Hamsa Vahana Shiva Temple is located at Mayadvipa, one among the nine islands of
Navadvipa. The temple deity is
Lord Shiva. The deity is worshipped in the temple only for three days in a year, during the month of Chithirai (mid April - mid May). Rest of the days the deity is kept underwater in a nearby lake called Alakananda Kunda.
Legend has it that Lord Shiva came to this place to hear the narrations about Chaitanya Mahaprabhu on Lord Brahma’s Vahana (Hamsa Vahana). 'Hamsa' means Swan and 'Vahana' means Carrier. Thus, the temple got its name as Hamsa Vahana Shiva Temple.
The festival of the temple occurs about three weeks after the Gaura Purnima festival. During this time, water is constantly poured on the Shivling in order to keep it cool.
