Sridhama Mayapur

The vision of Sri Mayapur as a place of pilgrimage received its foundation from Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, but its rapid growth was due to the efforts of Srila Prabhupada. Although he left India in 1965 to preach Krishna consciousness in the West, Srila Prabhupada’s intention had always been to create a spiritual home for his students in the dham. But more than just a home and place of pilgrimage, Srila Prabhupada regarded Sri Mayapur as the epicenter of a global spiritual renaissance, one that would enable humanity to return to a more God-centered way of life.

To a casual observer, Mayapur may seem a remote and unlikely place to establish a world headquarters for his ISKCON society. As the birthplace of Sri Chaitanya, however, it was central to the Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy. However remote from the centers of commerce, industry, and politics it may be, from the spiritual point of view, it is the very center of the world. Srila Prabhupada’s vision and efforts initiated the outward expression of an underlying reality.

Srila Prabhupada’s first major accomplishment in Sri Mayapur, after purchasing land, was the construction, not of a temple, nor even a permanent residence for himself or his disciples, but of a guesthouse. His foremost desire was to facilitate visitors and pilgrims to Sri Mayapur in comfort and convenience, so that nothing would impede the spiritually hungry souls from finding nourishment and shelter in this holiest of places.
In the years following Srila Prabhupada's passing, several other other guesthouses have been built, as well as a prasadam hall, a restaurant, a goshalla, schools and shops.