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Nimai’s place of appearance temple at the base of the Neem tree
After consulting numerous authoritative scriptures and texts, and with the assistance of Srila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji Mahāraja, in 1893, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura re-established the birthplace of Sri Gaurahari at Sridhama Mayapura, within Sri Navadvipa-dhama. Srila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji Maharaja openly declared in front of everyone: “This place is where Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Appeared.” Saying this, he planted a flag there and began dancing uncontrollably. Later, Srila Prabhupada constructed a beautiful hut there and established the deities of Sri Jagannatha Misra and Sri Saci Mata, with baby Nimai in her lap.
Sri Gaurahari, Vishnupriya Thakurani & Laxmipriya Thakurani
On January 15, 1894, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura established the Navadvipa Dhama PracariniSabha “Assembly for the Propagation Navadvīpa Dhama” and on the 22nd of that March, established the deities of Sri Gaura-Vishupriya at Sri Gaura’s birthplace.
In the central division of the Yogapitha temple altar, Sri Gaurasundara stands with the personification of viṣṇu-bhakti, Bhu-Sakti Srimati Vishnupriya thakurani to His left, and to His right, Shri Shakti Srimati Lakshmipriya Thakurani. Once the temple was completed, Srila Prabhupāda installed these deities and instituted Their perpetual service.
Adhoksaja Sri Vishnu
On June 13, 1934, while excavating for the foundation of the Sri Yogapitha Sri Mandira, this deity was found. This four-armed deity of Adhoksaja Sri Vishnu, holding a lotus, club, conch, and disc, was the Griha-devata “Home Deity” worshipped by Sri Jagannatha Mishra.
Sri Yogapitha Mandir
After Srila Prabhupada consecrated the foundation of this temple on March 18, 1934, the sky-piercing temple of Sri Yogapiṭha was constructed under the financial contributions of Sripada Sakhicharana Raya (Bhakti-Vijaya Prabhu). The next year, on March 20, 1935, the king of the independent nation of Tripurā, a powerful religious leader, Pancha-Sri Vīra Vikrama Kishora Deva Varma Manikya Bahadur, was present to cut the ribbon and inaugurate this temple.
Sri Gaura & Radha Madhava
To one side, in another section of the altar, Srila Prabhupada installed the srī vigraha of Sri Gaurasundara and Sri Radha Madhava, thereby manifesting the eternal service of Sri Sri Guru-Gauranga Gandharvika Giridhari Jiu.
Panca-Tattva
Presiding in the third section of the altar is the Panca-tattva, absorbed in nāma-saṅkīrtana. It was in this place that Srila Prabhupada was ordered to preach the message of Sriman Mahaprabhu throughout the whole world by Sri Gaurasundara Himself along with His Panca-tattva manifestation and the entirety of the Gauḍīya guru–Varga Parampara.
Lord Sri Lakshmi Nrishimha Deva & Sri Gaura Gadadhara
Here at Yogapitha, Srila Prabhupada also installed Sri Lakshmi Nrishimha Deva, who eradicate all obstacles in the cultivation of bhakti for Gaudiya Vaishnavas. Alongside them, he also installed Sri Sri Gaura Gadadhara. Where the temple sanctum is built is also where Srila Prabhupada placed his revered mother, Srimati Bhagabati Devi in Samadhi.
Kshetrapal Shiva
Sri Shiva is forever present as a servant at Sriman Mahaprabhu’s home and place of birth. He is known as Kshetrapal Shiva “protector of the area”. In honor of Sri Gopeshwara Mahadeva, who is forever present at Nanda-Bhavana in Sri Gokula, in Vraja Mandala, Srila Prabhupada established this Kshetrapal Shiva here at Sri Yogapitha.
Sri Gaura Kunda
Between the main temple at Sri Yogapiṭha and the Sri Bhaktivinoda Institute is Gaura-kuṇḍa. Srila Prabhupāda had this Kunda excavated. The devotees of Sri Gaurasundara bathe daily in this Kunda and relish the sweetness of serving in Vraja. Sprinkling the water of Gaura-Kunda on one’s head dispels all one’s anarthas and wakens immaculate bhakti for Sri Gaurasundara, His associates, and His holy abode.
