Sri Guru Gaurangau Jayatah

February 5, 2012 was the appearance day of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. The appearance day of Nityananda Prabhu is popularly known as Nityananda Trayodasi. Just last week was the appearance day of Sri Advaita Acarya, another great associate of Sri Krsna Caitanya. In our Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya, the position of Nityananda Prabhu is extremely important. He is none other than Baladeva Prabhu Himself. It is to be understood that whenever the Lord descends, He never does so alone; He is always assisted in His pastimes by His associates. This in no way diminishes the agency of the Supreme Lord. All emanations from the Lord are complete in Themselves. This is confirmed in the invocation to Sri Isopanisad:
om purnam adah purnam idam
purnat purnam udacyate
purnasya purnam adaya
purnam evavasisyate

The Personality of Godhead is perfect and complete, and because He is completely perfect, all emanations from Him, such as this phenomenal world, are perfectly equipped as complete wholes. Whatever is produced of the complete whole is also complete in itself. Because He is the complete whole, even though so many complete units emanate from Him, He remains the complete balance.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu expands as the Panca-tattva; among the Panca-tattva, Nityananda Prabhu is foremost. But the Panca-tattva are non-different from Mahaprabhu. Nityananda Prabhu appeared in the auspicious dham of Ekacakra in Bengal as the son of Hadai Pandita and Srimati Padmavati Devi. Nityananda Prabhu is the fountainhead of mercy and exemplifies the highest service mood to Godhead. Nityananda Prabhu appeared before Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and was also the disciple of Sri Laksmipati Tirtha, whose grand disciple was the spiritual master of Mahaprabhu. What is the secret behind Lord Nityananda Prabhu’s appearance in advance of Mahaprabhu? Nityananda Prabhu manifests the dham or realm for the Lord’s transcendental pastimes. The various paraphernalia used by the Lord are all manifestations of Nityananda Prabhu’s energy. Nityananda Prabhu is akhanda-Guru-tattva. In other words, our own gurudeva is a representative of Nityananda Prabhu; Srila Gurudeva therefore exemplifies the spirit of service to Godhead.

In a 2003 lecture, our Gurudeva explained the greatness of Nityananda Prabhu:

akrodha paramananda nityananda raya
abhimana sunya nitai nagare bedaya

["The noble Nityananda Prabhu is never angry, for he is the personification of supreme transcendental bliss. Devoid of all false ego, Nitai wanders about the town." (Akrodha Paramanda by Locana dasa Thakura, verse 1)]

The meaning is very important. Akrodha means 'not angry'. We should try to give up anger, which is the root of all kinds of evil. Even if there is a reason to be angry, we should not be angry. Nityananda Prabhu is telling us this, through the medium of this song. He is saying, "You should be like Me." When Jagai and Madhai hit him and he was bleeding, he prayed to Mahaprabhu, "In this incarnation, You should forgive them, and give them krsna-prema." Thus, by the request of Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave the brothers krsna-prema.
Sri Vrndavana dasa Thakura has declared: "Ati parihare jei papi nindakara tabe / lati marun tera sirera upare." Do not disobey or dishonour Nityananda Prabhu.

Nityananda Prabhu is extremely merciful. Another song verse which explains this is:
adhama patita jivera dvare dvare giay
hari-nama maha-mantra dicchena bilaiya

["Going from door to door, to the houses of the most fallen and wretched souls, He freely distributes the gift of the harinama maha-mantra." (Akrodha Paramananda verse 2)]

In Sri Caitanya Bhagavata and Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, the wonderful pastimes of Nityananda Prabhu are narrated. Indeed, if one has progressed at all on the path of devotion to Godhead, it is by the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu alone. Those who consider only Mahaprabhu as worthy of worship but not Nityananda Prabhu are most fallen. Only Nitai can give us the mercy of Mahaprabhu and Mahaprabhu can give us Radha-Krsna prema - the topmost object of human life.

Nityananda Trayodasi at Sri Madan Mohan Gaudiya Matha

Nityananda Prabhu’s appearance day was observed with a mood of deep reverence at Sri Madan Mohan Gaudiya Matha. Our celebrations coincided with our regular Sunday programme. We had a wonderful sankirtan session in which songs glorifying Nityananda Prabhu were sung with the exclamations of 'Hari Bol!' Bilvamangala Prabhu spoke in brief about some of the glories of Sri Nityananda Prabhu and narrated some wonderful pastimes of Nityananda Prabhu. Indeed, Nitai was so merciful that He went from door-to-door begging people to chant the Holy Name of Lord Krsna/Caitanya. Nitai's speciality is that He never gets angry: He mercifully forgives offences and engages the surrendered in the Service of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sripad BV Vaikhanas Maharaja then gave a class glorifying Nityananda Prabhu. Nityananda Prabhu is Lord Baladeva Himself; He is an avadhuta and is therefore above the rules and regulations of the Varnasrama system. Baladeva Prabhu enjoys a dual identity: He is at once the elder brother of our Lord Sri Krsna and the younger sister of Srimati Radhika, Ananga Manjari. In other words, Lord Baladeva-and thus Lord Nityananda-serves Lord Krsna in all the five mellows of devotion. Swami BV Vaikhanas explained the exalted position of Lord Nityananda illustrating His merciful nature. We must know that Nitai is always willing to forgive us provided we are enthused to engage in devotional service of the Lord.

Puja of Nityananda Prabhu and Bhoga arati were performed; there was also puspanjali for Lord Nityananda Prabhu. Ekadasi prasadam was served to all. About 40 people attended the programme. To read about the transcendental pastimes of Nityananda Prabhu, please purchase the book ‘Prabandhavali’ by our Srila Gurudeva from our matha.      

Report by Subha Krishna das