Dhameswar Mahaprabhu Temple — Attraction in West Bengal

"After Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted the sannyasa order, His wife, Vishnupriya, who was only 16 yrs old at the time, remained in seclusion and chanted Hare Krsna day and night. After some time Mahaprabhu somehow gave her this Deity of Himself (made from neem wood) which was the first Deity of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ever established. Visnu-priya used to daily worship Mahaprabhu's wooden shoes and this Deity, weeping bitterly and talking with Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and He would also speak to her in the form of that Deity."

Excerpt of a lecture given by Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Goswami Maharaja in Murwillumbah, Australia, February 17, 2002

"Caitanya Mahaprabhu danced in mahabhava in Mayapura. There was a neem tree at His house in Mayapura. This tree accepted Mahaprabhu's beautiful form in its heart when He danced in the bliss of sankirtana. When Mahaprabhu left, having taken sannyasa, then this neem tree manifested a beautiful Deity of Mahaprabhu. Visnupriya saw that Mahaprabhu came out of this neem tree and the neem tree disappeared. She took Mahaprabhu in her arms and began worshipping Him, offering Him bhoga, and so forth. And her separation was in this way relieved."

Excerpt from the book 'Sri Sri Prema-bhakti Candrika' by...

The Deity of Lord Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu at Sri Dhameswar Mahaprabhu Temple is very special. This beautiful neem Deity of Gauranga Mahaprabhu is the original Deity that Srimati Visnupriya, wife of Lord Gauranga worshiped for 80 years after Lord Caitanya took sannyasa. Srimati Visnupriya was sixteen years old when Gauranga Mahaprabhu left and she worshiped this Deity as her husband until she passed away at the age of ninety-six. The Deity’s hands reach forward with upraised palms, a pose indicating, “I am yours.” The Deity is called as Sri DhameswarMahaprabhu. There are also wooden shoes, which were worn by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He gave them to Srimati Visnupriya, which she worshipped until she passed away.

After the Lord’s acceptance of sannyasa, Srimati Visnupriya always remained within the house, with the exception of taking bath daily at the Ganges along with MotherSacidevi. When devotees went there to partake of prasadam, they saw only the feet of Visnupriya. Never did they see her face, nor hear her voice. She constantly chanted...

After Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted the sannyasa order, His wife, Vishnupriya, remained in seclusion and chanted Hare Krsna day and night. Then after some time Mahaprabhu somehow gave her this Deity of Himself (made from neem wood) which was the first Deity of Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ever established. Visnu-priya used to daily worship Mahaprabhu's wooden shoes and this Deity, weeping bitterly and talking with Caitanya Mahaprabhu and He would also speak to her in the form of that Deity.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu danced in mahabhava in Mayapura. There was a neem tree at His house in Mayapura. This tree accepted Mahaprabhu's beautiful form in its heart when He danced in the bliss of sankirtan. When Mahaprabhu left, having taken sannyasa, then this neem tree manifested a beautiful Deity of Mahaprabhu. Visnupriya saw that Mahaprabhu came out of this neem tree and the neem tree disappeared. She took Mahaprabhu in her arms and began worshipping Him, offering Him bhoga, and so forth. And her separation was in this...