The Mission Begins

Thakura Bhaktivinoda then began working to establish this holy place in its real glory. He started a campaign for funds throughout Bengal to establish a temple to Lord Caitanya and His consort, Visnu-priya. And by careful reference to the holy scriptures and transcendental realization, he located and marked all the different places of the Lord's pastimes. Srila Thakura Bhaktivinoda himself took up residence on the island of Godruma, just across the river from the appearance site of the Lord. There he constructed a house, called Sri Svananda-sukhada-kunja, and he seriously began widespread preaching of the message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

The mission of preaching and developing Sridhama Mayapura was later taken up by Srila Bhaktivinoda's son Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, who spread Lord Caitanya's teachings throughout India and who in the course of his preaching established sixty-four mathas, or centers. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta further developed Sridhama Mayapura by constructing a large temple at the site of Lord Caitanya's appearance and establishing a matha where Candrasekhara, one of the Lord's associates, used to have his house. Now His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the spiritual son of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, is spreading the message of Sri Caitanya all over the world, establishing temples in important cities, and further developing Sridhama Mayapura.