After accepting sannyasa, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, overwhelmed with Krishna-prema, set out towards Vrindavan. However, by the arrangement of Nityananda Prabhu, He was instead guided to Shantipur, where He stayed at the home of Advaita Acharya.

News of His arrival spread quickly, and devotees from Navadvipa and surrounding areas rushed to see Him. Saci Mata, His beloved mother, also came. Seeing her son with a shaved head and the robes of a renunciant, she was heartbroken but knew that this was His divine calling. The meeting between mother and son was filled with deep emotion. Mahaprabhu offered His respects and assured her that though He had taken sannyasa, He was still her son.

At the request of Saci Mata, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu agreed to make Jagannath Puri His residence. She reasoned that Puri was close enough that she could receive news of Him through the traveling devotees. Out of love and devotion for His mother, He accepted her wish.

During His stay in Shantipur, Mahaprabhu revealed His divine form as Krishna to Advaita Acharya and the devotees. Overwhelmed with ecstasy, they bathed in the Ganges together, singing and dancing in kirtan. The entire village was immersed in the waves of devotion. Even those who had never chanted before were swept up in the divine energy of Mahaprabhu’s presence.

It is also in Shantipur that the disappearance day of Madhavendra Puri, the spiritual master of Advaita Acharya and Isvara Puri, is observed with great reverence. Mahaprabhu glorified Madhavendra Puri as the root of Krishna-prema in the Gaudiya Sampradaya. It is said that anyone who honors prasadam on this auspicious day receives the special mercy of Govinda and can attain pure love for Krishna.