tato gatva bharadvaja- sthanamsankirtayan harim
tato mayapuravasam pravivesa svayam harih

“Lord Gaurahari then went to Bharadvaja-sthana and performed hari sankirtana.Then He personally entered the abode of Mayapur.”

(Navadvipa dhama-mahatmya, Pramana-khanda4.56) This place is located at the end of the village called Bharui-danga. Amonument has been constructed there by the Bhaktivedanta Swami Charity Trust (BVSCT). Bharadvaja Muni was sitting on a raised tila (hillock) performing his gaura-bhajana, therefore this place is called Bharadvaja-tila. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura wrote in his Navadvipa-bhava-taranga: “There(in Ganganagara), one can see the lovely hill known as Bharadvaja-tila, where the great sage Bharadvaja worshiped Lord Gaura. The sage ultimately attained ecstatic love for Lord Caitanya and then wrote scriptural verses that bestowed the gift of devotional service unto many materialistic people.”

Isana Thakura explained to Sri Srinivasa that this village is known as Bharui-danga. Previously Bharadvaja tila was situated here. After travelling to many tirthas including the samudra(the great ocean), Bharadvaja Muni came to a place called Cakra-daha. It isnow known as Chak daha and is situated on the bank of the Ganga. From there he visited Navadvipa-dhama. Upon seeing the beauty of Navadvipa the muni became very ecstatic. He settled here on top of this tila (hillock) in a very simple and humble manner,  worshiping Lord Gauranga. Being pleased by the pure love of Bharadvaja Muni, Lord Gaurahari revealed to him His most wonderful form. The sage offered his prostrated obeisance as well as many prayers and the Lord told him to ask for any boon he desired. The muni replied, “O my Lord! My only prayer is that You please bless me so that I will see Your manifested pastimes here in Navadvipa-dhama.”The Lord said, “Let it be so. Your desire will be fulfilled. You will have My darsana during My manifested pastimes.” Saying this, the Lord disappeared from the vision of the sage, who fell to the ground offering his humble prostration to Navadvipa dhama before continuing his pilgrimage. Bharadvaja Muni was sitting on araised tila (hillock) while engaged in his gaura-bhajana, therefore this placeis called Bharadvaja-tila.(Bhakti – ratnakara)

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura describes this town in his Navadvipa-bhavataranga: “To the west of here (Mayapur), on the bank of the River Ganga, stands the town celebrated by the name of Ganganagara. There is the house of Gangadasa, where my Lord Gauranga took His young brahmana friends and they carried out their studies.”

Ganganagara is located to the west of Prithu-kunda which is now known as Ballal-dighi. This kunda or pond is no longer visible since it has been used as agricultural land. It is located between Sri Caitanya Matha, Srila Bhaktisidhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada’s samadhi and Murari Gupta’s house. 

Ganganagara is the place where King Bhagiratha worshiped Ganga-devi and where he remained until Phalguna-purnima to celebrate the appearance day of Lord Gauranga.Ganganagara was subsequently washed away by the Ganga, which has sincere treated to reveal a big tract of land, largely uninhabited. Recently though, some people have started building houses there and we hope that very soon Ganganagara will manifest again. The city of Ganganagara was established by King Bhagiratha of the Raghu dynasty. Many years ago Maharaja Bhagiratha pleased Gangadevi by his austerities and she agreed to descend to earth and deliver his ancestors who were burnt to ashes by the wrath of Kapila Muni. Bhagiratha was leading the way from the Himalayas down to the ocean by blowing his conchshell and Ganga followed him,making her course towards the ocean. At one point King Bhagiratha turned back and saw that Ganga was no longer following him. The king searched for her and saw that she had stopped at Navadvipa-dhama. King Bhagiratha became very worried because his ancestors’ ashes were still more thana hundred kilometers away. If Ganga refused to flow any further then how would his ancestors be delivered? King Bhagiratha therefore started to perform tapasya to please Ganga-devi. Seeing his severe austerity Ganga-devi was pleased and appeared in front of the king. Bhagiratha was very happy to see mother Ganga personally and said to her,“My dear mother! You have stopped here! The ashes of my departed ancestors are lying more than a hundred kilometers ahead. If you stop now, how will my forefathers be delivered?” Mother Ganga replied, “My dearson! You should wait here without anxiety for some days. I have come to Navadvipa-dhama during the month of Magha (January-February) and I will stay here until the end of the Phalguna month (February-March). At that time I will proceed and deliver your forefathers. Bhagiratha! I am coming from the lotus feet of the Lord. This Navadvipa-dhama is the abode of my Lord and I feel much satisfaction here. The appearance of my Lord is on Phalguna-purnima day. On that day I will follow a vrata here, then only will I follow you. Do not fear.” Bhagiratha, the best of the Raghu dynasty, stayed in Ganganagara until Phalguna-purnima. Anyone who observes a vrata (spiritual vow)on Phalguna-purnima and stays in Ganganagara to take bath in the Ganga and worship Gauranga Mahaprabhu will be delivered along with hisfore fathers. This place is very glorious because Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu has danced here many times. One who fasts, takes bath in the Ganga here and worships Gauranga will cross over the ocean of material existence along with one thousand of his ancestors and attain Goloka Vrindavana after death, no matter where he dies. The houses of Gangadasa and Sanjaya, two associates of Mahaprabhu, were situated in Ganganagara. Near Bharadvaja-tila there is a primary school beside which is a dirt road that goes to the field. Devotees go on panca-krosa-parikrama on this road. If you proceed about two hundred meters, you will see a raised piece of land on your left which is now used forgrowing rice. This land is believed to be the residence of Gangadasa Pandita who had a school at which Sriman Mahaprabhu studied during His childhood from the age of eight to ten. Next to Gangadasa Pandita’s house was the house of Mukunda Sanjaya and his brother. Sriman Mahaprabhu opened His school in this house.

Directions: It is said this place is located in the open field next to the Sridhama Mayapur Post Office which is on the corner just past Yoga-pitha. While this is the location accepted as being the place, it is also said that this ghata is presently covered by the Ganga. In the map dated 1500, it is shown as the last ghata and marks the border of Antardvipa with Mayapur.

Lord Caitanya came here with His huge sankirtana party on His way to defeat Chand Kazi. He would also bathe here on His way home from the school of Gangadasa Pandita, under whom He studied for two years. Sometimes the Lord would perform water sports with His schoolfriends at this place. Mother Saci-devi first saw Lakshmipriya at this ghata and mentally selected her to be the wife of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu. Here Nimai would sometimes splash water on the brahmanas while they were chanting their mantras. The brahmanas would complain to Jagannatha Misra. Jagannatha Misra would then come to the ghata with a stick in his hand to chastise Nimai, who would rush home by another route and smear dust and drops of ink on His body. His hair would be dried by the hot sun on the way home, making it appear that He had not been at the ghata and that He had, in fact, been studying. Jagannatha Misra, on his return, would see no visible proof of his son’s naughtiness and would not chastise Him.

Direction: Ten meters (thirty feet) north of Barakona-ghata.

At this place Mahaprabhu studied and discussed scriptures. He also taught His students Sanskrit grammar here. During the time of Lord Caitanya, Navadvipa was India’s eastern center for Sanskrit and Vedic studies. This ghata is said to have been originally constructed by Visvakarma, the architect of the demigods. It was a most beautiful ghata with many gardens, flowering creepers and chirping birds, creating a peaceful and transcendental atmosphere. There were five temples and five Siva-lingas here during Lord Caitanya’s time. At this place Lord Caitanya defeated Kesava Kasmiri.

Direction: Ten meters north of Jagaiand Madhai-ghata.