ISKCON Mayapur is a popular pilgrimage destination, situated in the Nadia District, in the state of West Bengal. The ISKCON temple was first founded by Acharya Srila Prabhupada in the New York City. It then spread across India. It is a temple covering huge area and as one enters the main gate, there is a statue of Acharya Srila Prabhupada in his Vyasasana.
There are presiding deities on right hand side of main altar. The deities include beautiful larger than life size Sri Sri Radha Madhava, surrounded by Their Ashta-sakhis (eight principal gopi friends) - Sri Lalita, Sri Champakalata, Sri Chitra, Sri Tungavidya, Sri Vishaka, Sri Indulekha, Sri Rangadevi and Sri Sudevi, along with Gauranga Mahaprabhu and Giri-Govardhana. The small Radha Madhava Deities in the altar goes out in procession during Ratha Yatra and other festivals like Jhulana Yatra (swing festival) or boat festival. These Deities also come out in procession on a chariot every Saturday after Sandhya-arati during winter from the beginning of the Kartika (Damodara) month till Gaura Purnima.
In the centre of the temple is the merciful deity of Lord Nrisimhadeva. This rare form of Nrisimhadeva is known as "Sthanu-Nrisimha" and this is the only place where this particular form of Nrisimhadeva is known to be worshipped. With bent knees and in great anger with reddish eyes, He is ready to spring out of the pillar to attack the demons and protect His devotees. The Deity was installed here in 1986 after the temple was attacked by dacoits.
The third altar (past Lord Nrisimhadeva), adjacent to the main temple hall is the Sri Sri Pancha-tattva temple. The most attractive and magnificent larger than life deities of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu with his associates Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Advaita Acharya, Sri Gadhadhara Pandita and Sri Srivasa Thakura were installed in 2004, which was a remarkable event in the history of ISKCON. The small Pancha-tattva deities were installed earlier, in 1996.
Timings of some of the prominent daily events at Mayapur ISKCON are:
* Mangala-arati: 4:15am (closes at 5:00am)
* Darsana-arati: 7:00am
* Srila Prabhupada Guru-puja: 7:30am
* Class on Srimad-Bhagavatam (English and Bengali separately): 8:15am
* Bhoga-arati: 12 noon (temple closes at 1:00pm and reopens at 4:00pm)
* Sandhya-arati: 6:30pm
* Class on Bhagavad Gita (Bengali): 7:45pm (temple closes at 8:30pm)
Srila Prabhupada`s Pushpa Samadhi Mandir
Beautiful memorial shrine of Srila Prabhupada is the biggest of its kind in India. The tall magnificent marble dome rules the skyline and shines splendidly in the golden rays of sun at sunset and sunrise. The garland that adorned Prabhupada while placing him in Samadhi has been brought and laid down in the Pushpa Samadhi Mandir. Massive brass murti of Srila Prabhupada has been placed here and worshipped regularly. The garden at the Samadhi is indeed extensive and beautiful. Inside the Samadhi building, upstairs, a large diorama display depicts Srila Prabhupada`s life and struggles to establish ISKCON and its preaching mission. In the basement there is a massive auditorium with stage and light facilities. It is well equipped with a sound system. Seminars, festivals, ISKCON film shows and cultural programs take place here.
The Samadhi Mandir is open for general guests from 7:30am to 1 p.m. and 3:30pm to 8:30am. Timings of some of the prominent aratis are:
* Srila Prabhupada arati: 4:00am
* Srila Prabhupada Guru Puja : 7:30am
* Bhoga-arati : 12:15pm
* Sandhya-arati : 6:00pm
Srila Prabhupada`s Bhajan Kutir
As one enters the main gate, on the immediate left side is the straw hut where Srila Prabhupada stayed from 1972 to 1976. As per instruction of Srila Prabhupada, 24 hours kirtana takes place and there is continuous chanting of holy name. On the left hand side are Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundara, large neem-wood Deities who travelled throughout India on Pada-yatra. Every Saturday these deities come out in procession on a chariot after Sandhya-arati during winter from the beginning of the Kartika (Damodara) month till Gaura-purnima.
Chaitanya Lila Exhibition
This is in the main temple. It is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. You will find more information on this here.
Srila Prabhupada`s Personal Cabin
The personal cabin of Srila Prabhupada is situated on the second floor. Srila Prabhupada`s personal Deity of Sri Mayapur-chandra and the imprint of Srila Prabhupada`s lotus feet are there. In the darsana room, a larger than life size murti of Srila Prabhupada is present and behind this murti is a display of his personal belongings and books. On his right is a display of his books that have been translated into many languages.
Goshala
Gosala of ISKCON Mayapur takes good care of more than 200 cows. These animals are taken good care of by concerned people and veterinary doctor also come for regular check ups. The Mayapur Gosala also sells health products derived from the cow such as Ghee, Yogurt, Go-ark (distiled cow urine) and others.
General Rules of Conduct at all ISKCON ashrams
* no meat eating(including fish or eggs)
* no intoxication
* no gambling
* no illicit sex
