Mayapur (Mayapur, West Bengal)

Mayapur (Mayāpura), previously known as Miyapur, is a neighbourhood of Bamanpukur, in the Nabadwip CD block in the Krishnanagar Sadar subdivision of the Nadia district in the state of West Bengal, India. It is situated adjacent to Nabadwip, at the confluence of two rivers, where the waters of the Jalangi River mix with Bhagirathi, a distributary of the Ganges. It is located about 130 km north of Kolkata. Along with Nabadwip, it is considered a spiritual place by the adherents of Gaudiya Vaishnavism.

 In the 20th century, the Gaudiya Vaishnava reformer Bhaktivinoda Thakur proclaimed this place as Mayapur.

It is said to be the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. It is said that Krishna appeared along with his brother Balarama, as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu. These two brothers appeared just for the fallen conditioned souls of this Kali Yuga to bestow on them the greatest blessings of Harinama Sankirtan based on the teachings of Bhagvad Gita and Shrimad Bhagavatam. Along with their associates, the Pancha Tattva, they distributed the divine Love of Godhead to anyone and everyone without seeing any qualifications or disqualifications.

It is said to be the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. It is said that Krishna appeared along with his brother Balarama, as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu. These two brothers appeared just for the fallen conditioned souls of this Kali Yuga to bestow on them the greatest blessings of Harinama Sankirtan based on the teachings of Bhagvad Gita and Shrimad Bhagavatam. Along with their associates, the Pancha Tattva, they distributed the divine Love of Godhead to anyone and everyone without seeing any qualifications or disqualifications.

There are a number of Gaudiya Vaishnava organizations in Mayapur. Thus, the headquarters of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is situated in Mayapur. The town is heavily centered on this particular Vaishnava religious tradition with temples devoted to Radha and Krishna or Gaura-Nitai throughout.

he main attraction in Mayapur is the Temple of Vedic Planetarium built by ISKCON which is the world’s largest temple. Also there is Srila Prabhupada’s Pushpa Samadhi Mandir, a memorial to ISKCON’s founder. The main shrine is surrounded by a museum depicting Srila Prabhupada’s life, using fiberglass exhibits. Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir or the main temple has 3 main altars, Sri Sri Radha Madhava, Panca-tattva and Lord Narasimha Deva. These Pancha Tattva deities are the largest deities of Pancha Tattva in the world. The Panca-tattva comprises Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu, Advaita Acharya, Gadadhara Pandit, and Srivas Thakur.

The term “Hare Krishna”, or The Hare Krishna Movement™ Organization, formally The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), is the orthodox core of Hinduism. It was registered in the West (in New York) in July 1966, but dates back over 5000 years. Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1532) popularized the movement all over India.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), also known as The Hare Krishna Movement™ Organization, was founded by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. ISKCON follows the teachings of the Vedas and the Vedic scriptures.

Mayapur is situated in an area somewhere in the middle of the rivers Hoogly and Jalangi and is one of the main of the nine islands of the Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s dham Nabadwip. It is located 130 km from kolkata and well connected by roads and rail networks from there.

Place to Visit in Mayapur

Srila Prahupada Pushpa Samadhi Mandir

Prahupada Museum

Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’ S Birthplace

Srivas Angan

Advaita Bhavan

Caitanya Math – Radha Kund, Shyama kund Darshan, Govardan, Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Samadi, Sri Sri Radha Gandarvika Giridhari darshan.

500 yr old deities of Jagannath, Baladev & Subadra.

How to Reach

By Train – From Howrah station, If you are catching a train at Howrah, a less-crowded train to catch is Intercity express, which leaves Howrah at about 3pm (the train does not operate on Sundays.) It reaches Nabadwip Dham by about 5:45pm.

Once you reach Nabadwip Dham station, you have to take a rikshaw to Mayapur Ghat and then get on a boat to cross over the Ganga to reach Hular Ghat at Mayapur. Take a rikshaw to come to ISKCON’s Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir.

By Bus –ISKCON Kolkata operates buses thrice a week, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The bus takes passengers from the Kolkata temple straight to Sri Mayapur.

By Air – Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport at Kolkata is the nearest airport to Mayapur