samudra-sena-rajye tu
ganga-sagara-sangame
kirtayitva harim devi
campa-hattam jagama ha

“O Devi! The Lord performed harikirtana in the kingdom of Samudra Sena at the confluence of the Ganga and the ocean before proceeding to Campahatta.” (Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya, Pramana-khanda 4.43) 

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura describes in Navadvipa-bhava-taranga: “After traveling some distance from there (the house of Vidya Vacaspati), I see Samudragarh which purifies whole world. Previously, at this place, during the battle of Bhimasena and Samudra Sena, Dinabandhu (the friend of the poor, Lord Sri Krishna) gave His darsana to His devotee Sri Samudra Sena. Here the ocean takes shelter of the River Ganga in order to witness the Navadvipa pastimes of Lord Gauranga in great joy and ecstasy. All the demigods and demons see Sri Gangasagara- tirtha eternally manifest in Navadvipa-dhama.”

Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, the crest-jewel of avadhutas and paramahamsas, performed bhajana from time to time here. He would also perform his bhajana at Krishna’s various pastime-places in Vraja, such as Vrindavana, Govardhana, Radha-kunda, Surya-kunda, Nandagrama and Varsana. His bhajana was characterised by severe renunciation, so extreme, in fact, that when he felt hungry he sometimes ate the mud from Radha-kunda or the Yamuna. In a mood of separation from the Divine Couple, he would cry out, “O Radha! O Krishna!” and wander from forest to forest loudly singing songs  such as “kothaya go premamayi radhe radhe, kothaya go vraja-vilasini radhe radhe.” In his later life he came to Sri Navadvipa to get the mercy of this dhama. Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja had taken a vow not to accept any disciples, but Sri Vimala Prasada Sarasvati vowed to fast until he received initiation from him. This, combined with the request of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, resulted in Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja giving initiation into Vaishnavism to the boy Sarasvati, who became famous in the Vaishnava world as om vishnupada Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada. Babaji Maharaja regarded honour and prestige harmful to bhajana. He therefore carefully avoided it, considering it to be like the stool of a pig. People would disturb him to receive blessings for their material desires, such as wealth, followers, sons and family. Once, to avoid such materialistic people, Babaji Maharaja went to live in the abandoned latrine in a government dharmasala in Kuliya. When the District Magistrate came to know of this he went to meet him with the Police Superintendent. Babaji had locked the latrine door from inside, and even though they waited for a long time, repeatedly requesting him to open the door, he would not come out to meet with them. They offered to construct a hut for him in a good location, but Babaji Maharaja did not consent to the idea. According to Babaji Maharaja, the association of materialistic people is more disgusting than the stench of excrement, and is an obstacle for bhakti. He later entered his unmanifest pastimes in this same dharmasala. 

Once a man approached Srila Babaji Maharaja and repeatedly requested him to bestow his mercy upon him. Babaji Maharaja immediately took off his dora and kaupina [the undergarments of a renunciant], and told him, “Here, take my mercy.” Fearing that he would have to give up material life the man quickly fled.

Another incident involved a young man who referred to himself as Babaji’s disciple and who lived near his asrama. After some days he returned to his home, married and came back to Babaji Maharaja with his wife. He offered obeisances to Babaji and begged for his auspicious blessings, saying, “Babaji Maharaja, I have collected a maidservant (krishna-dasi ) for Sri Krishna’s service. Please give us your blessings.” Babaji gravely said, “It is a matter of great pleasure that you have established a new house for Krishna and collected a krishnadasi. But, be cautious! Never entertain the thought of personally enjoying her. Never accept any service from her, always think of her as worshipful and always serve her. A krishna-dasi is most respectable and worshipful for the entire universe.” When that young man heard this, he quickly left with his wife.    

Once, with great happiness, a so-called babaji gave the following auspicious news to Babaji Maharaja: “I purchased a beautiful place in Sri Navadvipa-dhama. I will build a hut there and perform bhajana.” Hearing this Babaji Maharaja answered, “It is very amazing that you have purchased land in Navadvipa-dhama where every particle of dust is transcendental and millions of times more valuable than a cintamani, a  wish fulfilling gem. The entire wealth of the universe cannot compare with the value of just one dust particle of this abode, and you have bought a piece of this land? This is beyond my comprehension.” Ashamed, the man fell at Babaji’s feet. 

Previously the samadhi of this great personality was situated in Kuliya-grama (Navadvipa Town) on the Ganga’s western bank, but when the river flooded, Srila Sarasvati Thakura reestablished it next to Radha-kunda close to Sri Candrasekharabhavana. Although, from a worldly point of view, Babaji Maharaja was blind and uneducated, prominent speakers of the Bhagavatam who were his contemporaries would come to hear his confidential and ambrosial explanations of verses from Srimad- Bhagavatam.

Before coming to Navadvipa, Jagannatha dasa Babaji performed his bhajana at Surya-kunda in Vraja. In the latter part of his life he came to Navadvipa-dhama. At this time he was considered by the Vaishnavas, including Bhaktivinoda Thakura, to be the most advanced rasika Vaishnava in Vraja-mandala, Gaura-mandala and Jagannatha Puri. He was therefore known as Vaishnava- sarvabhauma, or the chief of the Vaishnavas. At the request of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, in 1893, he confirmed the discovery of the birthplace of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at Yoga-pitha in Sridhama Mayapur.

Some Stories from his life :

In his old age, Babaji Maharaja was nearly blind. Many people would come to see him and to offer him donations for the service of Sri Krsna. Bihari dasa would keep all these donations in a bag.  One day, Babaji Maharaja said, “Bihari! How many rupees have I got?”  Bihari dasa had put some rupees aside for some service he had planned to render Babaji Maharaja. When asked by Bihari placed some rupees in his hand and kept twelve Rupees aside. Despite his eyesight failing, Babaji Maharaja detected the discrepancy.  “Bihari!” he said, “Why have you kept twelve Rupees aside? Give me all the rupees!”  Smiling, Bihari surrendered the remaining coins to his guru. The total came to two hundred rupees. Babaji Maharaja ordered Birari dasa to take the money at once and buy rasagolas, to feed all the cows in Nabadwipa dhama.

Once Babaji Maharaja was on the banks of the Ganges, living under a make shift canvas tent. Nearby that place there lived a dog with five puppies. Whenever Babaji Maharaja would take prasada, the dogs would come around and lick the food from his plate. When Bihari dasa caught hold of one of the dogs to drive it off, Babaji Maharaja told him: 'Bihari! If you wish to drive these dogs off, you may take my plate away as well. I shall not eat today.' When Bihari complained, 'But guru maharaja – these dogs are unclean!' Babaji Maharaja remarked, 'No. These dogs are residents of the holy dhama. You may not abuse them.'

One day, Sri Babaji Maharaja remarked about the professional readers of Srimad-Bhagavatam, 'This kind of professional Bhagavata kirtana is simply prostitution. Those who make their living by reading Srimad-Bhagavatam are offenders to the holy name of Krsna. No one should listen to the kirtana and Bhagavatam readings that they produce. And one who listens to such offensive readings and thus commits offenses against the holy name of Krsna certainly go to hell. Those who are involved in this professional reading should immediately give it up. Such a person should worship the residents of Vrndavan with great care and attention, considering himself most fallen, and thus pray for forgiveness.'

When Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur was looking for the actual place where Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's birthplace was, he asked Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja to go with him. During the many changes in the course of flow of the mighty Ganges River, some parts of the sacred 'dhama' of Navadwipa (nine islands) had changed. The Ganges had revealed old and lost places and reclaimed new ones. To his surprise Bhaktivinoda Thakur discovered that the modern day city called Navadwipa was not more than 100 years old and therefore wasn't the Navadwipa of Sri Caitanya. Some said the birth site was on a place now in the Ganges, while some said it was in the city of Navadwipa.

Dissatisfied, Bhaktivinoda pushed on looking. He found some antiquarian maps and government records, and authentic books written at the time of Lord Caitanya, all of which agreed that Mayapur Navadwipa Dhama is situated on the east bank of the Ganges.

One day from the terrace in his house he saw a light coming from a place across the Ganges. He wondered what it was, and then crossed over to Antardwipa the next day.

Upon reaching the exact spot, to his amazement he found several large mounds covered with sacred Tulasi plants on land owned by Mohammedans. There were rumours locally of strange lights and sounds, so the owner, believing it to be haunted, would not go there. Many old babajis of the time, however, believed this to be the actual birthplace of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Convinced it was true, Bhaktivinoda, inspired by Jagannatha dasa Babaji, went there to the spot, with Jagannatha dasa Babaji being carried in his basket.

Due to his old age, Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji couldn't open his eyes, but had to forcibly open them with his fingers, what to speak of walk. If he went anywhere he was carried in his basket by Bihari Lal, but upon arriving at the transcendental site, he leapt out of the basket and danced in ecstasy shouting, “Haribol!” and “Gauranga!” and “Ei to Nimai Janmabhoomi!!”(This is the Birthplace of Nimai!) definitely establishing it to be the very same birthplace of Lord Caitanya.

Darsana times: 5.30-10.00 a.m. and 4.00-8.00 p.m.

Directions: Go down the Porama Tala market road as if going to the ghata. Take the first right and after a short distance the first left. Soon you will see a small path on the left side between the walls of some houses. Walk down this path. The entrance to the samadhi is just after a left turn.

Presiding deities: Nitai-Gauranga, Radha-Govinda and Giridhari

Vriddha Siva and his consort Praudha Maya are the eternal protectors of the holy dhama. Praudha Maya was originally worshiped on the eastern bank of the Ganga. When a good part of Mayapur was covered by the Ganga, some people crossed the Ganga and came to Kuliya (on the western side) and began to worship Praudha Maya at this place. Therefore it became known as Praudhama-tala (Porama Tala). Praudha Maya is Yoga-maya. She covers the holy dhama and does not allow non-devotees to enter. Even though certain people’s bodies are allowed to arrive in the dhama, they are unable to understand the glories of the dhama. When Lord Krishna appeared in Vraja, Yoga-maya also appeared with Him. In Vraja she is known as Paurnamasi and in Navadvipa she is Praudha Maya. She also resides in Simantadvipa in another form, as Parvati. Previously Praudha Maya and Vriddha Siva were worshiped in Mayapur between the ISKCON temple and Yoga-pitha. But because of the shifting of the Ganga, the residents of Kuliya (present-day Navadvipa town) moved them to the other side of the Ganga.

The Temple Praudha Mayi is situated within the huge Banyan tree in the Papodamatala bazaar. At the Temple Deities of Prauddha maya and Vriddha Shiva are installed. To see 

Prauddha Maya is very difficult due to the small size of the Altar and sometimes due to much red flowers which are offered to Her. Vriddha Shiva is huge linga in the hall, he is the protector of Sri Navadvipa Dhama. Sometimes back these Deities were residing at the Temple in Antardwipa in between yoga Pitha and ISKCON Temple in Mayapur but due to flood Temple was destroyed and Deities were moved here.

Prauddha Maya

In Vrindavan Yogamaya – internal energy of the Lord takes form of Paurnamasi. By her influence close associates of Krishna forget about that Krishna is God, and consider Him as their Friend, Child, or Lover. In Navadvipa the same role is done by Prauddha Maya.

Her other mission is to reveal the secret of the Dham to the Devotees and cover it from atheists. Under Her influences conditioned souls, whose vision is covered by false ego will see only the material sides of the dham – dirt, poverty, tiny streets, homeless dogs…But those who get mercy of Prauddha Maya take chance to see the real Holy Dham of Lord Gauranga, which is described by acharias: “The place where Lord Gaura does His youth lilas, Sri Mayapur, where the ground is soft, where birds are singing wonderful songs and where wonderful animals are, where grow trees and lianas – my life and souls…All glories to the forests of Koladwipa!” (Srila Prabodhananda Saraswati, “Navadwipa-shataka”, 6,7) 

Darsana times: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Directions: Go to Hulor Ghat and take a boat across to Navadvipa. There, after passing through the tollgate, you can either take a rickshaw to Porama Tala or walk about five minutes until you reach a T-junction. Turn left and follow the road as it makes a right turn. Turn left again at the end of this road and then take the first road on the right hand side. This road will take you to Porama Tala market which is marked by a huge banyan tree. The temple is inside the banyan tree, which is the center of the market.

Presiding deity: Vriddha Siva, the eternal protector of Navadvipa-dhama, and Praudha Maya who reveals the dhama to the devotees.