(Extract from "The Full Moon of the Advent of Lord Gauranga" The Harmonist, Vol. 15, March 31, 1935)
Bhaktivinoda Thakura at Sridhama Mayapura
Thakura Vrndavana Dasa is the writer of 'Sri Caitanya-Bhagavata' in which book he has predicted that sages, who transcend the plane of three dimensions, will on a future date make Navadvipa-dhama or Svetadvipa-dhama known to the world. Only those persons whose inner eyes have been opened by the grace of Godhead can see this Holy Dhama and none else. Of these venerable sages of the prediction of Thakura Vrndavana Dasa, the first to appear was Srila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji held in esteem to all over Gauda Mandala, Ksetra Mandala, and Vraja Mandala, and the second is Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura who as the archetype of Bhagiratha brought down to the earth the Ganges of pure devotion.
The years 400, 404, 408 and 448 of the Gaura Era have definite connection with the respective services rendered by those great seers for bringing about the re-appearance of Sridhama.
400 Gaura Era: In this year Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura received a Divine Injunction to the effect that Sri Visva Vaisnava Raja-Sabha should be re-established and the advental tithi of the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya should be properly observed. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, thereupon, published the 'Navadvipa-Panjika' and revived the Gaura Era, this very year.
404 Gaura Era: This year Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura visited all the places of Navadvipa-dhama, collected full esoteric evidence, and published a book entitled, ''Sri-Sri Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya." He published three things in this book, viz. (i) the dicta laid down by the 'Sastras', (ii) the statements of the 'Mahabhagavatas', and (iii) the direct Injunctions of the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya.
408 Gaura Era: The ritualistic worship of the divine symbolic Form of the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya in Sridhama Mayapura was started this year.
444 Gaura Era: This year a Theistic Exhibition was opened at Sridhama Mayapura to educate all benighted souls about the transcendental teachings of the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya in pursuance of Sri Sri Nityananda Mahaprabhu's Mission for the establishment of the Universal Religion of transcendental love. A relief map showing all the regions up to Vaikuntha-dhama was prepared and exhibited.
448 Gaura Era: This is the present new year. A magnificent Temple has been built this year at 'Yogapitha' at Sridhama Mayapura. And on the very site of the Advent of the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya, the Divine Form of Adhoksaja-Visnu came up to the surface while the ground was being dug for laying the foundation of the Temple. The opening ceremony of the new temple has been performed and the ceremonial worship of the arca-vigrahas has begun.
