Mayapur

Mayapur (Bengali: মায়াপুর Māẏāpur) is a small town in the Nadia district of West Bengal and the headquarters of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), which is known informally around the world as the Hare Krishnas.

Understand


Mayapur (MAEH-ah-poor) is on the eastern bank of the Bhagirathi River. It's approximately north of Kolkata and across the Bhagirathi from the city of Nabadwip, the birthplace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. His followers believed he was an incarnation of Krishna, and he was the one who started the Hare Krishna movement; he was the first to teach widespread mass chanting and singing of the Hare Krishna mantra. Although the movement began in the 15th century, it was not until the 1960s and 70s when the movement spread worldwide under the leadership of Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON in Mayapur.

By plane
Mayapur is not served by any airport and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata is the nearest option. You have to take other modes of transport to get in Mayapur from Kolkata.

By train
Mayapur is not served by any railway station and the nearest options are Krishnanagar and Nabadwip.

From Krisnanagar, you can catch a rickshaw to go to the bus terminal and catch a bus to Mayapur. Or, you can get into a three-wheeler to go to Mayapur Ghat in Swarup Ganj (where Bhaktivinoda Thakura used to live), get on a boat to cross over the Jalangi river to reach Hular Ghat at Mayapur.

Nabadwip has two stations, Nabadwip Dham and Bishnupriya Halt, among which Nabadwip Dham is the busiest one. Once you reach Nabadwip Dham station, you have to take a rickshaw to Nabadwip Ferry Ghat and then get on a boat to cross over the Bhagirathi to reach Hular Ghat at Mayapur.

However, it is a better option to get down at Bishnupriya Halt railway station, which is nearer to Nabadwip Ferry Ghat.

By bus
ISKCON Kolkata operates AC and non-AC buses from Kolkata to Mayapur thrice a week, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Get around
Public transport is virtually nonexistent in Mayapur. However, rickshaws are generally an option and you might walk around the town if you can't find one.

Sri Maya Chandrodaya Mandir


It is the head temple of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. However, the temple is still under construction and when completed it will be the world's largest Hindu temple and one of the tallest temples.

On the left side of the main temple room is a statue of ISKCON’s Founder-Acharya, Srila Prabhupada in his Vyasasana. On the right side, on the main altar are the presiding deities: the beautiful larger than life size Sri Sri Radha Madhava, surrounded by Their Ashta-sakhis (eight principal gopi friends) — Sri Lalita, Sri Champakalata, Sri Chitra, Sri Tungavidya, Sri Vishaka, Sri Indulekha, Sri Rangadevi and Sri Sudevi, along with Gauranga Mahaprabhu and Giri-Govardhana. The small Radha Madhava Deities in the altar are carried in a procession during Ratha-yatra and other festivals like Jhulana-yatra (swing festival) or boat festival. These Deities are also taken out in a procession on a chariot every Saturday after Sandhya-arati during winter from the beginning of the Kartika (Damodara) month till Gaura-purnima.

In the centre of the temple is the God Nrisimhadeva, considered by his followers as merciful. This rare form of Nrisimhadeva is known as “Sthanu-Nrisimha” and this is the only place where this particular form of Nrisimhadeva is known to be worshipped. With bent knees and in great anger with reddish eyes, He is pictured as ready to spring out of the pillar to attack the demons and protect His devotees. The Deity was installed here in 1986 after the temple was attacked by dacoits. The third altar (past Lord Nrisimhadeva), adjacent to the main temple hall is the Sri Sri Pancha-tattva temple. The most attractive and magnificent larger-than-life deities of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu with His associates Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Advaita Acharya, Sri Gadhadhara Pandita and Sri Srivasa Thakura were installed in 2004, which was a remarkable event in the history of ISKCON. The small Pancha-tattva deities were installed earlier, in 1996.

When you walk in through the “main gate”, on the immediate left is the straw hut where Srila Prabhupada stayed from 1972 to 1976 while the first main building (the Lotus Building) was built. A 24 hour kirtana takes place here following Srila Prabhupada’s instruction that there be continuous chanting of the holy name in the dhama. On the left side are Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundara, large neem wood Deities who traveled throughout India on Pada-yatra. These Deities also come out in procession on a chariot every Saturday after Sandhya-arati during winter from the beginning of the Kartika (Damodara) month till Gaura-purnima.

On the second floor of the Lotus building are two rooms (Room 18) that were used by Srila Prabhupada as his personal quarters in 1976-77. These rooms have been maintained as when Prabhupada was present. The first room was Srila Prabhupada’s darsana room and in the next room, Srila Prabhupada’s personal Deity of Sri Mayapur-chandra and the imprint of Srila Prabhupada’s lotus feet are there. In the darsana room, a larger than life size murti of Srila Prabhupada is present and behind this murti is a display of his personal belongings and books. On his right is a display of his books that have been translated into many languages.

Do

 * Chaitanya Lila exhibition: This is in the main temple. It is open from 10AM to 1PM and 4PM to 6PM
 * Chant. Chanting is traditional in this centre for Krishna Consciousness.

Sleep
Chaitanya Bhaban, Gada Bhaban, Gouranga Kutri are the economic accommodation options.



Go next

 * Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary — maintained by West Bengal Forest Department, one will find lots of deer in this 5 km² forest.
 * Krishnanagar — an old city with historical importance. One can see a beautiful Cathedral charch, an old palace of Maharaja Krishnachadra and the house of famous Gopal Bhar. One must visit the Ghurni Putulpatti which is an arcade for selling clay sculpture. and this place is known for making one of the best clay models in the country.
 * Nabadwip — an old city, lies on the western side of the river Bhagirathi. It is the birthplace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the advent of Vaishnavism in Bengal. Many scholars, Sadhakas and Tantrics were born here. Nabadwip was referred to as the "Oxford of Bengal".
 * Palashi — famous for historical Battle of Plassey between Nawab Siraj-ud Daula and British East India Company.