The following is a description of Vaikunthapura from the Navadvipadhama- mahatmya, Parikrama-khanda. Nityananda Prabhu said, “This place, which is situated in one corner of Navadvipa-dhama in the shape of an eight-petalled lotus, is undoubtedly Vaikunthapuri. Lord Narayana resides in this Sri Vaikuntha, which is situated in the spiritual sky, paravyoma. Vaikuntha lies beyond the Viraja River. Maya or illusion has no influence upon this place. Here Lord Narayana is served by Sri-devi and Bhu-devi, and the brahmajyoti is the effulgence of this spiritual land. With their material vision, people cannot understand the transcendental nature of this place. In this Narayana-dhama Narada Muni once saw the Lord with his transcendental vision. Narada saw the Narayana form turn into the form of Gaurasundara. After seeing this, Narada Muni stayed here for some time.” This event has been described in the Bhakti-ratnakara more elaborately. Sri Isana Thakura along with Srinivasa and Narottama went to Vaikunthapura from Maugachi. He said, “This place is known as Vaikunthapura. Now I will tell you the glories of this place and why it is called Vaikunthapura. One day Narada Muni came from Vaikuntha to Kailasa Mountain to meet with Lord Siva. At that time Lord Siva was sitting on a skin asana, surrounded by his associates, and was describing the pastimes of Sri Krishna with his five mouths. As soon as Narada Muni saw Sri Mahesa from a distance, he fell on the ground to offer obeisances in great ecstasy. Lord Trilocana embraced Narada and asked, ‘Where have you come from?’ Narada replied with great happiness, ‘I have just taken darsana of Lord Narayana. Vaikuntha-natha was discussing Navadvipa with His associates. In Bharata-varsha there is a most beautiful place called Navadvipa and the Lord was very happy to go there along with His associates. After seeing this scene, I have come here. I do not know what blissful pastimes will take place in Nadia.’ After hearing the words of Narada Muni, Deva Mahesvara smiled and manifested the symptoms of love over his entire body. He was looking at Narada Muni and shaking his head. He was roaring while exhibiting various fantastic bodily postures. Sri Kailasa-girisvara, Lord Siva, was so overwhelmed that tears were flowing from his eyes and soaking all of his white-colored body. Narada Muni could understand from the actions of Lord Siva that the time had come for the manifestation of pastimes in Navadvipa. After witnessing this event Narada Muni left the Kailasa Mountain. Narada then traveled to this place and saw the beauty of Navadvipadhama and so thought to himself, ‘This Navadvipa-dhama is the source of all dhamas. All the Lords of all the dhamas are eternally engaged in their pastimes here in Navadvipa. I have just come here after seeing Sri Vaikuntha-natha Narayana. Will I see Sri Vaikuntha-natha here again?’ As soon as Narada Muni developed such a desire, he immediately saw Lord Narayana along with His associates in Vaikuntha manifest in front of him. Narada became overwhelmed with the ecstasy of love. He could not stop shedding tears and offered many prayers to Navadvipa-dhama. He then went to Dvaraka to take darsana of Lord Sri Krishna.” 

vaikuntha-pura-madhye tu
 drishtva nihsreyasam vanam
 brahmanim viraja-pare 
gatavan sri-mahatpuram

“The Lord took darsana of Nihsreyasavana in Vaikunthapura and Brahmaninagara on the bank of the Viraja and then went to Sri Mahatpura.” (Navadvipa-dhamamahatmya, Pramana-khanda 4. 47) 

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura writes in his Navadvipa-bhava-taranga: “From Modadrumadvipa I will slowly go to Sri Vaikunthapura where I will see the Nihsreyasa forest filled with abundant opulence. At that place, Lord Narayana, the Lord of paravyoma (Vaikuntha), who is worshiped by all the demigods, resides along with His three energies eternally. Even if my Lord Sri Krishna is endowed with the highest sweetness, as Isvara He is also the storehouse of all opulence. Vrajendranandana Sri Krishna is never bereft of opulence, but this opulence does not manifest to His pure devotees. Out of His supreme mercy, that Lord of all lords, hiding His opulence, manifested His Gauranga form to please the heart of Narada Muni. Upon seeing that form I will drown in the ocean of bliss and cry loudly.”

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura writes in his Navadvipa-bhava-taranga: “After crossing the Viraja River and leaving behind Brahmana- nagara I will climb upon Arka-tila. There I will worship Sri Gaurahari solitarily with great attention. Arkadeva (the sungod), being merciful upon me, will appear in front of me with his reddish complexion, wearing saffron-colored cloth, his whole body smeared with sandalwood and tears flowing from his eyes while he chants the holy name of Gaurahari. 

He will tell me, ‘My dear son! You are a devotee of Lord Gaurahari. Therefore I have appeared in front of you. We are servants of the lotus feet of Lord Gauranga. We love the servants of the servants of Lord Gaurahari. By my blessings you will develop devotion unto Sri Krishna. You will be empowered to reside in the dhama and chant the holy name of the Lord. Please always come to me chanting the nectarine holy name and thus give me pleasure.’ I will offer obeisance at the lotus feet of Suryadeva and proceed to Mahatpuradhama.” Navadvipa-mandala Development Trust has acquired the land at Arkatila. We hope that very soon this place will be developed and devotees will be able to live there and perform bhajana. 

A small Temple opened by the descendants of Sharanga Murari now is supported by Gaudiya Math Devotees. There are the Deities in the altar:

The biggest Deities are Radha Madana Gopal (who were worshiped by Vasudeva Datta Thakur). Smaller Ones are Radha Gopinath who were worshiped by Sharanga Murari. The smallest Ones are Sri Sri Radha Govinda. They were worshiped by Shivananda Sena. The Deities of Gaura Gadadhara were worshipped by Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati and his disciples. Present Pujari Jagadbandhu Prabhu worships here from his 10 years old.

Jananivas Prabhu speaks about the Deities. These installed three famous Deities stayed together in a small Temple. Once some strangers started to reside at the home of Vasudeva Datta and Mukunda Datta. After some time when the descendants left this world. Those strangers who were not Vaishnavas decided to usurp the property. During that time, this beautiful incident took place.Once upon a time H.H Sagar Maharaj – disciple of Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur was going to Kolkata. During this time,these Deities appeared in  his dream. Lord told: “They want to throw Me to the Ganges! Please come and help Me! I am from Mamgachi, My Name is Madana Gopal.”  Sagar Maharaj returned back and immediately came here  along with Devotees. They visited all the houses and asked about the Deity from all local residents, until they at least came to the very house.

“Yes, we wanted to throw Them,” said the owners. “It will be better if you give Them to us,” requested devotees.  The owners agreed. In this way the Deities were saved. The old pujari from Mamgachi told that Maharaja Sagara did not have any place to stay here initially . but after some time someone donated to him a piece of land…Since then along with the deities they all resided there together – Sagara Maharaja with Jagadbandhu. Jagadbandhu became a Devotee when he was only 10 years old. Once Devotees had disagreement with each other. That was so painful to the heart of Sagara Maharaja and he said: “I do not wish anymore to stay here.” And that evening, at the time of sandhya arati, sitting in front of Deities he left his body and went back to Godhead.