Caitanya Matha
Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Thakura established Sri Caitanya Matha in 1918. He called this place Vrindavana Pattan, which means the place where the forest of Vrindavana is manifest. By his spiritual potency, Shyama Kunda, Radha-kunda and Girigovardhana of Vrindavana are all manifesting here. Established by Sarasvati Thakura in 1918, this temple was the headquarters of his preaching throughout India. During its peak time, there were 800 devotees here to cope with the daily influx of visitors.
This is place where the house of Chandrasekhara Acharya was located. His wife, Malati, was the younger sister of Srimati Sachidevi. They had no children of their own. When Jagannath Mishra, the father of Lord Caitanya, left this world, Chandrasekhara Acharya acted as the Lord's father. He accepted Lord Caitanya as his son and took full responsibility for Sachi Mata.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would perform kirtana at this place. He also performed dramas with Advaita Prabhu, Srivasa, and other devotees in the house of Chandrasekhara Acharya. Nityananda played Paurnamasi, Srivasa Pandita played Narada Muni, Advaita Acharya acted as Sadashiva, Haridasa Thakura took the role of a guard from Vaikuntha, and Gadadhara Pandita played Laksmi Devi.
Practical guide to Caitanya Matha
Darshana Time:6.00-12.00 a.m. and 4.00-8.00 p.m.
Directions:Going down Bhaktisiddhanta Road, it is half a kilometer from Srivasa Angana, or two kilometers from ISKCON. The first gate you approach enters from the side of Bhaktisiddhanta SarasvatI Thakura's samadhi. The second gate, a little further down the road, is the entrance for the main temple. To see everything without having to retrace your steps, it is best to enter at the first gate and have your rickshaw pick you up at the second gate.
Presiding Deities:If you enter the main gate (the second gate when coming from the ISKCON temple) you will see the main temple dedicated to Sri Sri Gandharvika Giridhari approximately 25 meters (75 feet) ahead. On the altar to the right of Gandharvika Giridhari are two deities of Lord Caitanya with Their right arms raised. When you walk around the deity chamber you will see four altars, one for each of the Vaishnava Acharya: Sri Madhvacharya, Sri Vishnu Swami, Sri Nimbarkacharya and Sri Ramanujacharya.
There is a Govardhana Hill in the compound. Next to it is Radha kunda. This pond is non-different from Radha-kunda in Vrindavana.
Next to the Gandharvika Giridhari temple is Srila Goura Kishora Dasa Babaji's samadhi temple. He is the spiritual master of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and left this world on November 19, 1915 in Koladvipa. Previously his samadhi was on the western bank of the Ganga in Kuliyagrama at the place called Mutanchada in the present city of Navadvipa. In 1932, sixteen years after he attained samadhi, the Ganga rose to within a few feet of his samadhi. At this time Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura had his disciples move the samadhi by boat to this place.
Inside the campus of Sri Caitanya Matha is the residence of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, a two storey building where you can see different items used by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada.
If you enter Sri Caitanya Matha from the first gate coming from Yoga Pitha, you will see the samadhi of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. It stands on the right side of the path and is facing Shyama Kunda.
