Lord Nityananda - ISKCON / Vaisnava Calendar Reminder Services

Lord Nityananda in brief:
Lord Nityananda’s Appearance Day lecture by HDG Srila A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada:
Nitai Padakamala translation and purport by Srila Prabhupada:
Lord Nityananda’s Early Childhood Pastimes from Sri Chaitanya Bhagavat:
Songs and prayers gloryfying Lord Nityananda:

Some nectar about Lord Nityananda in brief:

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/ )

Lord Nityananda Prabhu’s
Avirbhava Appearance Day Lecture
—
Bhubaneswar, February 2, 1977
770202NA.BHU

Prabhupada: So today, the appearance day of Nityananda Prabhu… Nityananda Prabhu is Baladeva, Baladeva-tattva.

vrajendra-nandana yei, saci-suta haila sei,
balarama haila nitai

“Who was formerly the son of Nanda Maharaja, He has appeared as the son of Sacidevi.” Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mother’s name was Sacidevi. So Krishna… Krishna is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and Balarama is Nityananda Prabhu. Now…

vrajendra-nandana yei, saci-suta haila sei,
balarama haila nitai

So Balarama… In the Vedic literature it is said, nayam atma bala-hinena labhyah; na bahuna srutena. 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.
The difficulty of the present situation is that actually we are moving on account of spiritual strength, but they have no information of the spiritual strength. They are thinking of material strength. That is expressed here, that

ahankare matta hoiya, nitai-pada pasariya,
asatyere satya kori mani

This is due to ahankara. Ahankara-vimudhatma kartaham iti manyate. Those who are vimudha, especially rascal… Mudha, rascals, and vi means visesha, viseshanam, particularly. Ahankara- vimudhatma. The same thing which is spoken in the Bhagavad- gita, Narottama dasa Thakura says the same thing in a plain Bengali language. Ahankare matta haiya, nitai-pada… By the spell of maya—ahankara-vimudhatma kartaham iti manyate— they are thinking that “We are independent. We can do whatever we like.” This is called ahankara-vimudhatma. 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. Ahankara-vimudhatma. 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 atma. As soon as the atma, 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 Balarama. Bala means strength. Therefore we have to take shelter of the lotus feet of Balarama, guru-tattva.
Balarama means guru-tattva. Balarama represents guru. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah. If we want to understand Caitanya Mahaprabhu, if we want to understand Krishna, then we must take shelter of Balarama. Nayam atma bala-hinena labhyah. This bala- hinena labhyah, this Vedic injunction, means “Without the mercy of Balarama you cannot understand, you cannot realize your spiritual identification. So that Balarama comes as Nityananda Prabhu. Balarama haila nitai. Therefore we must take shelter of Balarama. That is… This song has been sung by Narottama dasa Thakura. Nitai-pada-kamala, koti-candra-susitala. If we take shelter of Nityananda Prabhu, then we get peace. Koti-candra-susitala. Just like in daytime, especially in the summer season, we become very much exasperated. But at night, in the evening, as soon as there is moonshine, we become very much satisfied. All day’s labor and fatigue is immediately moved. So nitai-pada-kamala, the shade of Nityananda Prabhu’s lotus feet, is koti-candra-susitala, as pleasing as one crore of moonshine. One moonshine gives us so much pleasure. So if we want actually peace of mind, if we actually want to be free from this material fatiguement, then we must take the shelter of Nityananda Prabhu. Nityananda Prabhu is the strength, spiritual strength. And without spiritual strength you cannot approach Krishna. Nayam atma pravaca… Simply by talking nonsense… Nayam atma pravacanena labhyah. If you are a good speaker, that does not mean you’ll understand, yourself. Na medhaya: “Neither by good brain.” Because you have got very good brain you’ll understand Krishna—no. Nayam atma pravacanena labhyo na medhaya na bahuna srutena. If you think that you are a very good scholar, university degree-holder, then you’ll understand—no. This is not possible.
So we must have spiritual strength. That source of spiritual strength is Balarama, Krishna’s next manifestation, prakasa- vigraha. Krishna is manifesting Himself through Balarama. So we have to take shelter of Nityananda Prabhu.

nitai-pada-kamala, koti-candra-susitala,
je chayay jagata juray

The whole world is suffering, but if you want peace, then you take the shelter of Nityananda Prabhu.

heno nitai bine bhai, radha-krishna paite nai
dhridha kori’ dharo nitair pay

Our real aim of life—how to go back home back to Godhead and associate with Radha Krishna. In another song the same author says,

manushya-janama paiya, radha-krishna na bhajiya,
janiya suniya bisha khainu

Unless you come to Radha-Krishna, you cannot get real pleasure. If you want to dance and get pleasure, don’t dance independently. Dance with Krishna. Then you’ll be happy. The dancing is there, but dancing without association of Krishna… Just like here, in our temple, we are also eating, but we are eating the remnants of foodstuff left by Krishna. That is real pleasure. It is not that we are stopping eating. We are not stopping eating. We are not dry philosophers. Krishna baro doyamoy, koribare jihwa jay, swa-prasad-anna dilo bhai. All over the world we are eating Krishna prasadam, and we have got good experience. At least ten thousand men and women, they are taking Krishna prasadam, 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 Nityananda Prabhu, Balarama, 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.
That is Prahlada Maharaja’s instruction. He was asked by his father, “My dear son, what you have learned, the best thing from your teachers?” So he replied, “My dear father…” He never said, “My dear father”; He said, “My dear best of the asuras.” Asura- varya. Tat sadhu manye ’sura-varya dehinam. Tat sadhu manye ’sura-varya dehinam sada samudvigna-dhiyam asad-grahat. The whole human society is suffering, at least suffering from one disease— anxiety. Ask anybody. Take one small ant and take the big elephant; take the President of United States or take one street beggar. Ask him, “Whether you are free from anxiety?” Nobody will say, “No.” “I am full of anxiety.” That’s a fact. So why they are anxiety, in, full of anxiety? That Prahlada Maharaja had replied, sada samudvigna-dhiyam asad-grahat. Because we have taken asad- vastu, that will not exist…
Everything, whatever you have got… Our, this body will not exist. And this is the main platform of our existence. In the material world, so long the body is there, you exist. So Prahlada Maharaja said that “Real solution of problems of life is to get out of this material condition. That is best thing in my opinion.” Sada samadvigna-dhiyam asad… That is Vedic injunction also. Asato ma sad gamaya: “Don’t live in this asat, in this material condition.” Sad gamaya: “Go to real existence.” That real existence means spiritual life. Na hanyate hanyamane sarire. So if we actually want life, blissful life, then we must get out of this material existence. That is Prahlada Maharaja’s instruction. Samudvigna-dhiyam. And if you remain in the material existence, you must suffer some anxiety. There is no excuse.
So Prahlada Maharaja advises that hitvatma-ghatam griham andha-kupam vanam gato yad dharim asrayeta. If you… Real problem is anxiety. And this anxiety will continue so long you are material existent. Therefore the real life is to get out of this material… Hitvatma-ghatam. Atma-ghatam. Atma-ghatam means killing the soul. This material civilization is killing the soul. That… They have no information of the soul. They do not know how to become peaceful, how to become blissful. They are trying to be peaceful, bahir-artha-maninah, by external material energy. They are thinking by constructing big, big buildings, just like in Bhubaneswar they are doing, and having good, very big, big roads and motorcars, that is advancement of civilization. No. That is not advancement of civili… That is increasing their anxiety. There is no solution of the anxiety. There is… Formerly that… I was speaking. There was no university. The university was in the cottage—Vyasadeva. Vyasadeva was writing Srimad-Bhagavatam and all the Puranas in a cottage. The university was there. Who can produce such literature as Vyasadeva has given? From any angle of vision, from literary point of view, from philosophical point of view—everything, so perfect, every literature, Mahabharata, Puranas, and Vedanta. Veda-vyasa, he has given. So there was no need of university. It required clear brain. That was to be done by the brahminical qualifications, samo damo titiksha arjava, jnanam-vijnanam astikyam brahma-karma svabhava… Where is that education? This education, technical education, how you can very nicely hammer, this will not solve the problem. So if we want real solution of the problems, then our duty is first of all to take the shelter of nitai-pada-kamala. Then we’ll be happy, and we’ll get moonshine, and our all fatigueness will be subsided.
Sambandha nahi jar, britha janma gelo tar. So if you have no connection with Nityananda Prabhu… Nityananda means always. Nitya means always, ananda means pleasure. This is another meaning you can draw. So therefore, if you have no connection with Nityananda Prabhu… Se tar: “He’s simply wasting time.” Britha means useless. Uselessly, he’s wasting time. Se pasu boro duracar. And Narottama dasa Thakura has used very strong word. “Anyone who has no connection with Nityananda Prabhu, he’s a pasu.” Sei pasu. He’s a pasu, means animal. So animal, how one animal can get happiness? That is not possible. The dog, from the childhood he’s searching after food, searching after food. And cannot get food. Unless a dog has got a master, he’s street dog and he’s always unhappy. So better to become a dog of Nityananda Prabhu. Then we shall be happy. Instead of becoming dog of so many other people… Everyone is dog. Everyone is searching after to serve a master. But none of them are satisfied because that is false master. You take real master, Nityananda Prabhu. You’ll be happy. Se pasu boro duracar. He does not know where is happiness. Where I shall become a dog? That…
Our Bhaktivinoda Thakura, he has sung therefore,

vaisnava thakur, tomara kukkur,
boliya janaha more

“My dear Vaishnava Thakura, kindly accept me as your dog, as your dog. I am dog already, but I am maya’s dog. I’m not Vaishnava’s dog. So kindly accept me.” If you become a Vaishnava’s dog… Chadiya vaishnava seva, nistar paiche keba. If you do not become a dog of Vaishnava and Nityananda Prabhu… Nityananda is guru. So if you do not become a dog of Nityananda Prabhu, Vaishnava, or guru, there is no question of happiness. Se sambandha nahi yar, britha janma gelo… se pasu boro duracar. Nitai na bolilo mukhe, majila samsara-sukhe. He who has no connection with Nityananda Prabhu, and he does not say, “Jaya Nitai! Jaya Gaura!” And majilo samsara-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 samsara sukhe. In samsara there cannot be any sukha, but he’s attracted by that. Majilo samsara sukhe. Vidya-kule ki koribe tar. What we’ll do with university education or born in big family or… This will not help. This is not possible. Vidya-kule ki karibe tar. Why they’re accepting this false? Ahankare matta hoiya, nitai-pada pasariya, asatyere satya kori mani. On account of being misled by false prestige and false egotism, asatyere satya kori mani, we are accepting this body which is asat, which will not exist. That we have taken as reality. Ahankare matta hoiya, nitai pada pasariya. But if we take shelter of Nityananda Prabhu, then you get the enlightenment. Asatyere satya kori mani. Nitaiyer koruna habe, braje radha-krishna pabe, dharo nitai-carana du’khani.
Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura advises that… Today is Nityananda Prabhu’s avirbhava appearance day. Let us at least remember today nitai-pada-kamala. That is wanted. Nitai carana satya, tahara sevaka nitya. The reality is nitai-carana, and anyone who is servant of Nitai…So nitaiyer carana satya, tahara sevaka nitya. One who has become the dog of Nityananda Prabhu, he gets his eternal life. We are eternal, but under misconception of material identification, we are under the subjugation of maya. Bhutva bhutva praliyate. Tatha dehantara… It is very botheration, but they do not know. I am going from one body to another transmigration. And that is not guaranteed, what body. They have no science, no knowledge about understanding tatha dehantara, the very first instruction of Bhagavad-gita. They are so rascals, and they are proud of their education, their universities. This is going on.
Nitai carana satya, tahara sevaka…, nitai-pada sada koro asa. Therefore we should always expect to be under the shelter of nitai-pada-kamala. Narottama boro duhkhi. Narottama dasa Thakura, he’s acarya. He is presenting himself… That is acarya. Means he is not duhkhi, but he’s presenting himself as duhkhi. That is acarya. Acaryas, they are never duhkhi. But taking the common man’s position, he says, narottama boro duhkhi. Or, in other words, Narottama… Narottama means the best of the human being. So here in this material world one may be the best of the human being, very exalted position, but everyone is duhki, unhappy. Narottama boro duhki, nitai more koro sukhi: “Only Nityananda can make me happy. Otherwise not possible.” Rakho ranga-caranera pasa. So today is Nityananda Prabhu’s appearance day. We shall always pray Nityananda Prabhu, “Kindly keep me under your shelter so that… I am very duhki; I am very unhappy. Under the shelter of Your lotus feet I shall be happy.” And that is real happiness. Thank you very much.
Devotees: Jaya Srila Prabhupada! (end) (this lecture followed by Bengali speech of Nityananda Kanurgo, former chief minister of Gujarat)

Lord Nityananda Prabhu’s Appearance Day
Nitai-Pada-Kamala Purport
—
Los Angeles, January 31, 1969
690131PU.LA

Prabhupada: (sings)

nitai-pada-kamala, koti-candra-susitala,
je chayay jagata juray

heno nitai bine bhai, radha-krishna paite nai,
dridha kori’ dharo nitair pay

se sambandha nahi ja’r, britha janma gelo ta’r,
sei pasu boro duracar

nitai na bolilo mukhe, majilo samsara-sukhe,
vidya-kule ki koribe tar

ahankare matta hoiya, nitai-pada pasariya,
asatyere satya kori mani

nitaiyer koruna habe, braje radha-krishna pabe,
dharo nitai-carana du’khani

nitaiyer carana satya, tanhara sevaka nitya,
nitai-pada sada koro asa

narotamma boro dukhi, nitai more koro sukhi,
rakho ranga-caranera pasa

Nitai-pada-kamala, koti-candra-susitala, je chayay jagata juray.
This is a song by Narottama dasa Thakura, a great acarya of the Gaudiya-vaishnava-sampradaya. He has written many songs about the Vaishnava philosophy, and they are approved as completely corresponding with Vedic instructions. So here Narottama dasa Thakura 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 Nityananda…,” whose birthday is today, 31st, January, 1969. So we should relish this instruction of Narottama dasa Thakura 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 Nityananda 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 Nityananda will immediately feel that relief. Then he says,

nitai-pada-kamala, koti-candra-susitala,
je chayay jagata juray,
heno nitai bine bhai, radha-krishna paite nai,
dharo nitai-carana du’khani

He says that “If you are anxious to go back to home, back to Godhead, and become associate with Radha and Krishna, then the best policy is to take shelter of Nityananda.” Then he says, se sambandha nahi ja’r, britha janma gelo ta’r: “One who has not been able to contact Nityananda, then one should think of himself that he has simply spoiled his valuable life.” Britha janma gelo, britha means for nothing, and janma means life. Gelo ta’r, spoiled. Because he has not made connection with Nityananda. The Nityananda, very name, suggests… Nitya means eternal. Ananda 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 nityananda, eternal pleasure. So anyone who has no contact with Nityananda, it is to be understood that his life is spoiled.

se sambandha nahi ja’r, britha janma gelo ta’r,
sei pasu boro duracar

Narottama dasa Thakura 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 Nityananda, he should be considered as an untamed animal. Sei pasu boro duracar. Why? Because nitai na bolilo mukhe: “He never uttered the holy name of Nityananda.” And majilo samsara-sukhe, “and become merged into this material happiness.” Vidya-kule ki koribe tar. “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 Nityananda. Vidya-kule ki koribe tar. Vidya 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 dasa Thakura advises that vidya-kule ki koribe tar. Then he says, ahankare matta hoiya. “Being maddened after false prestige and identification…” False identification with the body and prestige of bodily relationship, it is called ahankare matta hoiya. One is mad after this false prestige. Ahankare matta hoiya, nitai-pada pasariya. Due to this false prestige we are thinking, “Oh, what is Nityananda? What can He do for me? I don’t care.” So these are the signs of false prestige. Ahankare matta hoiya, nitai-pada pasa…, asatyere satya kori mani. 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, ahankare matta hoiya, nitai-pada pa…, asatyere satya kori mani, he accepts something wrong as right. Then he says, nitaiyer koruna habe, braje radha-krishna pabe. If you are actually serious about going back to home, back to Godhead, then please seek after the mercy of Nityananda. Ahankare…

nitaiyer koruna habe, braja radha-krishna pabe,
dharo nitai-carana du’khani

“Please catch up the lotus feet of Nityananda.” Then he says, nitaiyer carana 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 Nityananda; it may also prove false. But Narottama dasa Thakura assures that nitaiyer carana satya: “It is not false. Because Nityananda is eternal, His lotus feet is also eternal.” Tanhara sevaka nitya. And anyone who takes to the service of Nityananda, 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 nitaiyer carana satya. If you catch nitaiyer, the lotus feet of Nityananda, then you become immediately spiritualized. Just like if you touch electricity, immediately you become electrified. That is natural. Similarly, Nityananda is eternal happiness, if you touch Nityananda some way or other, then you become also eternally happy. Tanhara sevaka nitya. Therefore one who has in contact with Nityananda, they have become eternal.

nitaiyer carana satya, tanhara sevaka nitya,
dridha kori’ dharo nitair pay

So just catch Him very tightly. Narottama boro duhkhi, nitai more koro sukhi. At the last Narottama dasa Thakura, the composer of this song, he is appealing to Nityananda, “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

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.)

Dalalera-gita
by Thakura Bhaktivinoda

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: