Alfred and Sharmila Ford help build world's largest Vedic temple in Mayapur India

Sharmila Ford, right, claps her hands as her husband, Alfred Ford, left, presents a candle as an devotional offering to the deities in their home on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 in Gainesville, Florida. The deities are statues of the gods that they worship, which the couple tends to daily as part of their spiritual practice.

A framed photo of the meeting between Srila Prabhupada, founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, left, and Alfred Ford, right at back, during which Prabhupada outlined the idea of a massive Hare Krishna temple in Mayapur, India which he hoped Ford would help finance, is displayed inside the Fords' home on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 in Gainesville, Florida. Ford is following through on that vision, with construction currently underway.

This is an aerial view of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium in Mayapur, West Bengal, India on March 2, 2024.

Krishna devotees gather inside the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium during the opening of the east wing of the temple n Mayapur, West Bengal, India on March 1, 2024.

Alfred Ford addresses the gathering of Krishna devotees during the opening of the east wing of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium in Mayapur, West Bengal, India on March 1, 2024.

Krishna devotees gather inside the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium during the opening of the east wing of the temple n Mayapur, West Bengal, India on March 2, 2024.

Krishna devotees gather inside the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium during the opening of the east wing of the temple n Mayapur, West Bengal, India on March 1, 2024.

This is a view of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, while still under construction in Mayapur, West Bengal, India.

Sharmila Ford, right, claps her hands as her husband, Alfred Ford, left, presents a candle as an devotional offering to the deities in their home on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 in Gainesville, Florida. The deities are statues of the gods that they worship, which the couple tends to daily as part of their spiritual practice.

Alfred Ford, right, and his wife, Sharmila Ford, left, pose for a portrait inside their home on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 in Gainesville, Florida.

Sharmila Ford, left, prepares a candle for her husband, Alfred Ford, to present as an devotional offering to the deities in their home on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 in Gainesville, Florida. The deities are statues of the gods that they worship, which the couple tends to daily as part of their spiritual practice.

Sharmila Ford, left, prepares a candle for her husband, Alfred Ford, right, to present as an devotional offering to the deities in their home on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 in Gainesville, Florida. The deities are statues of the gods that they worship, which the couple tends to daily as part of their spiritual practice.

Sharmila Ford, right, stands by as Alfred Ford, left, presents a candle as an devotional offering to the deities in their home on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 in Gainesville, Florida. The deities are statues of the gods that they worship, which the couple tends to daily as part of their spiritual practice.

Alfred Ford, left, and his wife, Sharmila Ford, right, bless one another with a small candle in their home on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 in Gainesville, Florida.

Alfred Ford, right, and his wife, Sharmila Ford, left, pose for a portrait in the foyer of their home on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 in Gainesville, Florida.

Alfred Ford, right, and his wife, Sharmila Ford, left, sit down for a conversation with The Detroit News on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 inside their home in Gainesville, Florida.

Alfred Ford, right, and his wife, Sharmila Ford, left, pose for a portrait inside their home on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 in Gainesville, Florida.

Alfred Ford, right, and his wife, Sharmila Ford, left, pose for a portrait inside their home on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 in Gainesville, Florida.

Alfred Ford, right, and his wife, Sharmila Ford, left, sit down for a conversation with The Detroit News on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 inside their home in Gainesville, Florida.

Alfred Ford poses for a portrait in the foyer of his home on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 in Gainesville, Florida.

Alfred Ford, left, and his wife, Sharmila Ford, right, pose for a portrait in the foyer of their home on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 in Gainesville, Florida.

Alfred Ford speaks with The Detroit News on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 inside his home in Gainesville, Florida.

Alfred Ford speaks with The Detroit News on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 inside his home in Gainesville, Florida.

Sharmila Ford speaks with The Detroit News on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 inside her home in Gainesville, Florida.

Alfred Ford speaks with The Detroit News on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 inside his home in Gainesville, Florida.

A framed photo of Alfred Ford, left, and his wife, Sharmila Ford, right, is displayed inside their home on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 in Gainesville, Florida.

Sharmila Ford explains a piece of artwork depicting Krishna in five different forms inside a room in the Florida home she shares with her husband, Alfred Ford, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. The room is dedicated to several deities, statues of the gods they worship, where they tend to the items daily as part of their spiritual practice.

A framed photo of Alfred Ford, left, and his wife, Sharmila Ford, right, is displayed inside their home on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 in Gainesville, Florida.

A decorative box featuring the image of Henry Ford is displayed inside the Florida home of Alfred Ford, Henry's great-grandson, and his wife, Sharmila Ford, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 in Gainesville, Florida.

Photographs of their daughters and Srila Prabhupada, founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness and guru of Alfred Ford, as well as depictions of Krishna, are displayed inside the kitchen of the home of Alfred Ford and his wife, Sharmila Ford, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 in Gainesville, Florida.

A copy of the Bhagavad Gita, a Hindu scripture, is displayed inside the home of Alfred and Sharmila Ford on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 in Gainesville, Florida.

A room inside the Florida home of Alfred and Sharmila Ford is dedicated to several deities, statues of the gods they worship, where they tend to the items daily as part of their spiritual practice.

A rendering of the plans for a massive Hare Krishna temple in Myapur, India, which is currently under construction, is displayed in a room inside the Florida home of Alfred and Sharmila Ford on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. The room is dedicated to several deities, statues of the gods they worship, where they tend to the items daily as part of their spiritual practice.

A statue of Srila Prabhupada, founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness and guru of Alfred Ford, is displayed in a room inside the Florida home Alfred shares with his wife, Sharmila Ford. The room is dedicated to several deities, statues of the gods they worship, where they tend to the items daily as part of their spiritual practice.

Statues of Hindu gods Krishna and Radha are displayed in a room inside the Florida home of Alfred and Sharmila Ford. The room is dedicated to several deities, statues of the gods they worship, where they tend to the items daily as part of their spiritual practice.

The Hare Krishna mantra is displayed in a room inside the Florida home of Alfred and Sharmila Ford on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. The room is dedicated to several deities, statues of the gods they worship, where they tend to the items daily as part of their spiritual practice.

A stack of books, including one about Indian interior design, is displayed inside the home of Alfred and Sharmila Ford on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 in Gainesville, Florida. Sharmila has played a central role in the interior design of a massive Hare Krishna temple being built in India with major financial investment from her husband.

A wooden sculpture is displayed inside the home of Alfred and Sharmila Ford on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 in Gainesville, Florida.

Colorful decor and Indian art is displayed inside the home of Alfred and Sharmila Ford on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 in Gainesville, Florida.

This is a view of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, while still under construction in Mayapur, West Bengal, India.

This is a view of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, while still under construction in Mayapur, West Bengal, India.

This is a view of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, while still under construction in Mayapur, West Bengal, India.

This is a view of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, while still under construction in Mayapur, West Bengal, India.

The Fisher mansion in Detroit now serves as the Bhaktivedanta Cultural Center, a temple for practitioners of Hare Krishna. Alfred Ford helped to finance the conversion of the mansion into the temple, along with funding from Elisabeth Reuther.