The Chaitanya Birthplace Controversy

Abstract

This article explores "The Chaitanya Birthplace Controversy," examining the competing claims of Nabadwip and Mayapur, India, as the true birthplace of the 15th-century bhakti saint Kṛṣṇa Caitanya. It details Nabadwip's historical prominence as a center of learning and its Vaiṣṇava institutions, rooted in traditional Goswami lineages. The article then contrasts this with Mayapur's emergence as an alternative site, spurred by the discoveries of Kedarnath Datta Bhaktivinoda and his son Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī, and significantly developed by ISKCON. The differing religious cultures, institutional structures, and approaches to identity formation within these two adjacent communities are highlighted. The article further delves into the archaeological and textual evidence presented by both sides to substantiate their claims, offering a unique case study in religious interactivity, historical interpretation, and the evolution of sacred geography in Bengal.