Sri
Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's Appearance - Gaura Purnima
Lord Nityananda is the eternal associate of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. Rarely is the name Nimai (Caitanya Mahaprabhu)
taken without that of Nitai (Lord Nityananda). Mahaprabhu cannot be approached
or understood without the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu, who is the cardinal
guru of all the universes and serves as an intermediary between Mahaprabhu
and His devotees. He is the Lord's active principle in both creation and
lila. He is the second body of the Lord, manifesting as Balaram to Sri
Krishna, Lakshman to Sri Ram and Nityananda Prabhu to Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
All other forms and expansions of the Lord emanate from this second body.
Nityananda Prabhu is thus the source of Sankarshan, all the Vishu's, and
Ananta Sesa. As Vishnu tattva He and Advaita Acarya are worshipped in the
same category as Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In the manifested earthly lila, Nityananda
Prabhu is senior to Caitanya Mahaprabhu by more than a decade. He is statuesque,
like His Ma!
ster, with the whitish complexion of Lord Balarama. His garments resemble
a cluster of blue lotus flowers and His effulgence is said to surpass the
grandeur of a rising moon at sunset. He has a deep melodious voice, constant
singing the glories of Sri Krishna and carries a red stick with benedictions
for the devotees, but feared by the demoniac. He has the carefree mood
of a wild avadhuta, so absorbed is He in the love of Godhead, and no one
knows what He will do next.
Nityananda Prabhu was born in Ekacakra, a small village in present West Bengal, around the year 1474. His birthsite is commemorated by a temple named Garbhasva and is visited by throngs of pilgrims today. His father, Hadai Ojha and mother Padmavati, were pious Brahmans originally from Mithila. Nityananda Prabhu was born on the auspicious thirteenth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Maga. As a child, Nitai (as Nityananda Prabhu was called), loved to enact the pastimes of Sri Krishna or Lord Rama. He did this so authoritatively and with such rapture, that the entire village would be immersed in the love of Godhead.
Nitai's favorite part was that of Lakshman, and He enacted it with so many apparently authentic scenes not described in the Ramayana, that people would wonder if He was making it up or actually relishing His own pastimes. The village of Ekacakra was completely absorbed in the love of little Nitai, where He spend the first 12 years of his earthly life. In the 13th year, a travelling sannyasi, said to be the famous Lakshmipati Tirtha, enchanted by Nitai"s devotion and service, requested Nitai from his parents, as a travelling companion. His parents, bound by Vedic culture, could not refuse the request of a guest and reluctantly parted with Nitai. However, devastated by the separation with Nitai, that Hadai Pandit soon gave up his life.
Nitai traveled with Lakshmipati Tirtha for about 20 years, during which He visited all the holy places in the country, reminiscent of the manner that Balarama traveled while the battle at Kurukshetra raged on. Nitai is said to be later on initiated by Lakshmipati Tirtha. He also associated with another of Lakshmipati Tirtha's famous disciple, Madhavendra Puri, who although his godbrother, was revered by Nitai was as a spiritual master. Madhavendra Puri is famous for establishing the sweet truth of Madhurya-rasa which later become an integral part of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Among the other disciples of Madhavendra Puri is Advaita Acarya, and Isavara Puri (the spiritual master of Caitanya Mahaprabhu).
Nityananda Prabhu met Caitanya Mahaprabhu in 1506, when He was 32 years old and the Lord 20 years. It is said that when Nityananda Prabhu reached the land of Nadia, He hid in the house of Nandanacarya, to heighten the ecstasy of meeting through separation. Caitanya Mahaprabhu aware of the arrival of His eternal associate dispatched Haridas Thakur and Srivas Pandit to search out Nitai, but they failed. Finally unable to bear the separation any longer, Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself went directly to Nityananda Prabhu and the ecstasy of the meeting was so transcendental that every one witnessing it were awed by the sublime experience. A temple called Sri Gaura-Nityananda commemorates this meeting place in Nadia.
Nityananda Prabhu in His role as the original spiritual master, was instrumental in spreading the yuga dharma of sankritana all over the Gaudia desh (Bengal, Orrisa). His mercy knew no bounds, and people fortunate to come in contact with Him were inundated with the love of Godhead. It was by His mercy that Raghunatha dasa, one of the six Goswamis started the famous Danda Mahotsava festival of Panihatti, a tradition that continues to this day, and was thus able to serve Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He extended His mercy to even fallen souls like Jagai and Madhai, delivering them from the sinful lives and protecting them from the wrath of even Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Indeed His mercy knew no bounds, and fortunate were the people who tasted the nectar of His instructions.
When Nityananda Prabhu returned to Bengal at the request of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, His decided to abandon His avadhuta status and become a grahastha (householder). He married Jahnava devi and Vasudha, the two daughters of Suryadasa Sarakhel, who the brother of Gauridasa Pandit (an intimate associate of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the spiritual master of the famous Shyamananda Pandit). Nityananda Prabhu had a son (Virchandara) and a daughter (Gangadevi) from Vasudha. Soon after Vasudha passed away and Jahanva devi looked after the children. She later initiated Virchandra, and also became an instructing spiritual master to the likes of Shyamananda Pandit, Shrivasa Pandit and Narottama dasa Thakur. Jahnava devi is revered as a Vaishnavi and she established the pre-eminent positon of women in the Vaishanava tradition.
Lord Nityananda wound up His earthly pastimes, by merging into the deity of Krishna, known as Bankim Ray, not far from Ekacakra. Vaishanava acaryas emphatically state that people who try to understand Caitanya Mahaprabhu without getting the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu will never succeed. and one must pray very sincerely to Lord Nityananda Prabhu as the adi-guru (original spiritual master) to be delivered to the Lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The presence of Nityananada Prabhu is always felt in the presence of one's own guru, for the guru is considered to be the living manifestation of Nityananda Prabhu's love and mercy, and his sakti (power) is what gives the disciple the ability to perform devotional service and experience spiritual bliss.
(This article is courtesy of http://www.iskcondc.org/ )
More about principle of Guru, Guru Parampara, and where Lord Nityananda comes in the Parampara HERE
Prabhupäda: So today, the appearance day of Nityänanda Prabhu... Nityänanda Prabhu is Baladeva, Baladeva-tattva.
“Who was formerly the son of Nanda Mahäräja, He has appeared as the son of Çacédevi.” Caitanya Mahäprabhu’s mother’s name was Çacédevi. So Kåñëa... Kåñëa is Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, and Balaräma is Nityänanda Prabhu. Now...vrajendra-nandana yei, çacé-suta haila sei,
balaräma haila nitäi
So Balaräma... In the Vedic literature it is said, näyam ätmä bala-hinena labhyaù; na bahunä çrutena. So bala means strength. Sometimes some rascal philosophers, they take it that bala means bodily strength. They propagate this philosophy that “Unless you are bodily stout and strong, you cannot achieve spiritual salvation. You must be very strong and stout and eat meat and fight, and then you’ll get next spiritual birth” No. This bala, this strength, is different. This is spiritual strength.vrajendra-nandana yei, çacé-suta haila sei,
balaräma haila nitäi
This is due to ahaìkära. Ahaìkära-vimüòhätmä kartäham iti manyate. Those who are vimüòha, especially rascal... Müòha, rascals, and vi means viçeña, viçeñanam, particularly. Ahankara- vimudhätmä. The same thing which is spoken in the Bhagavad- gétä, Narottama däsa Öhäkura says the same thing in a plain Bengali language. Ahaìkäre matta haiyä, nitäi-pada... By the spell of mäyä—ahaìkära-vimüòhätmä kartäham iti manyate— they are thinking that “We are independent. We can do whatever we like.” This is called ahaìkära-vimüòhätmä. Under false pretext, false prestige, everyone is thinking that “We are independent. We can find out the solution of the problems of life by material adjustment,” so on, so on. So that is our material disease. Ahaìkära-vimüòhätmä. Bewildered, they do not understand that the real strength is spiritual strength. We see daily, see daily that a very strong man, very powerful man, very good brain, very good scientist... So where is the strength? The strength is ätmä. As soon as the ätmä, or the soul, goes out of this body, so intelligent, so strong, and so many things, that is nothing. That is the difference between dead man and the living man. A living man is very powerful, very good position, everything. As soon as he lies down, he is lying down on the floor, and if you kick him on his face, he’ll not protest. So where is that strength? The strength is gone. That is spiritual strength. On the spiritual strength, the body moves. Suppose you have got a very good car, Mercedes car or Rolls Royce car. But when there is no petrol, how the car will move? It is not possible. There is spirit, petrol spirit. Similarly, real strength is spiritual strength. That spiritual strength is Balaräma. Bala means strength. Therefore we have to take shelter of the lotus feet of Balaräma, guru-tattva.ahaìkäre matta hoiyä, nitäi-pada päsariyä,
asatyere satya kori mäni
The whole world is suffering, but if you want peace, then you take the shelter of Nityänanda Prabhu.nitäi-pada-kamala, koöi-candra-suçétala,
je chäyäy jagata juräy
Our real aim of life—how to go back home back to Godhead and associate with Rädhä Kåñëa. In another song the same author says,heno nitäi bine bhäi, rädhä-kåñëa päite näi
dhådha kori’ dharo nitäir päy
Unless you come to Rädhä-Kåñëa, you cannot get real pleasure. If you want to dance and get pleasure, don’t dance independently. Dance with Kåñëa. Then you’ll be happy. The dancing is there, but dancing without association of Kåñëa... Just like here, in our temple, we are also eating, but we are eating the remnants of foodstuff left by Kåñëa. That is real pleasure. It is not that we are stopping eating. We are not stopping eating. We are not dry philosophers. Kåñëa baro doyämoy, koribäre jihwä jay, swa-prasäd-anna dilo bhäi. All over the world we are eating Kåñëa prasädam, and we have got good experience. At least ten thousand men and women, they are taking Kåñëa prasädam, but we have no anxiety. We have no anxiety. A family consists of a few members. They are full of anxiety how to maintain the family. And we are maintaining a family of ten thousand men. We have no anxiety. Just see practically. We have no anxiety. We require thousands and thousands of rupees for maintaining Europe, America, a costly affair. But because we are under the shelter of Nityänanda Prabhu, Balaräma, we have no anxiety. That means material life means anxiety. You cannot avoid anxiety if you lead a material life. Then you will be anxious.manuñya-janama päiyä, rädhä-kåñëa nä bhajiyä,
jäniyä çuniyä biña khäinu
“My dear Vaiñëava Öhäkura, kindly accept me as your dog, as your dog. I am dog already, but I am mäyä’s dog. I’m not Vaiñëava’s dog. So kindly accept me.” If you become a Vaiñëava’s dog... Chäòiyä vaiñëava sevä, nistär päiche kebä. If you do not become a dog of Vaiñëava and Nityänanda Prabhu... Nityänanda is guru. So if you do not become a dog of Nityänanda Prabhu, Vaiñëava, or guru, there is no question of happiness. Se sambandha nähi yär, båthä janma gelo... se paçu boro duräcär. Nitäi nä bolilo mukhe, majilä saàsära-sukhe. He who has no connection with Nityänanda Prabhu, and he does not say, “Jaya Nitäi! Jaya Gaura!” And majilo saàsära-sukhe, he thinks that this society, family, and... “Society, friendship and love, divinely bestowed upon man.” These materialist persons, they say like that. That is called majilo saàsära sukhe. In saàsära there cannot be any sukha, but he’s attracted by that. Majilo saàsära sukhe. Vidyä-kule ki koribe tär. What we’ll do with university education or born in big family or... This will not help. This is not possible. Vidyä-kule ki karibe tär. Why they’re accepting this false? Ahaìkäre matta hoiyä, nitäi-pada pasariya, asatyere satya kori mäni. On account of being misled by false prestige and false egotism, asatyere satya kori mäni, we are accepting this body which is asat, which will not exist. That we have taken as reality. Ahaìkare matta hoiya, nitäi pada pasariya. But if we take shelter of Nityänanda Prabhu, then you get the enlightenment. Asatyere satya kori mäni. Nitäiyer koruëä habe, braje rädhä-kåñëa pabe, dharo nitäi-caraëa du’khäni.vaisnava öhäkur, tomära kukkur,
boliya janaha more
Prabhupäda: (sings)Nitäi-pada-kamala, koöi-candra-suçétala, je chäyäy jagata juräy.nitäi-pada-kamala, koöi-candra-suçétala,
je chäyäy jagata juräyheno nitäi bine bhäi, rädhä-kåñëa päite näi,
dåòha kori’ dharo nitäir päyse sambandha nähi jä’r, båthä janma gelo tä’r,
sei paçu boro duräcärnitäi nä bolilo mukhe, majilo saàsära-sukhe,
vidyä-kule ki koribe tärahaìkäre matta hoiyä, nitäi-pada päsariyä,
asatyere satya kori mäninitäiyer koruëä habe, braje rädhä-kåñëa päbe,
dharo nitäi-caraëa du’khäninitäiyer caraëa satya, täìhära sevaka nitya,
nitäi-pada sadä koro äçänarotamma boro dukhé, nitäi more koro sukhé,
räkho räìgä-caraëera päça
He says that “If you are anxious to go back to home, back to Godhead, and become associate with Rädhä and Kåñëa, then the best policy is to take shelter of Nityänanda.” Then he says, se sambandha nähi jä’r, båthä janma gelo tä’r: “One who has not been able to contact Nityänanda, then one should think of himself that he has simply spoiled his valuable life.” Båthä janma gelo, båthä means for nothing, and janma means life. Gelo tä’r, spoiled. Because he has not made connection with Nityänanda. The Nityänanda, very name, suggests... Nitya means eternal. Änanda means pleasure. Material pleasure is not eternal. That is the distinction. Therefore those who are intelligent, they are not interested with this flickering pleasure of material world. Every one of us, as living entity, we are searching after pleasure. But the pleasure which we are seeking, that is flickering, temporary. That is not pleasure. Real pleasure is nityänanda, eternal pleasure. So anyone who has no contact with Nityänanda, it is to be understood that his life is spoiled.nitäi-pada-kamala, koöi-candra-suçétala,
je chäyäy jagata juräy,
heno nitäi bine bhai, rädhä-kåñëa päite näi,
dharo nitäi-caraëa du’khani
Narottama däsa Öhäkura uses here very harsh word. He says that such human being is an animal, an uncontrollable animal. As there are some animals that cannot be tamed, so anyone who has not contacted Nityänanda, he should be considered as an untamed animal. Sei paçu boro duräcär. Why? Because nitäi nä bolilo mukhe: “He never uttered the holy name of Nityänanda.” And majilo saàsära-sukhe, “and become merged into this material happiness.” Vidyä-kule ki koribe tär. “That nonsense does not know that what will his education and family and tradition and nationality will help him?” These things cannot help him. These are all temporary things. Simply, if we want eternal pleasure, we must contact Nityänanda. Vidyä-kule ki koribe tär. Vidyä means education, and kula means family, nationality. So we may have a very nice family connection or we may have very nice national prestige, but after ending this body, these things will not help me. I’ll carry my work with me, and according to that work, I shall have to accept by force another type of body. It may be something other than human body. So these things cannot protect us or give us the real pleasure. So Narottama däsa Öhäkura advises that vidyä-kule ki koribe tär. Then he says, ahaìkäre matta hoiyä. “Being maddened after false prestige and identification...” False identification with the body and prestige of bodily relationship, it is called ahaìkäre matta hoiyä. One is mad after this false prestige. Ahaìkäre matta hoiyä, nitäi-pada päsariyä. Due to this false prestige we are thinking, “Oh, what is Nityänanda? What can He do for me? I don’t care.” So these are the signs of false prestige. Ahaìkäre matta hoiyä, nitäi-pada päsa..., asatyere satya kori mäni. The result is that I am accepting something which is false. For example, I am accepting this body. This body, I am not this body. Therefore, with false identification I am becoming entangled more and more. So one who is puffed up with this false prestige, ahaìkäre matta hoiyä, nitäi-pada pä..., asatyere satya kori mäni, he accepts something wrong as right. Then he says, nitäiyer koruëä habe, braje rädhä-kåñëa päbe. If you are actually serious about going back to home, back to Godhead, then please seek after the mercy of Nityänanda. Ahaìkäre...se sambandha nähi jä’r, båthä janma gelo tä’r,
sei paçu boro duräcär
“Please catch up the lotus feet of Nityänanda.” Then he says, nitäiyer caraëa satya. One may think that as we catch hold of so many shelter, but in this material world later on they prove false, similarly, suppose we catch hold of the lotus feet of Nityänanda; it may also prove false. But Narottama däsa Öhäkura assures that nitäiyer caraëa satya: “It is not false. Because Nityänanda is eternal, His lotus feet is also eternal.” Täìhära sevaka nitya. And anyone who takes to the service of Nityänanda, they also become eternal. Without being eternal, nobody can serve the eternal. That is the Vedic injunction. Without becoming Brahman, one cannot approach the Supreme Brahman. Just like without being fire, nobody can enter into the fire. Without being water, nobody can enter into the water. Similarly, without being fully spiritualized, nobody can enter into the spiritual kingdom. So nitäiyer caraëa satya. If you catch nitäiyer, the lotus feet of Nityänanda, then you become immediately spiritualized. Just like if you touch electricity, immediately you become electrified. That is natural. Similarly, Nityänanda is eternal happiness, if you touch Nityänanda some way or other, then you become also eternally happy. Täìhära sevaka nitya. Therefore one who has in contact with Nityänanda, they have become eternal.nitäiyer koruëä habe, braja rädhä-kåñëa päbe,
dharo nitäi-caraëa du’khäni
nitäiyer caraëa satya,
täìhära sevaka nitya,
dåòha kori’ dharo nitäir
päy
So just catch Him very tightly. Narottama boro duùkhé, nitäi more koro sukhé. At the last Narottama däsa Öhäkura, the composer of this song, he is appealing to Nityänanda, “My dear Lord, I am very unhappy. So You please make me happy. And You kindly keep me in corner of Your lotus feet.” That is the sum and substance of this song. (end)
Lord Nityananda's Childhood Pastimes from Chaitanya Bhagavat
Lord Nityananda's
Childhood
by Satyaraja dasa
Posted February 14, 2003 http://www.chakra.org/announcements/FestFeb14_03_01.html
Curiously there is no authoritative biography of Nityananda Prabhu;
and while Rupa, Jiva, and Raghunatha do not even mention him once in their
collective writings, Sanatana Gosvami refers to him only briefly in the
invocation of his Vaisnava-tosani. Nonetheless, the world is fortunate
that Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's biographers have devoted large sections
of their work to Nityananda's life, which can be pieced together from this
massive literature, and also from later medieval Vaisnava texts, such as
Bhakti-ratna- kara and Prema-vilasa. Nityananda Prabhu was born in the
village of Ekcakra, also called Ekacakra, in the country of Rahr (Radhadesa),
some eight miles east of where today stands the Mallarpura station of the
E.I. Railway (within the modern Birbhum District of West Bengal). His birthsite
is commemorated by a small temple named Garbhavasa and is visited by throngs
of pilgrims to this day.
Although no authorized account of His birth is extant, it is said that
He was born in or near the year 1474 and that His father's name was Hadai
Ojha. Hadai was a well known pandita, having descended from a good brahmana
family whose origins were in Mithila; and his wife's name was Padmavati.
Their only son, Nityananda, was born on the auspicious thirteenth day of
the bright fortnight of the month of Magh. This auspicious day was made
even more auspicious by Nityananda Prabhu's birth.
As a child, Nitai, as He was called, had a close circle of friends,
and together they used to imitate the pastimes of Visnu and His associates.
Once, they dressed themselves as demigods and petitioned the Lord to alleviate
the burdened Earth of Kali-yuga. Nityananda Prabhu and a playmate who was
dressed as the ailing Earth, along with the other children, took their
game to the Ganges, where they addressed Lord Visnu. At that time, one
of the children hid behind a rock and spoke in a grave voice, "I will soon
be born in Mathura to lighten the oppression of the Earth." The boys enjoyed
themselves, as children do, while becoming completely absorbed in Krsna
lila.
On another occasion, Nitai and His friends gathered in an imitation
"village" to celebrate the marriage of Vasudeva and Devaki, the parents
of Krsna. The following day, they made their playhouse into the prison
of Kamsa and enacted the entire story of Krsna's birth. Once, while acting
out this episode, Nitai transformed the area into a cowherd settlement
and took "Krsna" there, deceiving Kamsa by substituting Yogamaya for Krsna
within the prison.
Performing these intricately-woven stories on a daily basis, the children
became quite close and came to love Nitai as their natural leader and friend.
He was the most imaginative among them, and they all laughed and shared
joyful exchanges when He would dress them like demons.
When they staged the Putana story, for example, they would engage in
uproarious laughter when one of their friends pretended to suck the demoness's
breasts like baby Krsna. Sometimes Nitai would construct demons out of
toys, naming them Bakasura, Aghasura, Vatsasura, and so on and would go
through the motions of battling with them and finally killing them.
His friends were so entertained by His play-acting that they would
come back day after day just to see Him do it again and again.
Once in a while, His friends would take the roles of the elephant Kuvalayapida
or the wrestlers Canura and Mustika. Nitai would fight with them, knock
them down, and drag them off by the hair. By the end of the day, their
stomachs would ache from laughter, and they would tell their parents about
the great fun enjoyed with Nitai in play-acting.
Sometimes Nitai would bring His friends to the local milkman and have
them watch Him steal butter and yogurt, as Krsna did in His Vraja lila.
The milkman, of course, did not complain. In fact, he was an accomplice,
setting aside excess dairy for Nitai and His friends, expecting them to
show up.
All the adults of Ekacakra adored Nitai. They were fascinated by this
unique little boy, and they loved Him as their own. Seeing His total absorption
in Krsna and the avataras of Visnu, they suspected that He might be some
sort of Incarnation Himself.
He was relentless, day after day enacting a different pastime, and
did it so skillfully that His neighbors wondered, "How is it that He is
so talented? How does He know the stories so well? No one has explained
all these details to Him."
One day He imitated Krsna's pastime of lifting Govardhana Hill, with
all aspects of the story acted out perfectly. On another, He constructed
a replica of Vrndavana, performing many parts of Krsna's Vraja-lila with
marked realism, and on still another, He pretended to steal the clothes
of the gopis and visit the wives of the brahmanas engaged in sacrifice.
On one occasion, one of the boys dressed as Akrura and took Krsna and
Balarama away from Vrndavana on the order of Kamsa. Nitai cried in grief,
feeling the separation of the gopis. Tears of love flowed from His eyes.
His acting was so authentic that it made all who watched question whether
He was merely acting or in some way experiencing the part He played. This
was true whether He was playing Krsna, Balarama, or even Vamana, or other
Incarnations of the Lord.
"Nitai, where have you learned all this?" one of the neighborhood ladies
asked. Nityananda enjoyed her question. "They are My own divine pastimes,"
He said, "and I am allowing you to see them." The townspeople laughed,
shaking their heads. They did not know what to make of Him.
(From Sri Panca Tattva: The Five Features of God, by Steven J. Rosen. Copyright Brhat Mrdanga Press/Folk Books, Brooklyn NY 1994. Reprinted with permission.)
1) boro sukher khabor gai
surabhi-kunjete namer hat khule'che (khoda nitai)
2) boro mojar kotha tay
sraddha-mulye
suddhe-nam sei hatete bikay
3) jata bhakta-brnda basi'
adhikari dekhe' nam becche daro kasi
4) jadi nam kinbe, bhai
amar sange calo, mahajaner kache jai
5) tumi kinbe krsna-nama
dasturi loibo ami, purna ha'be kam
6) boro dayal nityananda
sraddha-matra lo'ye den parama-ananda
7) ek-bar dekhle cakhe jal
'gaura' bole' nitai den sakala sambal
8) den suddha krsna-sikha
jati, dhana, bidya, bala na kore apekha
9) amani chare maya-jal
grhe thako, bane thako, na thake janjal
10) ar naiko kalir bhoy
acandale den nam nitai doya-moy
11) bhaktivinoda daki' koy
nitai-caran bina'ar nahi asroy
1) I am singing news of great holy tidings. Lord Nityananda Himself has opened a market-place of the holy name in Surahbi-kunja. 2) He is selling the pure holy name in that market-place for the price of only one's faith. 3) Lord Nityananda, seeing all the devotees becoming attracted, is selling them the holy name after bargaining with them. 4) O brother, if you want the holy name then come with me. We must go to that great soul, Nityananda. 5) You will get the name of Krsna, I will take my commission and all of our desires will be fulfilled. 6) Lord Nityananda is greatly merciful. Taking only one's faith, He gives the highest ecstasy. 7) If He sees only once tears in the eyes while chanting the name "Gaura" then He gives everything to that person. 8) He gives the pure teachings of Krsna to everyone not caring for their birth, wealth, knowledge and strength. 9) Now, giving up the illusory snare of Maya, either remain in household life or in the forest as a sannyasi, for no more troubles remain. 10) There is no more fear of the age of Kali. the merciful Nityananda gives the holy name to even the candalas. 11) Bhaktivinoda calls out: "Except for the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda there is no other shelter!"
Doyal Nitai Chaitanya Bole Nachre Amar Man
(1)
`doyAl nitAi caitanya' bole' nAc re AmAr man
nAc re AmAr man, nAc re AmAra man
1) Chanting the holy names "DoyAl NitAi Caitanya!"-Oh my mind dances! Oh my mind dances! Oh my mind dances!
(2)
(emon, doyAl to nAi he, mAr kheye prema dey)
(ore) aparAdha dUre jAbe, pAbe prema-dhan
(o nAme aparAdha-vicAra to nAi he)
(takhon) kRSNa-nAme ruci ha'be, ghucibe bandhan
2) Oh! Such a merciful personality as NityAnanda Prabhu is not to be found anywhere! He suffers a beating from JagAi and MAdhAi and still gives them love of God! Oh! When your offenses are vanquished, you will obtain the treasure of love of God! But in these names of Caitanya and NitAi there is no consideration of offenses! Once you have a taste for the holy name of KRSNa, bondage to this world will come to an end.
(3)
(kRSNa-nAme anurAg to ha'be he)
(takhon) anAyAse saphal ha'be jIvera jIvan
(kRSNa-rati vinA jIvan to miche he)
(ese) bRndAbane rAdhA-zyAmer pa'be darazan
(gaura-kRpA ha'le he)
3) Oh! When there is attachment to the holy name of KRSNa, then very easily the life of a living being becomes successful! Oh! Without affection for KRSNa, life is simply useless! At the end of life you will obtain the beautiful vision of RAdhA and zyAma in VRndAvana-if the mercy of Lord Gaura is received! Oh!
Nitai Pada Kamala:
nitäi-pada-kamala, koöi-candra-suçétala,
je chäyäy jagata juräy
heno nitäi bine bhäi, rädhä-kåñëa
päite näi,
dåòha kori’ dharo nitäir päy
se sambandha nähi jä’r, båthä janma gelo tä’r,
sei paçu boro duräcär
nitäi nä bolilo mukhe, majilo saàsära-sukhe,
vidyä-kule ki koribe tär
ahaìkäre matta hoiyä, nitäi-pada päsariyä,
asatyere satya kori mäni
nitäiyer koruëä habe, braje rädhä-kåñëa
päbe,
dharo nitäi-caraëa du’khäni
nitäiyer caraëa satya, täìhära sevaka nitya,
nitäi-pada sadä koro äçä
narotamma boro dukhé, nitäi more koro sukhé,
räkho räìgä-caraëera päça
Nitäi-pada-kamala, koöi-candra-suçétala, je chäyäy jagata juräy. This is a song by Narottama däsa Öhäkura, a great äcärya of the Gauòéya-vaiñëava-sampradäya. He has written many songs about the Vaiñëava philosophy, and they are approved as completely corresponding with Vedic instructions. So here Narottama däsa Öhäkura is singing that “The whole world is suffering under the blazing fire of material existence. Therefore, if one takes the shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Nityänanda...,” whose birthday is today, 31st, January, 1969. So we should relish this instruction of Narottama däsa Öhäkura that in order to get relief from the pangs of blazing fire of this material existence, one should take shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Nityänanda because it is as cooling as the moon rays combined together of millions of moons. That means one will immediately find peaceful atmosphere. Just like a man works whole day and if he comes under the moonshine he feels relief. Similarly, any materialistic man who comes under the shelter of Lord Nityänanda will immediately feel that relief. Then he says,
nitäi-pada-kamala, koöi-candra-suçétala,
je chäyäy jagata juräy,
heno nitäi bine bhai, rädhä-kåñëa päite
näi,
dharo nitäi-caraëa du’khani
He says that “If you are anxious to go back to home, back to Godhead, and become associate with Rädhä and Kåñëa, then the best policy is to take shelter of Nityänanda.” Then he says, se sambandha nähi jä’r, båthä janma gelo tä’r: “One who has not been able to contact Nityänanda, then one should think of himself that he has simply spoiled his valuable life.” Båthä janma gelo, båthä means for nothing, and janma means life. Gelo tä’r, spoiled. Because he has not made connection with Nityänanda. The Nityänanda, very name, suggests... Nitya means eternal. Änanda means pleasure. Material pleasure is not eternal. That is the distinction. Therefore those who are intelligent, they are not interested with this flickering pleasure of material world. Every one of us, as living entity, we are searching after pleasure. But the pleasure which we are seeking, that is flickering, temporary. That is not pleasure. Real pleasure is nityänanda, eternal pleasure. So anyone who has no contact with Nityänanda, it is to be understood that his life is spoiled.
se sambandha nähi jä’r, båthä janma gelo tä’r,
sei paçu boro duräcär
Narottama däsa Öhäkura uses here very harsh word. He says that such human being is an animal, an uncontrollable animal. As there are some animals that cannot be tamed, so anyone who has not contacted Nityänanda, he should be considered as an untamed animal. Sei paçu boro duräcär. Why? Because nitäi nä bolilo mukhe: “He never uttered the holy name of Nityänanda.” And majilo saàsära-sukhe, “and become merged into this material happiness.” Vidyä-kule ki koribe tär. “That nonsense does not know that what will his education and family and tradition and nationality will help him?” These things cannot help him. These are all temporary things. Simply, if we want eternal pleasure, we must contact Nityänanda. Vidyä-kule ki koribe tär. Vidyä means education, and kula means family, nationality. So we may have a very nice family connection or we may have very nice national prestige, but after ending this body, these things will not help me. I’ll carry my work with me, and according to that work, I shall have to accept by force another type of body. It may be something other than human body. So these things cannot protect us or give us the real pleasure. So Narottama däsa Öhäkura advises that vidyä-kule ki koribe tär. Then he says, ahaìkäre matta hoiyä. “Being maddened after false prestige and identification...” False identification with the body and prestige of bodily relationship, it is called ahaìkäre matta hoiyä. One is mad after this false prestige. Ahaìkäre matta hoiyä, nitäi-pada päsariyä. Due to this false prestige we are thinking, “Oh, what is Nityänanda? What can He do for me? I don’t care.” So these are the signs of false prestige. Ahaìkäre matta hoiyä, nitäi-pada päsa..., asatyere satya kori mäni. The result is that I am accepting something which is false. For example, I am accepting this body. This body, I am not this body. Therefore, with false identification I am becoming entangled more and more. So one who is puffed up with this false prestige, ahaìkäre matta hoiyä, nitäi-pada pä..., asatyere satya kori mäni, he accepts something wrong as right. Then he says, nitäiyer koruëä habe, braje rädhä-kåñëa päbe. If you are actually serious about going back to home, back to Godhead, then please seek after the mercy of Nityänanda. Ahaìkäre...
nitäiyer koruëä habe, braja rädhä-kåñëa
päbe,
dharo nitäi-caraëa du’khäni
“Please
catch up the lotus feet of Nityänanda.” Then he says, nitäiyer
caraëa satya. One may think that as we catch hold of so many shelter,
but in this material world later on they prove false, similarly, suppose
we catch hold of the lotus feet of Nityänanda; it may also prove false.
But Narottama däsa Öhäkura assures that nitäiyer caraëa
satya: “It is not false. Because Nityänanda is eternal, His lotus
feet is also eternal.” Täìhära sevaka nitya. And anyone
who takes to the service of Nityänanda, they also become eternal.
Without being eternal, nobody can serve the eternal. That is the Vedic
injunction. Without becoming Brahman, one cannot approach the Supreme Brahman.
Just like without being fire, nobody can enter into the fire. Without being
water, nobody can enter into the water. Similarly, without being fully
spiritualized, nobody can enter into the spiritual kingdom.
So nitäiyer caraëa satya. If you
catch nitäiyer, the lotus feet of Nityänanda, then you become
immediately spiritualized. Just like if you touch electricity, immediately
you become electrified. That is natural. Similarly, Nityänanda is
eternal happiness, if you touch Nityänanda some way or other, then
you become also eternally happy. Täìhära sevaka nitya.
Therefore one who has in contact with Nityänanda, they have become
eternal.
nitäiyer caraëa satya, täìhära
sevaka nitya,
dåòha kori’ dharo nitäir päy
So
just catch Him very tightly. Narottama boro duùkhé, nitäi
more koro sukhé. At the last Narottama däsa Öhäkura,
the composer of this song, he is appealing to Nityänanda, “My dear
Lord, I am very unhappy. So You please make me happy. And You kindly keep
me in corner of Your lotus feet.” That is the sum and substance of this
song. (end)
Sri Nagar Kirtan by Srila
Bhaktivinod Thakur
From Gitavali, BVT song book page 79
1/.
Nadiyaa godrume nityananda mahaajan
Patiyache naam hatta jibera kaaran
2/.
(shraddhavan jan he, shraddhavan jan he !)
prabhur aajnay, bhai, maagi ei bhikhaa
bolo ‘krsna,’ bhajo krsna, koro krsna-shikhaa
3/.
Aparaadha-shunya ho’ye loha krsna-naam
Krsna maataa, krsna pitaa, krsna dhana-praan
4/.
Krsnera samsara koro chari’ anachar
Jibe doyaa, krsna-naam - sarba-dharma-saar
1/. In the land of Navadwip, on the island of Godruma, the magnanimous Lord Nityananda has opened a marketplace of the Holy Name for the deliverance of all fallen souls.
2/. Oh men of faith ! Oh men of faith ! By the order of Lord Gauranga, O brothers, I beg this one request; chant “Krishna !”, serve and worship Krishna, and learn about Krishna.
3/. Chant the holy names of Krishna without offense. Krishna is our mother, Krishna is our father, and Krishna is the treasure of our life.
4/. Giving up all material contamination, carry on your
worldly duties, but in relation to Krishna. Showing compassion to all fallen
souls by loudly chanting the holy names of Krishna is the essence of all
forms of religion.
TWELVE NAMES OF THE MOONLIKE NITYANANDA PRABHU
by Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya
1) nityanando 'vadhutendur vasudha-prana-vallabhah
jahnavi-jivita-patih
krsna-prema-pradah prabhuh
Twelve principle names of Sri Nityananda Prabhu are:
* Nityananda -- He
Who embodies eternal bliss
* Avadhutendu -- The
Moon of divine madmen
* Vasudha-prana-vallabha
-- The beloved of the life-breath of Vasudha
* Krsna-prema-prada --
He Who bestows ecstatic love for Krsna
* Prabhu -- The Lord
and Master of the devotees
2) padmavati-sutah sriman saci-nandana-purvajah
bhavonmatto
jagat-trata rakta-gaura-kalevarah
* Padmavati-suta --
The dear son of Padmavati
* Sriman -- He of
spendrous transcendental majesty
* Saci-nandana-purvaja --
The older brother of mother Saci's son
* Bhavonmatta -- He
Who is maddened in overwhelming ecstatic emotions
* Jagat-trata -- The
savior of the universe
* Rakta-gaura-kalevara -
He Whose complexion is golden tinged with red
3) sri nityananda candrasya nama-dvadasakam
subham
ya idam
pratyaham pratah praty utthaya pathen narah
"That person who recites these twelve auspicious holy names of the
moonlike Nityananda-chandra every day upon arising in the morning...
4) sa klesa-rahito bhutva prapnuyat
sva-mano-ratham
turnam
caitanya-devasya karuna-bhajanam bhavet
"such a person becomes free from all difficulties & attains all their most cherished desires. Very soon they become the object of Lord Chaitanya-deva's mercy."
3. PRAYERS TO LORD NITYANANDA By Lochana dAsa ThAkura
nitAI guNamaNi AmAra nitAI guNamaNi
AniyA premera banyA bhAsAla abanI
premera banyA laIyA nitAI AIlA gauDa-deze
Dubila bhakata-gaNa dIna hIna bhAse
dIna-hIna-patita-pAmara nAhi bAche
brahmAra durlabha prema sabAkAre jAce
Abaddha karuNA-sindhu (NitAI) kATiyA muhAna
ghare ghare bule prema amiyAra bAna
locana bole mora nitAI jebA nA bhajila
jAniyA zuniyA seI Atma-ghAtI haila
Purport (by Srila Prabhupada)--
This is a song by LocanadAsa ThAkura, who was almost contemporary
with Lord Caitanya. he has written many books on the life and precepts
of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. LocanadAsa says, "Lord NityAnanda is full
of good qualities (NitAI-guNamaNi means the jewel all good qualities).
He says this repeatedly.
AniyA premera banyA bhAsAla abanI. On account of His spiritual
qualities, He has inundated the whole world with the flood of love of Godhead.
It is by His kindness that people can experience what is love of God.
Premera banyA laiyA AilA gauDa-deze. When Lord Caitanya MahAprabhu
left home and took sannyAsa, He made His headquarters at jagannAtha PurI.
Lord NityAnanda also accompanied Him up to JagannAtha purI. After a few
days Lord Caitanya requested Him, "If both of us remain here, then who
will preach in Bengal?" Bengal is known as GauDa-deza. Under the order
of Lord Caitanya, Lord NityAnanda brought with Him the flood of love of
Godhead, and He distributed it to the whole of Bengal.
Dubila bhakata-gaNa dIna hIna bhAse. In that flood all the devotees
drowned, but the non-devotees could not drown. They were floating. As far
as Lord NityAnanda is concerned, he does not make any discrimination between
devotees and nondevotees.
4) PRAYER TO LORD NITYANANDA
hADAyi-paNDita-tanUja kRpAsamudra
padmAvatI-tanaya tIrtha-padAravinda
tvaM prema-kalpa-tarur Arti-harAvatAro
mAM pAhi pAmaram anAtham ananya-bandhum
"O son of Padmavati and Harai Pandit, Ocean of grace, whose lotus feet
are veritably places of pilgrimage. You are the remover of distress, the
desire tree of Divine love. I am a vile wretch, with no master and
no other friend. Please save me!"