One of Ultimate fields of Krishna Sadhna
ISKON Temple of Mayapur is one Ultimate fields of Krishna Sadhna also it is the largest Hindu Radha Krishna temple in India. It is located in the Nadia district of the Indian state of West Bengal in the name of Naba Dwip and Mayapur Dham. Here is the confluence of river Jalangi and river Bhagirathi, a branch of river Ganges. Nabadwip is on the east bank of the Jalangi river and Mayapur is on the west side.
Brief History About the Temple
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabha, a Vaishnava monk, religious guru, scholar, religious reformer, preacher, has a great role behind Naba Dwip Sanskrit practice and Vidyapeeth becoming a religious field. He was born in Naba Dwip in 1486 AD in a Brahmin family. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabha’s father name is Pandit Sri Jagannath Misra and mother Srimati Sachi Devi. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabha was known by various names such as Sri Viswam bhara Misra Gauranga or Gaura Chandra Nimai etc. The full name of ISKCON is International Society for Krishna Conscience. The main Hindu temple and tourist center of Naba Dwip Mayapur is Chandra Doy Mandir or Radha Madhav Mandir or Pancha Tattva Mandir. It is located in Mayapur. After Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabha, the name that takes a big role is the leader of the Vaishnava community, the Dharma Guru, the preacher Shila Prabhupada Abhay Charan De. He was born in Calcutta on September 1, 1896 in a Hindu family. Shila Prabhupada’s father’s name is Gaud Mohan Dey, and mother’s name is Rajni Dey. Shila prabhupada Abhay Charan dey popularized the Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Hare Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare song among all Hindus even in British-ruled India. His preaching was not limited to India alone, he traveled to America, Europe and other countries as a preacher of Vaishnava Dharma Krishna and established many ISKCON temples abroad. In 1965 CE, Sil Prabhupada established the Chandra doy Temple of Abhay charans.
About The Place Where the Temple Is Situated?
Since the time of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabha, Nava Dwip was called the Oxford of Bengal for the field of learning and religion. Naba Dwip was the capital of Bengal from 1159 to 1206 AD during the Sena kings of Bengal. Naba Dwip Mayapur is famous to tourists for red curd and handloom sarees. West Bengal Heritage Commission and in 2019 named Naba Dwip as the Heritage City of West Bengal. The main tourist and religious temples of Mayapur are the Radha Madhav Temple and the Chandra doya Temple which houses the idols of Radha Krishna surrounded by the idols of Lord Krishna and his Ashta sokhi and the idols of Gaur Nitai. The names of these Ashta Sochi are Sri Champak Lata, Sri Chitra, Sri Tunga Vidya, Sri Visakha, Sri Indulekha, Sri Ranga devi, Sri Sudevi, Sri Lalita. Devotees travel here from all over the world.
Devotees from All Over the World Come Here
Many Devotees from Europe and America are living here. Naba Dwip Mayapur is called the second Vrindavan. This temple is one of the largest temple alleys of ISKCON temples in Asia. There is an idol of Narsingh Dev. It is said that this temple was attacked by robbers in 1986 AD since then Narsingha Dev is enshrined here by devotees. Mayapur Chandra daya Temple consists of 400land. Chandra Tai Temple has an idol of Shila Prabhupada Abhay charan in its premises which is worshiped regularly. Also here is the bhajan of Sil Prabhupada where he lived. And here is the Planetarium Museum with a variety of stalls. There are many buildings for the distribution of prasad and accommodation for devotees. Certain secret cuts are enjoyed here. The names of the buildings here are Gada Bhavan, Artha Bhavan, Chaitanya Bhavan, Banshi Bhavan, Gita Bhavan, Yashoda Bhavan. Chandra daya Mandir is an ISKCON temple built with three domes.
Puja Performing Timings
Devotees perform Hare Krishna Bhajan in this temple every day at noon and in the afternoon and evening. Mangala Aarti time here is from 4:30 AM to 5:00 AM. Darshan Aarti time is 7:00 am, evening Aarti time is 6:30. The temple is open all day for devotees only the temple premises are closed from 1 pm to 4 pm. The delivery time here is from 12 noon. There is also Shilpa Prabhupada Samadhi Mandir.
Future Plan of Temple Regarding Expansion of Temple
A temple is still under construction next to the temple premises. The construction which started in 2004 is likely to be completed by 2026 which is called Taramandal Mandir or Temple of Electric Planetarium. When this temple is completed, all the deities including Radha Madhav idol in Chandra daya Mandir will be brought here. The walls for the temple will be painted with 3D pens depicting Ramayana, Mahabharata Radha Krishna Nila, the childhood life of Lord Chaitanya and the ascetic life of Sri Prabhupada Abhay charan. And the road from the temple premises to the river ghat will be made into a garden where the Bhagavad Gita will be preached. At present there are many Vaishnava religious people living in front of the temple who preach Vaishnava Dharma and Bhagavad Gita to devotees 24 hours a day.
Sight Seeing’s of Mayapur Nearby ISKON Temple
There are many ISKCON temples and tourist places in Naba Dwip and Mayapur, some tourist places are Sri Chaitanya Mission’s Radharani Mandir Sri Sri Baladev Jio Mandir, Nimai’s birthplace, Srivas Angan, Chaitanya Gauri Mutt, Cave Temple Assembly, Jagannath Temple, Shiva Temple, Tulsi Tala, Bhakta Chand Kader Samadhi, Sri Chaitanya Neela Exhibition, Gupta Vrindavan Temple.
How To Reach
There is relatively more crowd here during certain festivals like Dol Utsav Jhulan Yatra Sanna Yatra Rath Janmashtami etc. The distance from Calcutta to Mayapur in Naba Dwip is about 130 km. Railway Station Naba Dwip Dham is near Nadi Ghat, Sarup ganj Ferry Ghat or Hu lor Ghat. There are many express from Kolkata Sealdah Station, and there are good bus services from Kolkata.
