Isana Thakura, along with Srinivasa, went to Maugachi from Jannagara. Maugachi is today known as Mamgachi. Previously this place was also known as Modadrumadvipa. Isana Thakura gives the following explanation as to why this place was called Modadrumadvipa, according to what he had heard from elderly people. “Sri Ramacandra, the son of Kausalya, left Ayodhya to live in the forest, in order to follow the vow of His father Dasaratha. The Lord gave up His royal dress and with great pleasure traveled from forest to forest along with His wife Janaki and brother Lakshmana. His lotus feet were very soft and tender, and to protect Him, whichever path He walked on became very soft so that the Lord would feel no pain. Rain, wind, sunshine, all were very favorable. Thus the Lord performed His very wonderful pastime of traveling, which cannot be compared to anything on this earth planet. While He was traveling, the people of different countries were mad to see His beauty. Wherever the Lord resided, forest or mountain, became a maha-tirtha. North of this place, the Lord was staying inside a cave in the mountain. Even today people still visit that place, which frees them from all kinds of suffering. Oh, Srinivasa, while traveling like this, Lord Ramacandra arrived here. Walking in front was Lord Ramacandra, in the middle Devi Sita, and behind Lakshmana. Everyone was happy to see Them, even the birds and animals. Lord Ramacandra who is also known as Rajiva-locana, is worshiped by the great demigods like Brahma. The Lord was looking around and walking like an elephant. He observed Navadvipa from some distance and started to smile with great curiosity. When Sitadevi saw Lord Ramacandra’s sweet smiling face She asked Him what was causing His smiling. Lord Ramacandra replied, ‘At the end of Dvapara-yuga, during the first part of Kali-yuga there will be great enjoyment here in this Navadvipa-dhama. I will perform wonderful pastimes here and then take sannyasa. 

As I am traveling now, in the same way I will also travel at that time. Therefore I was smiling, remembering all this.’ Hearing the words of Lord Ramacandra, Janaki-devi spoke with folded hands, ‘Oh, My Lord, please tell Me what kind of pastimes You will have in Nadia?’ The Lord replied, ‘I will take birth in a brahmana family. During My childhood I will exhibit many restless and playful pastimes. I will accept the most wonderful yellow bodily color which has no comparison. Just by looking at Me the whole world will become intoxicated. I will become very scholarly and the glories of My learning will spread all over the world. I will marry twice. Just as I am offering pinda to my father in Gaya now, I will again offer pinda in Gaya according to local customs when My father leaves his body. I will increase the happiness of devotees in Navadvipa by preaching sankirtana which is rarely witnessed even by Brahma. After all this I will pacify all My close associates and take sannyasa to travel to other places.’ Hearing this, Janaki-devi smiled and said, ‘If You will take sannyasa then why should You marry? In My opinion this in not proper. Being most merciful how can You be so cruel?’ Lord Ramacandra felt embarrassed, hearing these words from Sita-devi. Then the Lord said, ‘You do not know that I always reside in Navadvipa.’ While talking in this way Lord Ramacandra reached this place in the company of Janaki-devi and Lakshmana. There was a huge banyan tree here and They all stood in the vast shade of that tree. Again Janaki-devi asked, ‘My Lord! What kind of pleasure will You derive from sankirtana here in Nadia?’ Lord Ramacandra said, ‘First close Your eyes.’ Janaki-devi closed Her eyes and She saw the wonderful pastimes of the Lord in Nadia. There is no limit to chanting, dancing and playing instruments in Nadia and there were innumerable devotees of the Lord gathered, creating a scene that is without comparison. She saw the form of Gaurasundara in the midst of His own associates. The Lord was in His kisora age, adolescence, and appeared like an ocean of rasa or mellows. The whole world was overwhelmed by His different styles of dancing. By seeing that most beautiful scene Sita-devi could not control Herself any more. When She opened Her eyes, She saw Her Lord in front of Her. Lord Ramacandra smiled and pacified Her. Sumitra-nandana, Lord Lakshmana, knows all truths and He also became impatient, desiring to remember the Nadia pastimes of the Lord. At this place everyone’s pleasure (moda) was increased and this incident took place under a tree (druma). Therefore this island is known as Modadrumadvipa. Lord Ramacandra, Sita-devi and Lakshmana become very pleased with anyone who comes to visit this Modadrumadvipa. O, Srinivasa, this place is known as Rama-vata. (Vata means a banyan tree.) With the arrival of Kali-yuga this tree disappeared. From here Lord Ramacandra along with Sita-devi and Lakshmana went to Utkala (Orissa) with great happiness. When They entered Utkala They were very pleased to see the beauty of the country. On the bank of the river Suvarnarekha, Lord Rama established a Siva-linga by the name of Ramesvara. Most fortunate people take darsana of that Siva-linga to experience great pleasure. From there Lord Ramacandra traveled from forest to forest, performing wonderful activities everywhere.”

Lord Nityananda said, “By the desire of the Lord, Guhaka-raja, the friend of Ramacandra, took birth here as the son of a brahmana. His name was Sadananda Bhattacarya and he knew nothing except Ramacandra in the three worlds. On the very day that My Lord Gauranga appeared in Mayapur, Sadananda was present in the house of Jagannatha Misra. At the time of the Lord’s appearance all the demigods descended at that place to take darsana of the infant form of the Lord. The great sadhaka, Vipra Sadananda, could recognize that the demigods had come to take darsana of the baby and thus he understood that his Lord had taken birth. With great curiosity, Sadananda returned to his house. When he meditated upon his ishtadeva, he saw Gaurasundara sitting on the altar, while the demigods including Brahma were offering puja to the Lord. Then he again saw Lord Ramacandra sitting next to Lakshmana, the abode of Sri Ananta. On His left side Sitadevi was seated and bhakta Hanuman was positioned in front of Him. By seeing this, Sadananda realized that Gauranga was none other than his Lord Ramacandra. With great pleasure Sadananda Vipra would go regularly to Mayapur and take darsana of Gauranga to his heart’s content. He would say, ‘I am blessed! I am blessed! My Lord Ramacandra is present here in front of me in the form of Gauranga.’ After some time, when Mahaprabhu started the sankirtana pastime, Sadananda was dancing there, chanting the holy name of Gauranga.” “O, Jiva! Pure devotees see this place as Bhandiravana.” Hearing all these descriptions from Lord Nityananda, the devotes started to dance and chant, surrounding Nityananda Prabhu. Symptoms of ashta-sattvika-vikara manifested in the body of Sri Jiva. He started shouting, “Ha! Gauranga! Ha! Gauranga!” That day Lord Nityananda stayed there happily in the house of Narayani. This most chaste lady, the mother of Vyasadeva (Vrindavana dasa Thakura), served all the Vaishnavas personally. The next day all the devotees went to Sri Vaikunthapura. 

Modadrumadvipa is known as Mamgachi. Lord Nityananda went to Mamgachi village along with all the devotees. Lord Nityananda said, “This Modadrumadvipa is non-different from Ayodhya. During the previous kalpa when Lord Rama went to live in the forest, He came to this place along with Lakshmana and Sita-devi. They built a cottage under a great banyan tree and stayed there happily for a few days. Upon seeing the effulgence of Navadvipa Sri Raghunandana Ramacandra smiled. He looked very beautiful in His nava- durva-dalasyama form. Rajiva-locana (the lotuseyed Lord) was holding a bow and arrows and was dressed like an ascetic brahmacari with matted locks on His head. Everyone’s mind was attracted just by seeing Him. When Sita-devi saw the smiling face of Lord Ramacandra, She asked, ‘What is the cause of Your smiling?’ Lord Ramacandra replied, ‘O Sita, daughter of King Janaka! Please listen to this very confidential story. In the future when the most blessed Kali-yuga comes, I will appear here in Nadia in a golden yellow form. I will take birth as Gauranga from the womb of Saci in the house of Jagannatha Misra, as their son. All those fortunate people who see My childhood pastimes will receive transcendental love. At that time I will enjoy vidya-rasa (the pastime of education). I will reveal the glories of Sri Nama (the holy name). After that I will accept the order of sannyasa and go to Nilacala. My mother will cry, placing her daughter-in-law on her lap.’ Hearing this Sita-devi said, ‘O, Rajiva-locana! Why will You make Your mother cry? Why will You accept sannyasa leaving aside Your wife? I do not understand what pleasure You will receive by giving suffering to Your wife.’ Sri Ramacandra replied, ‘My darling! Although You know everything, You are asking a seemingly ignorant question. One can relish prema-bhakti unto Me in two different ways. One can experience the pleasure of premabhakti in union with Me known as sambhoga. And the pleasure My devotees experience by being separated from Me is known as vipralambha. My devotees always desire to be united with Me, but by My mercy they also achieve vipralambha-bhava. In vipralambha, whatever suffering one undergoes is for Me only. Whatever suffering a devotee goes through in vipralambha, due to Me, he accepts with great relish. For at the end of vipralambha when sambhoga is attained, My devotee enjoys a million times greater pleasure. In this way separation from Me is also the cause of pleasure, therefore My devotees accept this state of separation. 

This has been explained in the Vedas. During the time of Mygaurangaavatara, mother Kausalya will appear as Saci-devi who is described in the Vedas as Aditi. During that time You will serve Me as Vishnupriya. In the future, feeling separation from You, I will worship You in Your golden deity form in Ayodhya-nagara. In return You will worship My golden gauranga-murti form in Nadia-nagara. Sita-devi! This is a very confidential topic. At present this subject will not be revealed to the people in general. This Navadvipa is very dear to Me. Even other dhamas like Ayodhya are not equal to this dhama. This Rama-vata tree, of which We have taken shelter, will disappear from the vision of the people when Kali-yuga begins but will remain here in an invisible form.’” Lord Nityananda continued, “In this way Rama, Sita and Lakshmana stayed here in Modadrumadvipa for a few days and then went to Dandaka forest to perform Their duty. Here you can see the kutira of Lord Ramacandra.”