Mayapur

Mayapur, previously known as Miyapur (Bengali: মিঞাপু র) is a place situated adjacent

to Nabadwip, at the confluence of two rivers, where the waters of the river Jalangi mix with
the Ganga. It is located about 130 km north of Kolkata within Nadia district, West Bengal, India.
Along with Nabadwip, it is considered a spiritual place by the adherents of Sanatana Dharma,
also known as Hinduism.

Etymology
The word Mayapur derives from Minyapur (Bengali: মিঞাপু র) [Miñāpura], the Bengali name of a
villages, Known as Muslim inhabited village, specially for the settlement of Muslim fishermen.[1][2]

About
See also: Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Bhaktivinoda Thakur

Yogapith temple at Mayapur established by Bhaktivinoda Thakur in 1880s

It is said to be the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.[by whom?] The headquarters of ISKCON is

situated in Mayapur. It is said that God Krishna appeared along with his brother Balarama, as
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityanand 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. Mayapur is where the Material
and Spiritual Worlds meet. Just as there is no difference between Lord Chaitanya and Lord
Krishna, similarly there is no difference between Shridham Mayapur and Vrindavan.[citation needed]

Memorials[edit]
Samadhi Mandir of Srila Prabhupada

The main attraction in Mayapur 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,[3] using fiberglass exhibits. In 2002, the International Society of Krishna Consciousness was
planning to construct a garden in memory of George Harrison.[4] Another must-visit is the
Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir. This 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.

Gaudiya Vaishnava temples

Main gate of ISKCON Mayapur

There are a number of Gaudiya Vaishnava organizations in Mayapur, such as the Gaudiya Math.

The town is heavily centered on this particular Vaishnava religious tradition, officially known as
the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya, with temples devoted
to Radha and Krishna or Gaura-Nitai throughout.[citation needed]
The Gaudiya-Vaishnava devotees every year circumambulate the various places of Lord
Chaitanya's pastimes in the group of nine islands known as Navdvip. This Parikrama takes about
7 days. This event takes place around the Gaur Purnima Festival (Appearance Day of Lord
Chaitanya). Devotees from all over the world come to Mayapur for this auspicious Parikrama to
celebrate the Lord's Divine Appearance Day.