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.
