Kāñcanagaḍiyā

Śrīpāṭa of the poet Dvija Haridāsa Ṭhākura, associate of Mahāprabhu

Kāñcanagaḍiyā is situated in the district of Murshidābād. Eight kilometers from Bājārsau railway station (in Kātwā-Āzimgañj route) this Śrīpāṭa is situated. One can also come to this Kāñcanagaḍiyā Śrīpāṭa from Nayanānanda Ṭhākura’s Śrīpāṭa at Bharatapura on the way to Bājārasau at a distance of six kilometers.

This is the Śrīpāṭa of Mahāprabhu’s associate poet Dvija Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Dvija Haridāsa conquered the heart of Bengalis by writing the book named ‘Kṛṣṇera Aṣṭottara Śatanāma’- ‘the hundred eight names of Kṛṣṇa’. Dvija Haridāsa Ṭhākura was residing in Vṛndāvana at that time when Śrīnivāsa Ācārya, Narottama Dāsa Ṭhākura and Śyāmānanda Prabhu were bringing the books of the Gosvāmīs to Bengal by the instructions of Vaiṣṇavas of Vṛndāvana especially Jīva Gosvāmī. At that time he told Śrīnivāsa Ācārya, ‘My two sons Śrīdāsa and Gokula Dāsa are living in Kāñcanagaḍiyā. After arriving there please initiate them.’ Dvija Haridāsa left this world on the eleventh day of the waning moon in the Bengali month of Māgha (January-February). He passed away in Vṛndāvana. After receiving this news, both his sons Śrīdāsa and Gokula Dāsa, invited all the Gauḍīya Mahantas and celebrated a huge festival in Kāñcanagaḍiyā under the guidance and supervision of Śrīnivāsa Ācārya. In that festival Śrīnivāsa Ācārya initiated the two sons of Ṭhākura Dvija Haridāsa.

There is a big courtyard in front of the temple. There are proper arrangements for daily worship and offerings to the Deities. The temple has land and many other properties which are administered by the local Trust-board. Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa are the installed Deities in the temple.

dvija haridāsa kāñcana nagare bāsa
gaura premete ānanda

dui putra yāra guṇera sāgara
śrīdāsa āra gokulānanda

Dvija Haridāsa was a resident of Kāñcana-nagara. He was always joyfully absorbed in love of Gaurāṅga. His two sons Śrīdāsa and Gokulānanda possessed an ocean of good qualities.