11. Lord Nitaai's Ekachakra Dhaam Glories Summary

Ekachakra Dhaam Glories Summary

The village of Ekacakra was formally located at the far end of what is now known as Birchandrapur. It was centered around the Garbhasa, Jahnu Kunda and the Bakutala. After Lord Nityananda disappeared, the residents of Ekacakra left for other parts of the country and the village was deserted. But Birchandra Gosai again re-established Birchandrapur. At present, approximately 4,000 residents live in the combined Birchandrapur / Ekacakra - gram vicinity.
Garbhavasa (Birthplace): There are different holy sites within this area.

· Janmasthan Mandir
· Hadai Pandit Bhavan
· Sasthi Tala
· Mala Tala

This is the birthplace of Lord Nityananda. Lord Nityananda’s father’s name is Hadai Pandita, and His mother’s name is Padmavati. Another name for Lord Nityananda is Nitai.

Ekacakra extends north and south for an area of about eight miles. Other villages, namely Viracandra-pura and Virabhadra-pura, are situated within the area of the village of Ekacakra. In honor of the holy name of Virabhadra Gosvami, these places are renowned as Viracandra-pura and Virabhadra-pura.

There is a big festival here on Nityananda Prabhu’s appearance day and also on Gosthastami.

This is an interesting place and there are a lot of places to see. I considered myself fortunate to have gone there.

How To Get There Ekacakra is located about 165 km (100 miles) northwest of Mayapur and takes about five hours by car or bus. It is 11 miles north of the town of Rampur Hat in the district of Birbhum. It is 8 miles east of Mallarapura railway station. After Burdwan station is another branch line, which is called a Loop Line of the eastern railway. This is a station on this line called Mallarapura. Ekacakra is 8 miles east of this railway station.

Practicalities
There is a small ISKCON temple here, and the local devotee can help show you the area. There is a small guest house for pilgrims at the temple where you can stay over night.

This village is very small and there are virtually no facilities here, not even a cold drink stand. You should bring bottled water and a flashlight (torch) with you. Not many people come here.

From Mayapur, the best way to get to Ekacakra is to go by taxi. You could take a taxi in the early morning and reach there before noon. You can see most of the places in about five hours.

Garbhavasa
This is the birthplace of Lord Nityananda. In the Janmasthan Mandir there is a Deity of Nitai (Nityananda). Hadai Pandita Bhavan is the site of the original house of Nityananda’s father. The little white temple next to Nitai Kund is the exact spot where Lord Nityananda was born. There are two banyan trees by this temple that are said to have existed since the time of Nityananda.

In the center of the main altar of the temple is a Deity of Lord Nityananda. To His left, with His hands raised, is Lord Chaitanya. On Nityananda’s right is Advaita Acarya. The side altar has Deities of Radha-Radhakanta and Radha-Shrikanta, a large dancing Gauranga in the center, and ten brass sakhis at the bottom. The temple was constructed by Prasannakumara Karapharma.

Nitai Kunda
In this kunda the dhotis, plates, utensils, etc. of Nityananda Prabhu were washed. The pujaris of the temple use water from this kunda for their Deity worship.

Mala Tala
There is an old pippala tree here called Mala Tala. Just before Nityananda departed with the unknown sannyasa, Hadai Pandita came here and chanted japa under this tree. Mala means “japa beads” and tala means “tree.” When Nitai was about to depart Hadai Pandita left his japa beads here due to anxiety.

Lord Chaitanya came to Ekacakra many years after Nityananda left. It is said that at that time Lord Chaitanya left His flower garland on a branch of this tree. Mala also means “garland.” Therefore also for this reason this tree was called Mala Tala.

Hantugada, or Jahnu Kund

It is said that Nitai brought all the sacred waters from all the holy places to this kunda to save the local residents from having to journey to the Ganges to take a sacred bath. It is named Hantugada because Nityananda Prabhu used to perform the Dadhi-cida festival of distributing chipped rice with yogurt prasada here and He would take the prasada while kneeling down.

How To Get There You get here by walking east out of the village, past the birthplace. It is a small kunda surrounded by grass and a lone tree, which hangs over the water.

Padmavati Kunda (Padmavati Puskarini)
This kunda (tank) was dug by Lord Nityananda’s grandfather for his daughter (Nityananda’s mother), and he named it after her. This kunda is a nice place to bathe. This kunda is located behind Lord Nityananda’s birthplace.

Pandava Tala
This place is a five minute walk (400m) into the fields, southeast of Lord Nityananda’s birthplace. It is surrounded by a group of Keli-kadamba trees. The Pandavas lived here with their mother, Kunti, when they were exiled to the forest. At that time, Bhima killed the Bakasura demon, who was eating the local residences.
Sikhandabi

This is where the Bakasura demon lived, who terrorized the people of Ekacakra for many years. The demon used to eat one human being each day from the local villages in the area of Ekacakra. The people set up a system where one person from a different family was sent to Bakasura each day. Queen Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas requested Bhima, who had the strength of 10,000 elephants to kill this demon. Bhima then killed this demon after a furious fight.

Bakula Tree
Between the birth place and Jahnu Kund is a young Bakula tree surrounded by a cement platform. This is the site of the original Bakula tree under which Nitai and His young friends used to perform their childhood pastimes. The present tree is an offspring of the original tree. The original tree’s branches resembled the hoods of a cobra. It is suggested that by the desire of Shri Nityananda Prabhu, Anantadeva manifested Himself in that way. This tree originally had two branches, but later on, when the friends of Nityananda Prabhu felt inconvenience in jumping from one branch to another, Nityananda, by His mercy, merged the two branches into one branch.

It is said that the umbilical cord of Nitai is buried underneath this tree. This area was formerly the large estate of Hadai Pandita, the father of Nitai.

Kundu Kunda
Nitai used to bath in Kundu Kunda, which is on the east side of the Yamuna.

Nityananda Vishram
There is an old banyan tree on the bank of the Yamuna called Nityananda Visram Tala, which is said to have existed since the time of Lord Nityananda.

Kadamba Khandi
The small temple of Kadam Khandi marks the spot where Lord Nityananda recovered the Bankima Raya Deity from the Yamuna River, which is also called the Maudesvara River. In the rear of the temple is a small river (the Yamuna). On the bank of this river is Kadam Khandi Ghata where Bankima Raya was found. Kardam means clay and kundi means “ghata.”

Yamuna River
It is also known as the Maudesvara. This river begins about 10 km (6 miles) from a temple that was established by Siva Singh during Nitai’s childhood.

Virachandrapura Side

Bankima (Banke) Raya Temple
This temple was built under the direction of Virabhadra Gosai, the son of Lord Nityananda. On the altar of this temple is Krishna as Bankima Raya, who was originally established by Nityananda Prabhu. On His left is Shrimati Radharani, and on His right is Jahnava Devi. It is said that Lord Nityananda left the planet by entering into this Deity. After Lord Nityananda’s disappearance, The Deity of Jahnava was placed to the right of Bankima Raya. On another throne, to the right of Bankima Raya, is a Deity of Yogamaya.

In this temple there is also an altar with a Deity of Murali-dhara. It is said that this Deity was given to Padmavati Devi by the sannyasi Nitai went on pilgrimage with when He was 12. On the same altar are Deities of Radha Madhava.

To the right of the altar, outside the gate, is another little temple dedicated to Madana Mohana Krishna. On His left is His consort, Radha, and on His right is the gopi Candravali. On the right side is Radha-Vrindavana Candra. These Deities are supposed to have been worshipped for 13 generations and are over 450 years old.

The priest says that he is a descendant of Lord Nityananda.

After Lord Chaitanya went to Jagannatha Puri, He ordered Nityananda to return to Bengal and preach. At this time Nityananda returned to Ekacakra after being gone for almost 30 years. By this time His parent had already left this world. He then found the Deity of Bankima Raya in the Yamuna at Kadamba Khandi. He installed this Deity in a temple. Later, a Deity of Shrimati Radharani was discovered in Bhaddhapur, in the locality of Viracandrapura, underneath the roots of a neem tree, about ¾ km (½ mile) west. This Deity was installed to the right of Bankima Raya. For this reason, the Radharani of Bankima Raya was known as Bhaddapurera Thakurani, the mistress of Bhaddhapura.

The priests who are presently doing the worship in this temple belong to the family of Gopijana-vallabhananda, one of the branches of Nityananda Prabhu. There are three parties of priestly gosvamis who take charge of the temple management one after another.

Vishrama Tala
During the time of Nityananda Prabhu there was a very large, old banyan tree here. It is said that Nityananda Prabhu in His childhood used to enjoy pastimes of Vrindavana with His boy friends here.
When Nityananda was leaving with the sannyasi, He told the sannyasi that they should wait a few minutes to see if His mother could bear the separation of His leaving. So they stopped under the banyan tree, that was here. His mother came out of the house crying. Seeing this the sannyasi gave her a black marble Deity called Muralidhara. Soon after Lord Nityananda departed His father gave up his body feeling great separation after Nitai had left

How To Get There This place is close to the Bankima Raya temple.

Other Places
North of the Bankima Raya Temple is a temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath and Sakshi Gopal. In this temple there is a deity of Ekacakra Siva, also known as Bhandisvara, who Hadai Pandita, the father of Lord Nityananda, is said to have worshiped.

Sveta Ganga
There is a small kunda between the road and Bankima Raya Temple called Sveta Ganga. Its water is used to worship Bankima Raya. It was dug by 1200 shaktas of the Nedadi sampradaya who approached Jahnava Mata, the wife of Lord Nityananda, to test Her potency.

Amalitala
Near the Bankima Raya temple is a place named Amalitala, which is so named because of a big tamarind tree there.

Other Places
The local residences say that Radha Kunda, also known as Raya Pukur, and Syama Kunda (Syama Pukur) are located on the western side of the Virachandrapur village in some fields. The local residents most likely will have to point them out to you.

The local residents also say that south of the Bankima Raya Temple, outside the village in the fields lies Govardhana Hill, which is a small mound 1/5 acre in size.

East from there, across the road, just past a bridge that crosses the Yamuna River, is Kaliya Damana Ghata. It is marked by a sole tree overhanging the Yamuna, on the northern bank of the river, close to the bridge.

9. Sri Nityanandastakam

Sri Nityanandastakam
Composed by Srila Vrindavan dasa Thakura

1

sarac-candra-bhrantim sphurad-amala-kantim gaja-gatim hari-premonmattam dhrta-parama-sattvam smita-mukham sada ghurnan-netram kara-kalita-vetram kali-bhidam bhaje nityanandam bhajana-taru-kandam niravadhi 

I perpetually worship Sri Nityananda Prabhu, the root of the Krsna-bhakti tree, whose bright face mocks the full autumn moon, whose pure complexion glistens, whose gait is like that of a maddened elephant, who is always intoxicated in Krsna prema, who embodies pure spiritual energy, whose face holds a gently smile, whose eyes are always rolling due to His absorption in Krsna prema, whose lotus hand holds a glowing staff, and who by the performance of nama-sankirtana pierces the influence of Kali yuga. 

2

rasanam-agaram svajana-gana-sarvasvam -atulam tadiyaika-prana-pratima-vasudha-jahnava-pati sada premonmadam param-aviditam manda-manasam bhaje nityanandam bhajana-taru-kandam niravadhi 

I perpetually worship Sri Nityananda Prabhu, the root of the Krsna-bhakti tree, who is the mainstay of all the rasas, who is everything to His devotees, who is incomparable, who is the master of both Vasudha and Jahnava-devi, who consider Him more dear than their own lives, who is always maddened in Krsna- prema, and who is unknown only to those of meagre intelligence. 

3

saci-sunu-prestham nikhila-jagadistam sukhamayam kalau majjaj-jivoddharana-karanoddama-karunam harer-akhyanad-va bhava-jaladhi-garvonnati haram bhaje nityanandam bhajana-taru-kandam niravadhi 

I perpetually worship Sri Nityananda Prabhu, the root of the Krsna-bhakti tree, who is very dear to Sri Saci-nandana, who is worshipped by the entire universe, who is the embodiment of happiness, who possesses infinite mercy for delivering the souls who are drowning in the age of Kali, and who by the performance of Sri Harinama-sankirtana thwarts the progressing false pride of the ocean of repeated birth and death. 

4

aye bhratar-nrnam kali-kalusinam kinnu bhavita tatha prayascitam racaya yad-anayasata ime vrajanti tvam-ittham saha bhagavata mantrayati yo bhaje nityanandam bhajana-taru-kandam niravadhi 

I perpetually worship Sri Nityananda Prabhu, the root of the Krsna-Bhakti tree, who said to Sri Krsna Chaitanya, "Hey broher Gauranga! What will be the destination of the sinful souls of Kali-yuga, and how will they be redeemed? Please devise a method by which they will easily attain You." 

5

yathestam re bhratah! kuru hari-hari-dhvanam-anisam tato vah samsarambudhi-tarana-dayo mayi laget idam bahu-sphotair-atati ratayan yah pratigrham bhaje nityanandam bhajana-taru-kandam niravadhi 

I perpetually worship Sri Nityananda Prabhu, the root of the Krsna-bhakti tree, who wandered around Bengal and aproaching the door of each and every home, threw open His arms and exclaimed: "Hey brothers! All of you perpetually perfom Sri Hari Nama sankirtana in union. By doing so, I will take the responsability to deliver you all from the ocean of material existence. 

6

balat samsarambhonidhi-harana-kumbhodbhavam-aho saram sreyah-sindhunnati-kumuda-bandhum samuditam khala-sreni-sphurjat-timira-hara-surya-prabham-aham bhaje nityanandam bhajana-taru-kandam niravadhi 

I perpetually worship Sri Nityananda Prabhu, the root of the Krsna-bhakti tree, who is the Agastya Muni who forcibly swallows the ocean of repeated birth and death, who is a rising full moon which increases the ocean of the saintly persons welfare and who is a sun which dissipates the darkness of ignorance cast by the various classes of miscreants. 

7

natantam gayantam harim-anuvadantam pathi pathi vrajantam pasyantam svam-api na dayantam jana-ganam prakurvantam santam sakurana-drgantam prakalanad bhaje nityanandam bhajana-taru-kandam niravadhi 

I perpetually worship Sri Nityanand Prabhu, the root of the Krsna-bhakti tree, who wandered on every path in Bengal dancing, singing and calling out: "Hari bol! Hari Bo!", and who lovingly bestowed merciful sidelong glances upon those who were not compassionate to even their own selves. 

8

subibhranam bhratuh kara-sarasi-jam komalataram mitho vaktralokocchalita-paramananda -hrdayam bhramantam madhuryair-ahaha! madayantam pura-janan bhaje nityanandam bhajana-taru-kandam niravadhi 

I perpetually worship Sri Nityananda Prabhu, the root of the Krsna-bhakti tree, who held the supremely soft lotus-hand of His brother Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu, whose heart became filled with the highest bliss when the two brothers gazed into each other's faces and who wandered here and there delighting the townspeople with His sweetness. 

Sri Nityananda Prabhu ki Jaya!

7. 12 Holy Names of Lord Nityananda

12 Holy Names of Lord Nityananda

By Shrila Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya

Translated & Recited by His Holiness

Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada

Shri Shri Nityananda Chandrasya

Naama Dvadashaka Stotram

Twelve Beautiful Holy Names of the

Moonlike Lord Shri Nityananda Prabhu

Verse One

1} nityanando 2} avadhutendur, 3} vasudha-prana-vallabhah;

4} jahnavi-jivita-patih, 5} krishna-prema-pradah 6} prabhu. 

1}- Nityananda : He Who is constantly the fresh personification and the ever-expanding embodiment of the eternal and supreme blissful mellows of Lord Gauranga-Krishna's pure unalloyed love.

2}- Avadhutendu : The transcendental Moon of the divine Madness of love completely untinged by His own material energy.

3}- Vasudha-prana-vallabhah : The most dear and beloved life-breath of Shrimati Vasudha-devi, the direct incarnation of Lord Balarama's wife Shrimati Varuni-devi.

4}- Jahnavi-jivita-pati : The eternal divine husband of Shrimati Jahnavi-devi (the incarnation of Lord Balarama's wife Shrimati Revati-devi) and the maintainer and sustainer of Her life and soul.

5]- Krishna-prema-pradah : He Who bestows pure, unalloyed and ecstatic love for Lord Krishna's Holy Name, Form, Pastimes and Lotus Feet.

6}- Prabhu : The Supreme Lord and Master of all the devotees and all souls in the spiritual and material creation. 

Verse Two: 

7} padmavati-sutah 8} shriman, 9} saci-nandana-purvajah;

10} bhavonmatto 11} jagat-trata, 12} rakta-gaura-kalevarah.

7}- Padmavati-suta : The most beloved darling and divine son of Shrimati Padmavati-devi.

8}- Shriman : He is of splendrous transcendental majesty and He is the eternal Husband and Consort of the Goddess of Fortune.

9}- Saci-nandana-purvaja : The most beloved elder brother of the Supreme Lord Gauranga, the divine son of mother Shachi.

10}- Bhavonmatta : He Whose bodily form is continuously maddened and inundated with overwhelming ecstatic emotions of pure love.

11}- Jagat-trata : The saviour of the whole creation including the spiritual and material worlds.

12}- Rakta-gaura-kalevara : He Whose divine bodily complexion and radiance is golden tinged with red. 

Patha Mahatmya

Glories of Reciting These Twelve

Holy Names of Lord Nityananda

By Shrila Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya

Verse Three

shri nityaananda chandrasya naama-dvaadashakam shubham

ya idam pratyaham praatah praty utthaaya pathen narah

"That most fortunate person who recites these twelve most auspicious Holy names of the moonlike Lord Nityananda-chandra each and every day upon arising in the morning…

Verse 4 

sa klesha-rahito bhutvaa praapnuyaat sva-mano-ratham

turnam chaitanya-devasya karunaa-bhaajanam bhavet

...such a person very quickly becomes free from all miseries, obstacles and difficulties in life and attains the fulfillment of all his or her most cherished and intimate desires in life. Very soon such a person becomes the object and recepient of the supremely causeless mercy and compassion of the Supreme Lord Gauranga-deva.''

6. 16 Reasons To Regularly Chant 'Nityananda'

16 Reasons To Regularly Chant 'Nityananda' -- By Swami Gaurangapada


16 reasons to regularly chant 'Nityananda' along with the chanting of
the 'Gauranga' Mantra & Maha-mantra.

[Note: Pancha-tattva Mantra has to be chanted before each round of
maha-mantra as per the instructions of Shrila Prabhupada].

(1) BECAUSE GREAT ACHARYAS HAVE DONE IT IN THE PAST:

Cc Adi 11.33:
navadvipe purusottama pandita mahasaya, nityananda-name yanra
mahonmada haya

Purusottama Pandita, a resident of Navadvipa, was the Krishna's
eighth gopala, Stoka-Krishna for Vrindavan. He would become almost mad
as soon as he chanted or heard the holy name 'Nityananda'.

Cc Adi 11.34
balarama dasa--krishna-prema-rasasvadi, nityananda-name haya parama
unmadi

Balarama dasa always fully tasted the nectar of love of Krishna. Upon
chanting or hearing the name of 'Nityananda', he would become
extremely maddened.

(2) BECAUSE THE NAME 'NITYANANDA' IMMEDIATELY EVOKES PURE LOVE OF
KRISHNA EVEN IN A SINFUL PERSON

Chaitanya-charitamrita Adi-lila 8.23:
'nityananda' balite haya krishna-premodaya;aulaya sakala anga,asru-
ganga vaya.

"Simply by chanting the name 'Nityananda' one awakens his love for
Krishna.

Thus all his bodily limbs are agitated by ecstasy of love of God, and
tears flow from his eyes like the waters of the Ganges."

(3) BECAUSE ANYONE WHO EVEN HEARS 'NITYANANDA' ONCE CERTAINLY
ACHIEVES KRISHNA

Chaitanya-bhagavata, Adi-khanda 9.385:
nityananda-hena bhakta sunile sravane; avasya paibe krishnacandra sei
jane.

Shripada Madhavendera Puri states:

"If one simply hears the name 'Nityananda', he will most certainly
attain the lotus feet of Lord Krishnacandra irrespective of any other
consideration."

(4) BECAUSE WITHOUT NITYANANDA ONE CAN NEVER ACHIEVE THE MERCY OF
GAURANGA EVEN AFTER WORSHIPING GAURANGA FOR A MINIMUM 100 LIVES

From Shri Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya, Chp 4:
tumi yabe kara daya sei anayase; shri chaitanya-pada paya prema-jale
bhase.

Shrila Jiva tells Lord Nityananda, "If You are merciful on someone,
that person will effortlessly achieve the lotus feet of Lord Gauranga
Mahaprabhu and thus drown in the ocean of pure ecstatic love for Lord
Krishna.

tomara karuna vina gaura nahi paya, sata janma bhaje yadi gauranga
hiyaya.

"But if someone does not get Your mercy, then such a person will
never achieve Lord Gaura even if he or she worships Lord Gauranga for
a minimum of 100 lifetimes."

Chaitanya-charitamrita Antya 6.131:
tomara krpa vina keha'chaitanya' na paya;tumi krpa kaile tanre
adhameha paya.

"No one can attain the shelter of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu without
Your (Lord Nityananda's) mercy, but if You are merciful, even the
lowest of men can attain shelter at His lotus feet."

(5) BECAUSE IF GAURANGA'S PUNISHES, NITYANANDA PROTECTS US BUT IF
NITYANANDA PUNISHES THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO HOPE

From Shri Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya, Chp 4: Jiva Goswami to Lord
Nityananda:
gaura danta kara yadi tumi raksa kara, tumi yare danta kara gaura
tara para.

"If Lord Gauranga punishes a devotee, You (Nityananda) protect him
and somehow engage him in Gauranga's service (like in the example of
Kala Krishnadasa), but if You punish a devotee, he eternally becomes
estranged from Lord Gauranga."

(6) BECAUSE NITYANANDA'S NAME ARE FORM ARE FULL OF SUPREME ETERNAL
BLISS

Chaitanya-bhagavata, Madhya-khanda 12.18:
name nityananda tumi, rupe nityananda; ei tumi nityananda rama
murttimanta.

Lord Gauranga tells Lord Nityananda:

"Your name is Nityananda (eternally full of eternal bliss). Your form
is also Nityananda (eternally full of eternal bliss). Your are
Nityananda (unlimited bliss) in personified form because You are Lord
Balarama Himself."

(7) BECAUSE WITHOUT NITYANANDA ONE CAN NEVER ACHIEVE RADHA-KRSNA AND
VRINDAVNA-DHAMA

Chaitanya-charitamrita Adi 5.204:
jaya jaya nityananda-caranaravinda, yanha haite painu shri-radha-
govinda

"All glory, all glory to the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda, by whose
mercy I have attained Shri Radha-Govinda!"

Shrila Narottama das Thakura sings:
heno nitai vine bhai, radha-krishna paite nai

"Unless one worships Nityananda, one can never achieve Radha-Krishna."

nitae karuna habe vraje radha-krishna pabe

"If Nityananda is merciful,only then one will achieve the direct
service of Radha-Krishna in Vraja."

(8) BECAUSE NO ONE IN THIS CREATION BUT ONLY NITYANANDA CAN BESTOW
MERCY ON THE MOST FALLEN SOULS LIKE US

Chaitanya-charitamrita Adi 5.207:
emana nirghrna more keba krpa kare, eka nityananda vinu jagat bhitare

"Who in this creation but Lord Nityananda could show His mercy to
such an abominable, comtemptible and the lowest person as me?

(9) BECAUSE LORD NITYANANDA BESTOWS MERCY WITHOUT EVEN CONSIDERING
OUR QUALIFICATION

Chaitanya-charitamrita Adi 5.208-9:
preme matta nityananda krpa-avatara, uttama, adhama, kichu na kare
vicara

"Because He is always fully intoxicated by ecstatic love for Lord
Gauranga, He is an incarnation of causeless mercy. Thus He does not
distinguish between the good and the bad people because He Himself is
always intoxicated in pure love.

ye age padaye, tare karaye nistara, ataeva nistarila mo-hena duracara

"He indiscriminately delivers all those who simply fall down before
Him.

Therefore He has delivered such a sinful and fallen person as me."

(10) BECAUSE LORD NITYANANDA IMMEDIATELY BESTOWS HIS TOPMOST MERCY
PLEASED AT A SLIGHTEST SERVICE RENDERED BY US

Cc Adi 5.181:
bhaike bhartsinu muni, lana ei guna, sei ratre prabhu more dila
darasana

"That night Lord Nityananda personally appeared to me in a dream in
His most enchanting form and placed His lotus feet on my head and
gave me eternal residence in Shri Vrindavana-dhama simply because I
defended His glories and that of His intimate associate Minaketana
Ramadasa while quarelling with my brother who had faith in Lord
Gauranga but only a shadow of faith in Lord Nityananda." (WHAT A
MERCIFUL LORD!)

(11) BECAUSE THE NAME 'NITYANANDA' IN A MANTRA ALSO

According to Jaiva Dharma all the names of Gauranga are actually
mantras, and the Lord should be worshiped through these namatmaka-
mantras. Thus the name 'Nityananda' is also actually a mantra and He
should be worshiped by chanting this namatmaka-mantra.

(12) BECAUSE ANYONE WHO HAS NO RELATION WITH NITYANANDA BY THE
REGULAR CHANTING OF HIS NAME HAS WASTED HIS LIFE AND IS JUST LIKE AN
ANIMAL

se sambandha nahi ja'r, brtha janma gelo ta'r
sei pasu boro duracar
nitai na bolilo mukhe, majilo samsara-sukhe
vidya-kule ki koribe tar (Narottama das Thakura)

"Anyone who has not established his relationship with Nityananda
Prabhu by chanting His name 'Nityananda' is understood to have
spoiled his valuable human birth. Such a human being is actually an
uncontrollable animal.

Because he never uttered the holy name 'Nityananda', he has become
merged into so-called material happiness. What can his useless
education and family tradition do to save him from the cycle of birth
and death?"

(13) BECAUSE BY CHANTING NITYANANDA'S NAME SINFUL REACTIONS OF
UNLIMITED NO. OF LIVES ARE IMMEDIATELY DESTROYED

Shri Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya, Chp 1, states:

gauranga-nitai yei bale eka bara; ananta karama-dosa anta haya tara.

"The most fortunate person who chants the names Nityananda and
Gauranga just once immediately destroys the unlimited sinful
reactions accumulated for unlimited number of lives in the past."

(14) BECAUSE BY CHANTING NITYANANDA'S NAME, KRISHNA-PREM COMES
SEARCHING AFTER THAT PERSON. ONE ACHIEVES KRISHNA-PREM EVEN WITH
OFFENSES IN HIS HEART AND THEN OFFENSES FLEE. WHAT A SUBLIME AND EASY
WAY TO GET KRISHNA-PREM.

nitai-chaitanya bali yei jiva dake; suvimala krishna-prema anvesaye
thake.

"If one feelingly and loudly calls out the names of Nityananda and
Gauranga, the purest Krishna-prema (pure love of Krishna) comes searching
after such a person."

aparadha badha tara kichu nahi kare; nirmala krishna-preme tara ankhi
jhare.

"The offenses (which may be present) don't create any obstacles in
path of achieving this love and tears start flowing from his eyes in
pure ecstatic love."

svalpa kale aparadha apani palaya; hrdaya sodhita haya prema bade
taya.

"In a very short, the offenses themselves flee and the heart becomes
completely purified and thus the love furthur increases.

(15) BECAUSE IN THE NAME OF NITYANANDA THERE ARE NO OFFENSES

Cc Adi 8.31
chaitanya-nityanande nahi esaba vicara, nama laite prema dena, vahe
asrudhara

"But if one only chants, with some slight faith, the holy names of
Lord Gauranga and Nityananda, very quickly he is cleansed of all
offenses. Since in the chanting of the names of Nityananda-Gauranga
there is no consideration of offenses, one will very quickly come to
the stage of love of God, simply by chanting Their names and tears of
pure love for Krishna will flow from the eyes."

PURPORT BY SRILA PRABHUPADA:

 There are offenses to be considered in chanting the Hare Krishna
maha-mantra, but there are no such considerations in chanting the
names of Gaura-Nityananda. Therefore, if one chants the Hare Krishna
maha-mantra but his life is still full of sinful activities, it will
be very difficult for him to achieve the platform of loving service
to the Lord. But if in spite of being an offender one chants the holy
names of Gaura-Nityananda, he is very quickly freed from the
reactions to his offenses. Therefore, one should first approach Lord
Chaitanya and Nityananda, or worship Guru-Gauranga, and then come to
the stage of worshiping Radha-Krishna.  One should first take
shelter of Gaura-Nityananda in order to reach, ultimately, Radha-
Krishna."

"For an ordinary man, worship of Shri Chaitanya and Nityananda
Prabhu or the Panca-tattva is easier than worship of Radha and Krishna.
Unless one is very fortunate, he should not be induced to worship
Radha-Krishna directly. A neophyte student who is not sufficiently
educated or enlightened should not indulge in the worship of Shri
Radha and Krishna or the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra. Even if he
does so, he cannot get the desired result. One should therefore chant
the names of Nitai-Gaura and worship Them without false prestige."

PURPORT BY SHRILA BHAKTISIDDHANTA SARASVATI THAKURA PRABHUPADA:

 "The Hare Krishna maha-mantra considers the offenses whereas the
names of Gaura-Nityananda don't consider offenses. An offensive
chanter will never achieve the fruit of chanting (pure love for
Krishna) by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. Therefore till the
time he is commiting offenses, he should chant the names of Gaura-
Nityananda. Due the repeated chanting of the names of Gaura-
Nityananda, the offenses will destroyed and he will achieve the fruit
of chanting."

"The name of Krishna and Gaura-Both are non-different than the
named Lord. Those who think that Krishna is any way inferior or limited
than Gaura are in gross ignorance. But in practical considerations
with respect to benefit awarded to the conditioned souls, the
chanting of Shri Gaura-Nityananda's Name is more useful and helpful
for everyone. Krishna's mercy is generally only upon liberated or
perfected souls who are surrendered to Him. But the magnanimity of
Lord Gaura-Nityananda is especially for the souls who are offenders
and full of anarthas and desires for material sense-gratification.
The chanting of Lord Gaura-Nityananda's name and Their worship
quickly delivers the soul from all the offenses and thus the soul
achieves shelter at the lotus feet of Lord Gaura-Krishna."

(16) BECAUSE ONE CAN NEVER EVEN VISIT VRINDAVANA WITHOUT ACHIEVING
THE MERCY OF NITYANANDA AND GAURANGA

Cc Adi 8.3 purport:

"In the beginning one should very regularly chant Shri Gaurasundara's
holy name and then chant the holy name of Lord Nityananda. Thus one's
heart will be cleansed of impure desires for material enjoyment. Then
one can approach Vrndavana-dhama to worship Lord Krishna. Unless one is
favored by Lord Chaitanya and Nityananda, there is no need to go to
Vrndavana, for unless one's mind is purified, he cannot see
Vrndavana, even if he goes there."

The glories of Lord Nityananda as the incarnation of Lord Balarama,
the origin of both the spiritual and material world, are given in the
revealed scriptures as follows:

Vayu Purana

(1) balaramo mamaivamsah, so 'pi mat-prstham esyati;
nityananda iti khyato nyasi-cudamanih ksitau

In the Vayu Purana, the Lord tells Brahma: "Lord Balarama, who is My
first expansion and non-different from Me will also appear by My side
as Lord Shri Nityananda. He will become the crest jewel of all
renunciants on the earth."

(2) krtvavadhuta-vesam sa, dharman bhagavatan bahun;
grahayitva janan ittham grhinam asramam tatah.

"Assuming the dress of an avadhuta, He will freely distribute
bhagavata dharma i.e. love of God. He will distribute this pure love
through various means and deliver all the living entities. He will do
so first as a brahmacari and later as a householder."

(3) jahnavy-adibhir atmanam, darsayisyati manavan.

"Accompanied by His eternal consort Shrimati Jahnavi-devi and many
other intimate associates, He (Nityananda) will reveal His
transcendental pastimes to the people."

Ananta-Samhita

nityanando maha-kayo, bhutva mat-kirtane ratah;
vimudhan bhakti-rahitan, mama bhaktan karisyasi.

In the Ananta-Samhita, the Lord states to Anantadeva: "When I appear
in Navadvipa in Kali-yuga, You will become Nityananda. You will have
a very tall, beautiful and large body, and You will be constantly
absorbed in chanting My name and glories. In this way, by Your
causeless mercy You will convert many bewildered fools who are devoid
of devotion into My pure unalloyed devotees."

Shri Chaitanya-Charitamrita, Adi 1.8-9

sankarsanah karana-toya-sayi
garbhoda-sayi ca payobdhi-sayi
sesas ca yasyamsa-kalah sa nitya-
nandakhya-ramah saranam mamastu

May Shri Nityananda Rama be the object of my constant remembrance.

Sankarsana, Sesa Naga and the Vishnus who lie on the Karana Ocean,
Garbha Ocean and ocean of milk are His plenary portions and the
portions of His plenary portions.

mayatite vyapi-vaikuntha-loke
purnaisvarye shri-catur-vyuha-madhye
rupam yasyodbhati sankarsanakhyam
tam shri-nityananda-ramam prapadye

I surrender unto the lotus feet of Shri Nityananda Rama, who is known
as Sankarsana in the midst of the catur-vyuha [consisting of
Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha]. He possesses full
opulences and resides in Vaikunthaloka, far beyond the material
creation.

CONCLUSION:

One can worship Lord Nityananda in the topmost manner by chanting His
name (atleast 1008 times or 10 rounds) daily and by daily reading (1 chapter of) Chaitanya-Bhagavata daily which is the topmost scripture
on the glories of Lord Nityananda composed by His most confidential
associate Shrila Vrindavana das Thakura. And also by daily worshiping
the Deities of Lord Nitai-Gauranga! Nitai-Gaura Premanande!

5. The Lotus Handprints of Sri Nityananda Prabhu

The Lotus Handprints of Sri Nityananda Prabhu

Left Lotus Hand: 14 Auspicious Marks 01. Conch on tip of thumb 02. Conch on tip of index finger 03. Conch on tip of middle finger 04. Conch on tip of Ring finger 05. Conch on tip of Little finger 06. Plow 07. Umbrella 08. Long Flag 09. Unstrung Bow 10. Arrow 11. Fish 12. Life Line 13. Fate Line 14. Good Fortune/Enjoyment Line

Right Lotus Hand: 14 Auspicious Marks 01. Conch on tip of thumb 02. Conch on tip of index finger 03. Conch on tip of middle finger 04. Conch on tip of Ring finger 05. Conch on tip of Little finger 06. Broom 07. Whisk 08. Fan 09. Sacrificial Altar 10. Club 11. Lotus 12. Life Line 13. Fate Line 14. Good Fortune/Enjoyment Line

Total Marks on the Right and Left Lotus Hands of
Lord Nityananda Prabhu = 28

Text 1

vyajanam api gadabje camaram marjjanincan
guli-mukha gata sankhan vedi saubhagya rekha
nikhila-sukhada-nityananda candrasya dakse
karatala iti citra bhakti purva smarami

I meditate upon the right lotus hand-palm of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, the giver of all happiness, which is decorated with the following auspicious markings: fan, club, lotus, camara, broom, conch-shells at the tip of the fingers, sacrificial altar and fate lines.

Text 2

dhvaja-kara-jhesa-capan langalam chatra kancam
gulimukhagata sankhan saubhagadyasca rekhah
nikhila-sukhada-nityananda candrasya savye
karatala iti citra bhakti purva smarami

I meditate with devotion upon the left lotus hand-palm of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, the giver of all kinds of boons, decorated with the following auspicious markings: flag, arrow, fish, bow, plow, umbrella and conch-shell at the tips of the fingers, and fortune lines.

Descriptions of the markings and their locations on the lotus hands of Lord Nityananda Prabhu.

daksa kare caturdasa cihndni dharati prabhuh
tesdm kramam pravaksyami bhaktanam dhyanakaranam
daksakarasya tarjani-madhyama-sandhitah prabhuh
paramayuh surekhikamakarabhat virbhati ca
tatha karabhaparyantam tarjjanyam gustha sandhitah
divya-saubhagya rekhikam nityanando dadhati ca
manibaddham samarabhya vakrabhavotthatam tu ha
saubhagya rekhikam tarjanyamgusthayostale smara

Soman Nityananda Prabhu possesses fourteen signs on His right hand. I describe these in their respective order for the meditation of the devotees.
Please remember the right lotus hand-palm of Nityananda Prabhu with the following descriptions of the auspicious markings:There is a great life line, which is long and beautiful and which ends at the middle of the fore and middle fingers. Similarly there is a divine fortune line which starts from the wrists in a crooked way and ends at a point between the forefinger and the thumb.


bhogarekham dadhati ca srajana-bhoga-hetave
angulinam purah pahca darani dharati prabhuh
marjanim tarjarii-tala angusthadhas ca camaram
tasya adho vyajanam jneyam vedinca tattale subham
tattale ca gadam dhatte svabhaktari-praghatikam
manibandhod rdhva bhage ca kamalam karabha tale

Prabhu's right lotus hand-palm also possesses the enjoyment line, which provides all pleasures to the devotees. There are five conch-shells at the tip of the five fingers. There is a broom and a whisk below the forefinger and thumb respectively. Below the whisk is a fan and below that is a sacred sacrificial altar. Below the sacrificial altar is a club by which Prabhu crushes the enemies of His devotees. Above the wrist in the middle of the palm is a lotus.

vamakare caturdasa cihnani dharati prabhuh
tesam kramam pravaksyami natanam dhyana-hetave
ayam kare ca purvavat saubhagya adi-surekhikam
tatha angulyagratah pahca sankhan ati manoharam
madhyamayastale halamanamika karnisthayoh
sandhi tale ca vai chatram tasya adho 'dhah kramattatha
amanibandha vadhi sri nityanando virbhati ca
dhvajam dhanur vanim jhesam savya karamiti smara

Similarly, Nityananda Prabhu has fourteen signs on the palm of His left hand. I now mention them in their respective order for the meditation of the devotees.
Please remember the left lotus hand-palm of Sri Nityananda Prabhu with the fol¬lowing descriptions of the auspicious markings:On the surface of the palm are three beautiful lines like fortune, fate and enjoyment. At the tip of the five fingers are beautiful conch-shells. Below the middle finger is a plow, and below the junction of the ring and index fingers is a beautiful looking umbrella. Below the umbrella is a flag which goes up to the wrist. Then there is a bow, an arrow, and a fish.

3. The Glories of Nityananda Prabhu

The Glories of Nityananda Prabhu

5.9
jagat mataya nitai premera malasate
palaya durdanta kali padiya vibhrate
ki sukhe bhasila jiva gauracandera nate
dekhiya suniya pashandira buk phate

 [All glories to Nityananda Prabhu!] Maddened by ecstatic love of Godhead, he overwhelmed the universe with ecstasy. He slapped his hands together like a warrior who is about to attack, and upon seeing this, the wicked Kali fled in terror, fearing for his life. All souls were drowned in happiness because of the dancing of Shri Gauranga [and Nityananda]. Seeing such dancing, or even hearing of it, melts the hearts even of great atheists. (Gitavali, Nagara-kirtana, 8)

5.10
jaya jaya nityananda, nityananda-rama
yaohara kripate painu vrindavana-dhama
jaya jaya nityananda, jaya kripa-maya
yaoha haite painu rupa-sanatanasraya
yaoha haite painu raghunatha-mahasaya
yaoha haite painu shri-svarupa-asraya
sanatana-kripaya painu bhaktira siddhanta
shri-rupa-kripaya painu bhakti-rasa-pranta
jaya jaya nityananda-caranaravinda
yaoha haite painu shri-radha-govinda

 All glory, all glory to Lord Nityananda Balarama, by whose mercy I have attained shelter in the transcendental abode of Vrindavana. All glory, all glory to the merciful Lord Nityananda, by whose mercy I have attained shelter of Shri Rupa and Sanatana. By His mercy, I have attained the shelter of the great Shri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, and by His mercy I have found the refuge of Shri Svarupa Damodara. By the mercy of Sanatana Gosvami I have learned the final conclusions of devotional service, and by the grace of Shri Rupa Gosvami I have tasted the highest nectar of devotional service. All glory, all glory to the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda, by whose mercy I have attained Shri Radha-Govinda. (Cc. Adi. 5.200-204)

Nityananda is the Savior of the Most Fallen

5.11
jagai madhai haite muni se papishtha
purishera kita haite muni se laghishtha
mora nama sune yei tara punya kshaya
mora nama laya yei tara papa haya
emana nirghrina more keba kripa kare
eka nityananda vinu jagat bhitare
preme matta nityananda kripa-avatara
uttama, adhama, kichu na kare vicara
ye age padaye, tare karaye nistara
ataeva nistarila mo-hena duracara

I am more sinful than Jagai and Madhai and even lower than the worms in stool. Anyone who hears my name loses the results of his pious activities. Whoever utters my name becomes sinful. Who in this world but Nityananda could show His mercy to such an abominable person as me? Because He is intoxicated by ecstatic love and is an incarnation of mercy, He does not distinguish between the good and the bad. He delivers all those who fall down before Him. Therefore He has delivered such a sinful and fallen person as me. (Cc. Adi 5.205-209)

Freedom from Anarthas and the Desire for Bhakti is Strengthened by the Mercy of Nitai

5.12
samsarera para hai' bhaktira sagare
ye dubibe se bhajuk nitai-candere

 One who would cross over the ocean of material existence and swim in the bhakti ocean should worship the lotus feet of Nityananda. (Cb. Adi 1.77)

Nityananda is the Foremost Preacher

5.13
caitanyera adi-bhakta nityananda-raya
caitanyera yaso vaise yanhara jihvaya
aharnisa caitanyera katha prabhu kaya
tan're bhajile se caitanye bhakti haya

 Lord Chaitanya's first and foremost devotee is Nityananda Raya. The glories of Lord Chaitanya are always on his tongue. Day and night Lord Nityananda speaks only of Lord Chaitanya. Whoever worships Him is a real devotee of Shri Chaitanya. (Cb. Adi 9.217-218)

Nityananda mad About Serving Shri Chaitanya

5.14
nityananda avadhuta sabate agala
caitanyera dasya-preme ha-ila pagala

 Nityananda, the wandering mendicant, is the foremost of all the servants of Lord Chaitanya. He is like the gateway through which all service to Lord Chaitanya must pass. He became mad in the ecstasy of service to Lord Chaitanya. (Cc. Adi 6.48)

Those who Have no Faith that Gaura and Nitai
are Inseparable are Offenders and Atheists

5.15
dui bhai eka-tanu samana-prakasa
nityananda na mana, tomara habe sarva-nasa
ekete visvasa, anye na kara sammana
"ardha-kukkuti-nyaya" tomara pramana

 These two brothers (Gaura and Nitai) are like one body; they are identical manifestations. If you do not believe in Lord Nityananda, you will fall down. If you have faith in one, but disrespect the other, your logic is like the logic of accepting half a hen. (Cc. Adi 5.175,176)

Faith in Gaura Without Nitai, or Nitai Without Gaura, is Flickering Faith and in Opposition to Pure Devotional Service

5.16
kimva, dooha na manina hao ta' pashanda
eke mani' are na mani, ei-mata bhanda

 It would be better to be an atheist by slighting both brothers than a hypocrite by believing in one and slighting the other. (Cc. Adi 5.177)


MORE GLORIES

sankarsanah karana-toya-sayigarbhoda-sayi ca payobdhi-sayi 

sesas ca yasyamsa-kalah sa nitya-nandakhya-ramah saranam mamastu

"May Sri Nityananda Rama be the object of my constant remembrance. Sankarsana, Mahavisnu, GarbhodaksayiVisnu, and Ksirodaksayi Visnu, as well as Sesa are His expansions and the expansions of His expansions." (Cc. Adi1.7)

mayatite vyapi-vaikuntha-lokepurnaisvarye sri-catur-vyuha-madhye

rupam yasyodbhati sankarsanakhyamtam sri-nityananda-ramam prapadye

"I surrender unto the lotus feet of Sri Nityananda Rama,who is known as Sankarsana in the midst of the catur-vyuha. He has full opulences and resides in Vaikunthaloka far beyond the material creation." (Cc. Adi1.8)

maya-bhartajanda-sanghasrayangahsete saksat karanambhodhi-madhye

yasyaikamsah sri-puman adi-devastam sri-nityananda-ramam prapadye

"I offer my full obeisances unto the feet of Sri Nityananda Rama, whose partial representation called Karanodakasayi Visnu, lying on the Karana ocean, is the original Purusa, the master of the illusory energy and the shelter of all the universes." (Cc. Adi 1.9)

yasyamsamsah srila-garbhoda-sayi yan-nabhy-abjam loka-sanghata-nalam

loka-srastuh sutika-dhama dhatus tam sri-nityananda-ramam prapadye

"I offer my full obeisances unto the feet of Sri Nityananda Rama, a partial part of whom is Garbhodaksayi Visnu.From the navel of Garbhodaksayi Visnu sprouts the lotus stem that is the birthplace of Brahma, the engineer of the Universe. The stem of that lotus is the resting place of themultitude of planets." (Cc. Adi 1.10)

yasyamsamsamsah paratmakhilanam posta visnur bhati dugdhabdhi-sayi

ksauni-bharta yat-kala so 'py anantas tam sri-nityananda-ramam prapadye

"I offer my full obeisances unto the feet of Sri Nityananda Rama, whose secondary part is the Visnu lying in the ocean of milk. That Ksirodaksayi Visnu is the Supersoul of all living entities and the maintainer of all the universe.Sesa Naga is His further sub-part." (Cc. Adi 1.11)

nityananda' balite hayakrsna-premodaya

aulaya sakala angaasru-ganga vaya

"Simply by talking of Nityananda Prabhu one awakens his love for Krsna. Thus all his bodily limbs are agitated byecstasy, and tears flow from his eyes like the waters of the Ganges." (Cc Adi 8.23)

bada guta nityananda eha avatare

caitanya dekhaya yare, se' dekhite pare

"In this incarnation Lord Nityananda is carefully hidden.Only if Lord Caitanya Himself reveals Him can anyone see Lord Nityananda." (C.Bhag. Madhya 3.171)

name nityananda tuni, rupe nityananda

ei tumi nityananda rama-murttimanta

"Your name is Nityananda. Your form is also Nityananda,or full of eternal (nitya) bliss (ananda). You are Nityananda because You are Lord Balarama personified." (C.Bhag.Madhya 12.18)

nityananda-parjyatana, bhojana, bebhara

nityananda bina kicchu nahika tomara

"With great bliss You wander here and there, You eat,and You act in different ways. There is never a time when You are not blissful." (C.Bhag. Madhya 12.9)

nityananda prasade se haya visnu-bhakti

janiha-krsnera nityananda purna-sakti

"By Lord Nityananda's mercy one attains devotion to Lord Visnu (Krsna). Please know that Lord Nityananda has all the power of Lord Krsna." (C.Bhag. Madhya12.26)

krsnera dvitya-nityananda bai nai

sangi, sakha, sayana, bhujana, bandhu, bhai

"Lord Nityananda is not different from Lord Krsna. Lord Nityananda is Lord Krsna's associate, friend, couch,ornaments, and kinsmen." (C.Bhag. Madhya 12.27)

bedera agamya nityananda carita

sarvajiva-janaka, raksaka, sarvamitra

"Even the Vedas cannot approach Lord Nityananda's pastimes. Lord Nityananda is the father of all living entities. He is their protector and their friend." (C.Bhag.Madhya 12.28)

ihara vyabhara saba krsnarasamaya

ihane sebile krsna-premabhakti haya

"His every action is filled with the nectar of love for LordKrsna. By serving Lord Nityananda one attains pure love and devotion to Lord Krsna." (C.Bhag. Madhya12.18-29)

bhakti kari' ihana kaupina bandha sire

mahayatma iha puja kara giya ghara

"Therefore with great devotion please tie around your heads these pieces of Lord Nityananda's kaupina. Take them home and worship them with care." (C.Bhag.Madhya 12.30)

prabhu bale-eha nityananda svarupere

se karaye bhakti-sraddha se kare amare

"One who has faith and devotion for Lord Nityananda has faith and devotion for Me(Lord Caitanya) also." (C.Bhag.Madhya 12.55)

ihana carana-siva braksara vandita

ateava ihane kariha sabe prita

"Lord Siva and Lord Brahma bow down before Lord Nityananda's feet. Therefore all of you should place your love in Lord Nityananda's feet." (C.Bhag. Madhya 12.56)

nityananda avadhuta sabate agala

caitanyera dasya-preme ha-ila pagala

"Nityananda, the wandering mendicant, is the foremost of all the servants of Lord Caitanya. He is the gateway through which all service to Lord Caitanya must pass. He became mad in the ecstasy of service to Lord Caitanya."(Cc. Adi 6.48)

samsarera para hai' bhaktira sagare

ye dubile se bhajuk nitai-candere

"One who would cross over the ocean of material existence and swim in the bhakti ocean should worship the lotus feet of Nityananda." (C.Bhag. Adi 1.77)

"Lord Nityananda alone possesses the distinctive function of the guru. Nityananda is the servant of God, serving Gaurasundara by the distinctive method of reverential servitude. He is identical with Sri Balarama of Krishna-lila. Sri Balarama is not a chum of Krishna, but His respected elder brother. Individual souls are under the direction of Nityananda. They receive the service of Sri Gaurasundara or Krishna at His hands.

Nityananda is the ultimate source of the jiva and the jiva is a potency of Nityananda. Nityananda and His companions form one of the five groups of the associates of Lord Caitanya, whose distinctive function is that of guru. But Nityananda does not directly instruct in the confidential service of Krishna.

Srimati Radhika is the guru of the inner circle of the servants of Krishna. Srimati Radharani however accepts the offering of service of only those souls who are especially favored by Nityananda and are deemed by Him to be fit for Her service. There is therefore a most intimate relationship between the function of Nityananda and that of Srimati Radharani." ( Harmonist, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur)

Nityananda Prabhu requested everyone to serve Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, chant His glories and utter His name. Nityananda Prabhu claimed that person to be His life and soul who rendered devotional service unto Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In this way, Srila Nityananda Prabhu introduced the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to everyone without discrimination. Even though thepeople were fallen souls and blasphemers, they were delivered by this process." (Cc. Madhya 29-30)

dui bhai eka-tanu----samana-prakasa

nityananda na mana, tomara habe sarva-nasa

"These two brothers(Gaura and Nitai) are like one body;They are identical manifestations. If you do not believe in Lord Nityananda, you will fall down." (Cc. Adi 5.175)

ara kabe nitai-cander koruna hoibe

samsara-basana mora kabe tuccha ha'be

"We are all asking about the mercy of Lord Nityananda. Nityananda is supposed to be the original spiritual master, so we have to approach Gauranga, Lord Caitanya, through the mercy of Lord Nityananda. What is the symptom of a person who has achieved the causeless mercy of Lord Nityananda? Narottama Dasa Thakur says that the symptom of one who has actually received the causeless mercy of Lord Nityananda is that he has no more material desire. Samsara-basana means 'desire for material enjoyment' and Narottama Dasa wonders when it will become very insignificant. Of course as long as we have bodies we have to accept so many material things, but not in the spirit of enjoyment, but only to keep body and soul together." (Srila Prabhupada's purport to Narottama Dasa Thakur's Lalasamayi Prarthana)

ha ha prabhu nityananda, premananda sukhi

krpabalokana koro ami boro duhki

"My dear Lord Nityananda, You are always joyful in spiritual bliss. Since You always appear very happy, I have come to You because I am most unhappy. If You kindly put your glance over me, I may also become happy." (Narottama Dasa Thakur, Savarana-sri-gaura-pada-padme, from Prarthana)

dina hina patita pamara nahi bache

brahmar durlabha prema sabakare jace

"Lord Nityananda freely offered this exhalted prema,which is difficult for Lord Brahma to attain, even to the fallen and wretched souls who did not desire it." (Nitai Guna Mani---from the Caitanya Mangala, by Locana dasaThakur)

nitayer karuna habe, braje radha-krsna pabe

"If you actually want to approach the association of Radha-Krsna, you must achieve the mercy of Lord Nityananda first. When he is merciful toward you, then you will be able to approach Radha-Krsna."(Nitai-pada-kamala by Narottama dasa Thakur)

"When the devotee develops his love for Nityananda Prabhu, he is freed from all attachment to the material world, and at that time he becomes eligible to understand the Lord's pastimes in Vrndavana." (SrilaPrabhupada-Cc. Adi 7.18 purport)

For reading the Glories of Lord Nityananda in detail, please refer to the 5th Chapter of the Adil Lila of Chaitanya Charitamrita. Click Here to read it online.

1. Who is Lord Nityananda?

Lord Nityananda is the eternal associate of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Rarely is the name Nimai (Chaitanya 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 Shri Krishna, Lakshman to Shri Ram and Nityananda Prabhu to Chaitanya 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 Shesha. As Vishnu tattva He and Advaita Acharya are worshipped in the same category as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. In the manifested earthly lila, Nityananda Prabhu is senior to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu by more than a decade. He is statue like His Master, 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 Shri 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 Ekachakra, a small village in present West Bengal, around the year 1474. His birthsite is commemorated by a Temple named Garbhashva 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 Shri 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 Ekachakra 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 Acharya, and Ishavara Puri (the spiritual master of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu).

   Nityananda Prabhu met Chaitanya 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 Nandanacharya, to heighten the ecstasy of meeting through separation. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu aware of the arrival of His eternal associate dispatched Haridas Thakur and Shrivas Pandit to search out Nitai, but they failed. Finally unable to bear the separation any longer, Chaitanya 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 Shri Gaura-Nityananda commemorates this meeting place in Nadia.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu aware of the arrival of His eternal associate dispatched Haridas Thakur and Shrivas Pandit to search out Nitai, but they failed. Finally unable to bear the separation any longer, Chaitanya 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. (In the wallpaper: Meeting of Lords Nimai and Nitai at Nandanacharya's house).

   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 Chaitanya 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 Chaitanya 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 Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, He decided to abandon His avadhuta status and become a grahastha (householder). He married Jahnava Devi and Vashudha, the two daughters of Suryadasa Sarakhel, who the brother of Gauridasa Pandit (an intimate associate of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the spiritual master of the famous Shyamananda Pandit). Nityananda Prabhu had a son (Virchandara) and a daughter (Ganga Devi) from Vashudha. Soon after Vashudha 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 Ekachakra. Vaishanava acharyas emphatically state that people who try to understand Chaitanya Mahaprabhu without getting the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu will never succeed. One must pray very sincerely to Lord Nityananda Prabhu as the adi-guru (original spiritual master) to be delivered to the Lotus feet of Shri Chaitanya 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 shakti (power) is what gives the disciple the ability to perform devotional service and experience spiritual bliss. (http://gaudiyahistory.com/lord-nityananda-prabhu)

Always Chant:

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!

For more, visit http://www.nitaigaurnam.org/