Auspicious arrival of Srila Prabhupada:-

On Sunday, April 2, 1934 AD, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakura Prabhupada, the fulfiller of Lord Chaitanya’s desire, arrived at Chhatra-bhoga. This place was formerly visited by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. In a motor car Srila Prabhupada came to Chhatra-bhoga from Sri Gaudiya Math in Bagbazar, Calcutta, to install Sri Chaitanya’s footprint there in a newly constructed temple .

Geographical location of Chhatra-bhoga:-

Chhatra-bhoga is a small village in the district of South 24 Parganas in West Bengal. Jayanagar Mazilpur station is 50 km from Sealdah on the Sealdah-Laxmikantapur line. Chhatra-bhoga is located about 5 km from there on the banks of the Ganga. The Ambulinga Ghat is a holy pilgrimage at Chhatra-bhoga.

Construction of Sri Chaitanya Padapitha Temple:-

On Sunday, 25th May 1930 AD, Srila Prabhupada made his auspicious visit to Chhatra-bhoga for the first time. There he indicated the place where the footprint of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would be established. As per Srila Prabhupada’s wish and at the location indicated by him, a beautiful temple was built with the encouragement of the local people to set up Sri Chaitanya’s footprint.

Installation of Sri Chaitanya’s footprint by Srila Prabhupada:-

On Sunday 2nd April, 1934 AD, Om Vishnupada Sri Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Prabhupada started the “padapitha installation ceremony” with his monastic associates and local devotees. At the behest of Srila Prabhupada, maha-mahopadesaka Sri Pranavananda Brahmachari (later Srimad Bhakti Pramoda pramoda Puri Goswami Thakura, the founder of Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math) started the kirtan : “suddha bhakata charana renu bhajana anukula”. After that Pt. Sriyukta Haripada Vidyaratna Mahodaya sang the pastime of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s auspicious arrival at “Chhatra-bhoga” and the glory of this tirtha in the kirtana tune from text of Sri Caitanya Bhagavata, Antya, Chapter 2. When the recitation was over, the assembled devotees chanted the jaya-dhvani (victory sound) and Srila Prabhupada entered the temple to install the footprint. At first he offered abhiseka to the footprint and then performed arcana with gandha (fragrance), puspa (flower) and garland. Sripad Vasudeva Prabhu, Sripad Kunjabihari Prabhu and other prominent associates of Srila Prabhupada performed arcana following him. After the arcana, bhoga was offered followed by aratrika & kirtana as per the rules. 

Sriman Mahaprabhu’s arrival at Sri Ananta Pandita’s house in Athisara village:-

Having accepted sannyasa, Mahaprabhu expressed His desire to go to Nilachal. Thus from Shantipur He proceeded towards the south and gradually arrived at the village of Athisara. This Athisara village is located near Baruipur. In this village there lived a great Vaishnava named Sri Ananta Pandita. When Mahaprabhu arrived in the village of Athisara, He became a guest at the home of Ananta Pandita. Sri Ananta Pandita was a great devotee. He received Mahaprabhu as a guest and served Mahaprabhu with great hospitality. Mahaprabhu stayed at Sri Ananta Pandita’s house and spent the entire night by discussing Krishna-Katha. In the morning He set off for Chhatra-bhoga.

Arriving at Ambulinga Ghat:-

Mahaprabhu manifested His divine frenziness (divyonmada) while travelling along the banks of the Ganga along with his associates. Finally He arrived at Chhatra-bhoga. At that time, river Ganges had hundred flows in Chhatra-bhoga. There was a watery Siva linga. People called the place ‘Ambu-linga Ghat’ after the name of that Siva-linga. There is an ancient legend about this Ambu-linga Siva.

The glory of Ambu-linga Ghat:-

In ancient time king Bhagiratha, a descendant of Surya dynasty, worshipped Ganga and brought her on this earth to rescue his ancestors. At that time Siva became anxious in separation from Ganga and began to travel in search of her. In this village of Chhatra-bhoga, Śiva found Ganga flowing through hundreds of streams. Immediately Śiva got attracted by Gañgā and jumped into Gañgā. As soon as Śiva jumped into Gañgā, he merged with her in ​​the form of water. At that time Gañgā also  worshipped him with great devotion. Śiva began to live in that place in the watery form. Later this place came to be known as Ambu-linga ghat. In later years, this Ambu-linga ghat became famous among the Vaishnavas as a maha-tirtha after being touched by the lotus feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Mahaprabhu’s divyonmada pastimes Prakash at Ambu-linga Ghat:-

Mahaprabhu arrived at Ambu-linga Ghat and saw hundreds of streams of river Ganges. The sight of the Ganges arose the memory of Vrindavan pastimes in His heart. At that time the mood of maha-bhava appeared in Mahaprabhu. Srila Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Gadadhara Pandita, Mukunda, Sri Govinda, Sri Jagadananda and Brahmananda came in Chhatra-bhoga along with Mahaprabhu. Out of divine ecstasy Mahaprabhu fell in the lap of Sri Nityananda prabhu. The devotees chanted the names “Hari, Hari”. Mahaprabhu bathed in the Ganga in a great joy while making various jokes with his associates. Then everyone put on dry clothes. But soon Mahaprabhu’s cloth got wet with His tears out of intense love for Kṛṣṇa. The devotees witnessed that the river Ganga flowing with her hundreds of streams on earth and similarly hundreds of streams of tears rolling down from the eyes of Mahaprabhu. 

Meeting with Ramachandra Khan, the then zamindar of Chhatra-bhoga:-

The then zamidar of Chhatrabhog village was

Ramachandra Khan. When he arrived mounting on a palanquin and saw the transcendentaleffulgence of Mahaprabhu, he became afraid. He slowly came down from the palanquin and immediately fell at the Lord’s feet. Meanwhile Mahaprabhu became ecstatic and chanted “Ha Jagannath!” “Ha Jagannath!”. He was crying and suddenly fell on the ground. 

Ramachandra Khan’s heart melted at this. After some time, when Gaurasundara regained His external sense, He asked the identity of Ramchandra Khan. Ramachandra Khan very humbly informed Him that he is a mere servant of servant of the lord of this southern province of the country. Hearing this, the Lord said – Well, as you are the owner of this province, tell us the way to Nilachal.

Ramachandra Khan’s service even in the terrible political situation:-

As soon as Ramachandra Khan uttered the word ‘Nilachala Chandra’, Mahaprabhu fainted and fell to the ground. After a while when  Mahaprabhu restored His consciousness Ramachandra Khan said to Mahaprabhu, “My Lord, the order You have given me is my absolute duty to execute; But now a very strange time has come. Travelling inside our state and going outside are almost impossible. The royal servants of both the states embedded sharp spears everywhere. As soon as the soldiers find anonymous traveller from neighbour state, they kill him. I can send you secretly through another way.  But I have risk. As I am the official of this region, I have been entrusted with the administrative responsibilities here. If the authority knows this by any chance, they may kill me. However, I will obey Your orders at any cost. Now please consider me as a servant of Your servant and come to my place and have today’s meal.”

Mahaprabhu spent that night at the house of a Vaishnava Brahmin in Chhatrabhog village:-

On the special request of Ramachandra Khan, that night Mahaprabhu stayed at the house of a Vaishnava Brahmin of Chhatra-bhoga. The Brahmin’s house was resonated with the sound of Kṛṣṇa-sankīrtana. The Brahmin experienced that all the sukriti which he acquired in his previous births, had come to fruition that day. Mahaprabhu, the incarnation of vipralambha i.e. separation from Kṛṣṇa, roared in search of Kṛṣṇa. Several symptoms of asta-sattvika-vikara like lamenting, crying, divine frenziness and others appeared in Him. As soon as Mukunda started singing Kirtana, Mahaprabhu began to dance in ecstasy. Sri Chetanya Bhagavata states this incident: 

puṇyavanta yata yata chatrabhoga-vāsī

sabe dekhe nṛtya kare vaikuṇṭha-vilāsī 

Translation: All the pious persons of Chatrabhoga watched as the Lord who enjoys pastimes in Vaikuṇṭha danced.

aśru, kampa, huṅkāra, pulaka, stambha, gharma kata haya, ke jāne se vikārera marma 

Translation: Who can understand the mystery of the Lord’s display of transformations of ecstatic love like crying, shivering, roaring, hairs standing on end, becoming stunned, and perspiring?

kibā se adbhuta nayanera prema-dhāra bhādra-māse ye-hena gaṅgāra avatāra

The wonderful stream of tears that flowed from His eyes resembled the descent of the Ganges in the month of Bhadra [during the monsoon season].

pāka diyā nṛtya karite nayane chuṭe jala 

tāhātei loka snāna karila sakala

Translation: Everyone there was bathed by the tears emanating from the Lord’s eyes as He whirled around dancing.

ihāre se kahi prema-maya-avatāra 

e śakti caitanyacandra vine nāhi āra

Translation: That is why He is described as the incarnation of love of God. No one other than Caitanyacandra had such power.

ei mate gela rātri tṛtīya prahara sthira 

hailena prabhu śrī-gaurasundara 

Translation: After nine hours of the night passed in this way, Śrī Gaurasundara became pacified.

sakala lokera citte `yena kṣaṇa-prāya’ 

sabāra nistāra haila caitanya-kṛpāya

Translation: Everyone there thought that hardly a moment had passed. They were all delivered by the mercy of Lord Caitanya.

Starting for Nilachal from Chhatra-bhoga:-

At the end third praharas (nine hours) at night, Ramachandra Khan came to Mahaprabhu and said with humility, “My Lord, the boat is ready at the Ganga ghat.” After hearing this, Mahaprabhu showed His mercy to the residents of Chhatra-bhoga and left that place. From there He proceeded towards Nilachal in the boat. We read this pastime from the description of the Vyasa of Sri Chaitanya Lila i.e. Chaitanya Bhagavata, antya, 2.126-132.

Establishing stone plaques:

Srila Prabhupada’s associates installed two stone plaques in Chhatra-bhoga. One in Bengali, another one in English as a commemoration of the arrival of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the service of Srila Prabhupada and his associates.

Translation of Bengali stone plaque:

This footprint was established by Paramahamsa Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami in 445 Chaitanya year in memory of Lord Chaitanya’s arrival at Chhatra-bhoga in 1432 saka era.

Stone blade in English:

KRISHNA-CHAITANYA MAHAPRABHU VISITED CHHATRABHOG IN 1511 A. D. SREE CHAITANYA FOOT PRINTS INSTALLED BY PARAMAHANSA SREE SREEMAD BHAKTI SIDDHANTA SARASWATI GOSWAMI MAHARAJ IN 1933.