Madhupur Than, Kochbehar

Madhupur Than, Kochbehar, West Bengal. It is also known as Madhupur Sattra nowadays. Srimanta Sankaradeva, the founder of Eka Sarana Nama Dharma predicted in 1550 during his second pilgrimage that a holy institution would come up here. Madhupur Than at the present location came into being in 1594 at the initiative of Madhavadeva.

Beside the Kirtanghar, there is a 105 feet tall Math in the Than. It was constructed in 1964 with a grant from the Government of Assam. Holy relics of Srimanta Sankaradeva and Madhavadeva are preserved in this Math. This has made the Than more special. The devotees perform prayers in the hall of the Math in front of these relics. The seat of Srimanta Sankaradeva is kept at the eastern side in the Math. So the altar is on the western side there unlike in the Kirtanghar.

Many relics of Srimanta Sankaradeva like his rosary, footwear, jar, remains of yarn used in Vrindavani cloth, manuscripts etc are preserved in the Than. These are shown to public on two occasions in the year. These are kept on display for several days at a stretch from the day of Raas Purnima.

There is a centuries old honey comb in the Than. Srimanta Sankaradeva had predicted about the setting up of an institution here after he had relished honey at this very site during pilgrimage.

The palm tree in the campus is several centuries old. The Than had about 400 bigha land earlier, but now it is only a small 19 bigha compound. Most of Than land have been encroached. People should visit it frequently to boost the confidence of the Sattradhikar and devotees of the Than. Madhupur is only 7 km from Kochbehar town.