23/10/2021
Mayapur (Mayāpura), previously known as Miyapur, is a neighbourhood of Bamanpukur, District- Nadia, State- West Bengal, India, situated adjacent to Nabadwip, at the confluence of two rivers, where the waters of the Jalangi River mix with Bhagirathi, a distributary of the Ganges. It is located about 130 km north of Kolkata. Along with Nabadwip, it is considered a spiritual place by the adherents of Gaudiya Vaishnavism.
The word Mayapur derives from Miyapur, previously believed as Muslim inhabited village, specially for the settlement of Muslim fishermen. The name Miyapur was mentioned in various government documents, including maps and surveys. In the 20th century, the Gaudiya Vaishnava reformer Bhaktivinoda Thakur proclaimed this place as Mayapur.
It is said to be the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The headquarters of ISKCON is situated in Mayapur. It is said that the Supreme personality of godhead Krishna appeared along with his brother Balarama, as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda 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.
Some photos and illustrations of this holy place are available.
PC: Shweta Saha