The foundation stone has been laid for a historic new temple in Birnagar, the birthplace of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur!
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, born Kedarnath Datta, was a revered saint, scholar, and pioneer of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. A distinguished High Court judge in Jagannath Puri, he was also a deep devotee whose life was dedicated to reviving and spreading the teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Among his many contributions, he was the first to present the profound philosophy of Gaudiya Vaishnavism to the English-speaking world, thus planting the seeds of Krishna consciousness far beyond the borders of India.
He was the father of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, who later became the founder of the Gaudiya Math and the spiritual master of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON.
Bhaktivinoda Thakur boldly envisioned a future where devotees from around the world—regardless of birth or background—would chant the holy names in unity. Srila Prabhupada took this vision to heart and fulfilled it by carrying the Sankirtan movement across continents, establishing Krishna consciousness in every major city of the world.
In deep connection to this legacy, Srila Prabhupada expressed a strong desire to see a beautiful temple rise at the very birthplace of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur. He once said:
"I wish that a nice temple be constructed there [in Birnagar] and a well-equipped library and Bhaktivinoda Memorial Hall be established."
— Srila Prabhupada, Letter to Bhavananda, 14 August 1976
This dream is now beginning to manifest.
From the 12th to the 13th of April, thousands of devotees joined in a grand procession to Birnagar. On the 13th, a sacred Bhumi Puja ceremony was held to invoke auspiciousness and seek blessings for the successful completion of this cherished project.
By Krishna’s mercy and the blessings of our acharyas, a new temple will now be built—one that will glorify the life and teachings of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur and fulfill the heartfelt desire of Srila Prabhupada.
Feeling inspired to support this project, please visit our general donation page! https://www.mayapur.com/donations/donationform/general kindly mention the purpose of your donation to enable us keep track of it!
Jaya Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur!
Jaya Srila Prabhupada!
On this most auspicious day of Sri Ram Navami, the appearance day of Lord Ramachandra, we send you our heartfelt blessings and warm greetings from Sri Mayapur Dham.
Here in Mayapur, the celebration began early with a blissful Darshan Arati of Lord Ramachandra, where devotees beheld His divine form, beautifully decorated and glowing with love. During Srimad Bhagavatam class, we heard about His glorious leelas, including the story of how He crossed the ocean to rescue Mother Sita – a perfect example of divine love, courage, and dharma.
After the bhoga offering, lovingly prepared by our Mayapur community devotees, we had flower puspanjali and kirtans that echoed the glories of Lord Rama. The temple filled with the sound of "Jaya Sita Rama!" as we offered our prayers and songs.
Later today, the celebration continues with a vibrant procession of Lord Ramachandra, accompanied by Harinama Sankirtan throughout the ISKCON campus, spreading divine joy and blessings to all.
Here is a small pastime from the Srimad-Bhagavatam, beautifully describing Lord Ramachandra's character:
“Although Lord Ramacandra knew that Ravana was the very form of lust, He still kept His promise and behaved just like an ordinary human being. He could have killed Ravana in an instant, but instead, He chose to follow the codes of chivalry and righteousness. Thus, He taught by His own example that one should uphold dharma even in the face of difficulty.”
(SB 9.10.20, Purport)
Read More from Srimad Bhagavatam
We wish you a blissful Ramanavami!
Vyasa Puja Update – HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj!
It’s truly from mercy to mercy here in Mayapur, as we now prepare for the grand celebration of the 76th Vyasa Puja of His Holiness Jayapataka Swami Maharaj – a living inspiration to thousands of devotees around the world.
The festivities will commence tomorrow with the Adhivas Ceremony being the 7th of April!
Maharaj has just returned from his annual South India Safari – a spiritual tour that takes place every year just after Gaura Purnima. This year, Maharaj and the devotees visited several districts across South India, igniting hearts with kirtan, teachings, and devotion. Now, he is back in Sri Dham Mayapur, ready to bless us all during this most cherished celebration.
Upcoming Festivals to Look Forward To
Mark your calendars for the coming celebrations this Spring Season:
April 12
Sri Balarama Rasayatra
Sri Krishna Vasanta Rasa
Appearance of Radha Kunda & Snana Dana
Sri Vamsivadana Thakura – Appearance
Sri Syamananda Prabhu – Appearance
April 14 - Sri Tulasi Jala Dan Begins
April 27 - Appearance Day of Sri Gadadhara Pandita
April 30 - Akshaya Tritiya and the beginning of Candan Yatra (21 days of fragrant service to the Lord!)
SAVE THE DATE: LORD NARASIMHA CATURDASHI
11th May 2025
Please join us for one of the most cherished festivals in the year – Lord Narasimhadeva’s Appearance Day. Known as the fierce protector of His devotees, Lord Narasimhadeva appeared to uphold truth and shield Prahlada Maharaj from danger. His love is bold, protective, and infinite.
Let’s come together to honor Him with devotional offerings, Abhishek, kirtans, and seva, right here in the holy land of Mayapur.
https://www.mayapur.com/festivals/Narasimha-Caturdasi
We are so grateful for your continued support and prayers. It is through your generosity and connection that these divine festivals can be celebrated with grandeur and love.
Wishing you a blessed Sri Rama Navami filled with the strength, compassion, and shelter of Lord Ramachandra. May His glories always reside in your heart.
Warm Reminder: If you haven’t already, please take a moment to complete our survey form so we can serve you better. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc798L9PyCh8BfaHgKBIy1hNeL8aS-wPXGFfrNGQ_B8myQ0Hg/viewform?usp=header
After a long time, we once again had the joy of celebrating the divine twins, HG Jahnanivas Prabhu and our beloved Sripad Pankajanghri Prabhu, just as we always have in the past. This year, on the 19th, the atmosphere was nothing short of blissful—filled with heartfelt offerings, cherished memories, and the ever-present mercy of Sri Sri Radha Madhava as we celebrated their 81st Vyasa Puja!
Seeing the radiant smile of HG Jahnanivas Prabhu was a sight that warmed every heart. It was as if the love and devotion of his dear twin, HG Pankajanghri Prabhu, were still shining through him, reminding us all that their service, their dedication, and their bond transcend time. Their presence—one seen and one unseen—was deeply felt, and their legacy of pure devotion continues to inspire us all.
Truly, these divine brothers are an embodiment of unalloyed bhakti!
The Sri Navadvipa-dhama Virtual Parikrama offers a spiritually enriching pilgrimage experience, inspired by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s vision. This initiative provides darshan of holy places, scriptural insights, enlightening videos, and Google-integrated navigation. QR codes at holy places grant instant access to Gaudiya Vaishnava teachings. With a mobile-friendly, multilingual platform, devotees worldwide can engage in parikrama virtually, fulfilling the desires of previous acharyas and spreading the glories of Sri Navadvipa-dhama
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura instructed Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, “Try to begin the parikramā of Śrīdhāma Navadvipa as soon as possible. Thereby everyone in the universe can receive Krsna-bhakti.” Inspired by this instruction, our goal is to serve all visitors, guests of Mahaprabhu, ensuring a meaningful and spiritually enriching pilgrimage experience while exploring the holy places in Sri Navadvipa-dhama.
Explore the Digital Gateway (Mobile-friendly)
Srila Prabhupada, “There is no one as merciful as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu within all three worlds. Simply by seeing Him from a distance, one is overwhelmed with love of Godhead.” (CC Madhya 16.121) Our mission is to inspire everyone on their spiritual journey, deepen their understanding of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s teachings, and spread the glories of Sri Navadvipa-dhama across the world.
In all nine of those islands of the Navadvīpa area there are different places for cultivating devotional service. It is stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (SB 7.5.23) that there are nava-vidha bhakti, nine different activities of devotional service:
śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam
arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ sakhyam ātma-nivedanam
There are different islands in the Navadvīpa area for cultivation of these nine varieties of devotional service. They are as follows: (1) Antardvīpa, (2) Sīmantadvīpa, (3) Godrumadvīpa, (4) Madhyadvīpa, (5) Koladvīpa, (6) Ṛtudvīpa, (7) Jahnudvīpa, (8) Modadruma-dvīpa and (9) Rudradvīpa. (CC Adi 13.30 purport)
Embark on a transformative pilgrimage like never before! To enhance accessibility and deepen the experience of devotees, QR codes are now being installed at various holy places across Sri Navadvipa-dhama.
By simply scanning a QR code, pilgrims can access the authentic teachings of Srila Prabhupada and the Gaudiya Vaishnava Acharyas, including scriptural wisdom, videos, Vaisnava bhajans, and links to other holy places in multiple languages (translated via Google). This initiative transforms the traditional pilgrimage into an immersive, interactive, and spiritually uplifting experience, bringing Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mercy to every visitor’s fingertips.
To help you plan your pilgrimage, we have also launched an eBook – Sri Navadvipa-dhama Parikrama – featuring the locations of various holy places in each island.
Download High-Resolution Image
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura writes in Sri Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya, “What one attains by traveling to all the holy places is attained just by remembering Navadvipa.” Whether you are seeking spiritual nourishment, exploring the rich spiritual and cultural heritage of the holy places, or simply longing to connect with the sacred pastime places of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, our project serves as an immersive experience for both physical and virtual pilgrimages, right at your fingertips.
For devotees who are unable to physically visit Sri Navadvipa-dhama or undertake long-distance parikrama, this virtual pilgrimage provides a meaningful alternative, allowing them to experience and perform parikrama at their own pace, throughout the year. Through a mobile-friendly, multilingual platform we aim to inspire everyone to explore, experience, and connect their heart to the unlimited mercy of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, fulfilling the desires of our previous Acharyas. We encourage devotees to utilize this spiritual resource to organize parikramas in their local communities!
Srila Prabhupada, “Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ‘s pastimes are all uncommon. Whoever listens to His activities becomes glorious, and his life becomes perfect.” (CC Madhya 16.201)
This project fosters a consistent routine of spiritual connection by providing easy access to resources that enable everyone to study and explore the pastime places of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. We would be grateful for your support in spreading the glories of Sri Navadvipa-dhama by sharing this project with your congregation, family, friends, visitors, and on social media platforms. Together, we can connect more devotees with the unlimited mercy of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu from anywhere in the world.
We warmly invite you to share your feedback and suggestions to further enhance this project by emailing us at ‘masterplan@mayapur.ngo’
Thank you very much for your kind support and participation in this initiative.
CONNECT with Sri Mayapur-dhama – Facebook / YouTube / WhatsApp group / Testimonials.
By Nandan Dasa, Mayapur Master Plan Office
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