOVP Team, opening their hearts and paving the way for the presentation. Radha Jivana prabhu introduced Ambarisa and Jananivas prabhus who inspired the already ecstatic devotees further, and then concluded with a sincere entreaty to pledge wholeheartedly to the TOVP project. One after another, devotees pledged Silver Gratitude Coins ($11,000) and various Bricks for the altars, and then, to everyone’s surprise, 2 devotees came forward to each pledge a Platinum Gratitude Coin ($250,000). The first was Govinda Caran das and Rasika Siromani dasi, disciples of Indradyumna Maharaja, and the organizers of the Sadhu Sanga Retreat, America’s largest devotee gathering. The second was an anonymous young devotee girl just out of college and about to start employment. Without any current income source or other financial backing, and from a family of moderate means, she was willing to make a great sacrifice for the cause of the TOVP. The program concluded with pledges totaling $800,000. Prasadam was served to all the Vaishnavas.