Bhajans
Lectures by Srila Prabhupada
Appearance and Divine Form of Lord Nityānanda
Nityānanda Prabhu possesses the fair, whitish complexion of Lord Balarāma, radiant and cooling like a bright full moon. His effulgence is said to surpass the beauty of countless moons rising at twilight. His eyes are large and soft like lotus petals, and His curly black hair frames a face adorned with an ever-enchanting smile. His broad chest and powerful arms are often described as signs of His divine strength and transcendental authority.
He is commonly depicted wearing blue garments, symbolizing His eternal identity as Lord Balarāma, the elder brother of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. His body is ornamented with exquisite jewellery—necklaces, bracelets, and anklets—and His presence is accompanied by a divine fragrance likened to sandalwood and lotus flowers. Nityānanda Prabhu is sometimes shown holding a staff, an emblem of His role as a wandering avadhūta and His mission to bestow mercy upon the fallen.
Nityānanda Prabhu’s voice is deep, melodious, and captivating. He constantly glorifies the holy names and pastimes of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, moving freely among all people without consideration of social status, caste, or religious background. Fully absorbed in divine love, He exhibits the carefree and unpredictable mood of a true avadhūta—so immersed in prema that no one can anticipate His next action.
Although supremely powerful, Nityānanda Prabhu is renowned above all for His humility and boundless compassion. He is the embodiment of mercy, freely distributing love of Godhead to anyone He encountered. His presence was said to bring peace, joy, and spiritual awakening to all who came before Him.
Birth and Early Pastimes
Nityānanda Prabhu appeared in the year 1473 CE in the village of Ekachakra, located in present-day West Bengal. His birthplace is revered today as Garbha-sthāna, a sacred site visited by countless pilgrims. He was born into a pious brāhmaṇa family; His father was Hāḍai Ojhā, and His mother was Padmāvatī Devī, both originally from Mithilā.
He appeared on the auspicious thirteenth day of the bright fortnight (śukla-trayodaśī) of the month of Māgha. From early childhood, Nityānanda Prabhu displayed extraordinary devotion and spiritual potency. He delighted in enacting the pastimes of Lord Rāma and Śrī Kṛṣṇa with such depth, authority, and emotional intensity that the entire village of Ekachakra became immersed in love of Godhead.
His favorite role was that of Lakṣmaṇa, which He portrayed with remarkable authenticity. Many of the scenes He enacted were not found in the Rāmāyaṇa, leading villagers to wonder whether He was inventing them or relishing His own eternal pastimes. Thus, the residents of Ekachakra became completely captivated by little Nitāi, with whom He spent the first twelve years of His earthly pastimes.
Pilgrimage of the Lord
In the 13th year, a travelling sannyasi (often identified as 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, Hadai Pandit soon gave up his life.
Nitai traveled 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. The Lord went to Gaya, Kashi, Prayaga, Mathura, Govardhana, Hastinapura, Dwaraka, Ayodhya, Haridwara and many other holy places.
Finally He arrived at Jagannatha Puri, where He took darshana of Lord Jagannatha and drowned in the ocean of bliss upon seeing the Deity of the Lord. From Jagannatha Puri, He returned again to Mathura.
He also associated with 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.
The Ecstatic Meeting
Nityananda Prabhu met Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in 1506, when He was 32 years old and the Lord 20 years. 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 Haridasa Thakura and Shrivasa Pandita 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.
Nectar of Pastimes
Deliverance of Jagai and Madhai
Lord Nityananda distributed the mercy of Lord Krishna to all the fallen, materially conditioned souls. His mercy knew no bounds. He extended His mercy to even fallen souls like Jagai and Madhai, delivering them from their sinful lives.
Danda Mahotsava
It was by His mercy that Raghunatha dasa, one of the six Goswamis, started the famous Danda Mahotsava festival of Panihati, a tradition that continues to this day, and was thus able to serve Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
The Divine Lunch
Once, accepting an invitation for lunch at Mother Shachi's house, Lord Nityananda and Lord Chaitanya sat down to eat. Suddenly, Mother Shachi saw them transform into two attractive little boys—one white and one black—naked and four-handed, holding conch, disc, club, and lotus. She saw her daughter-in-law within the heart of her son. Overwhelmed with love, she fainted in ecstasy.
The Crow and the Bell Metal Bowl
One day at Srivasa Thakura's house, a crow stole a bell metal bowl used for ghee. Mother Malini devi began to cry. Lord Nityananda assured her and ordered the crow to return it. The crow obeyed and returned the bowl, causing Malini devi to faint in ecstatic love upon seeing this wonder.
The Miracle of Kadamba Flowers
During a kirtana in Panihati, the Lord ordered Raghava Pandita to make a garland of kadamba flowers. Though it was not the season, Raghava Pandita returned home to find his lemon tree blossomed with beautiful fragrant kadamba flowers. He offered the garland to the Lord, delighting all the Vaishnavas.
Later Pastimes
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.