Glories of Nandotsav
Manifestation of Lord Krishna’s birth pastime:
Nandotsava is the day after Janmashtami. Krishna incarnated as four armed Narayana in Kamsa’s prison at Mathura. Simultaneously He miraculously appeared at Gokula from the womb of Mother Yashoda in Nanda Maharaja’s house. The latter form is the svayam rupa (original condition) of Krishna. He manifested this birth pastime with the help of Yogamaya.
The overwhelming joy of Narada and other devotees at the appearance of the son of Nanda Maharaja:
When Nandanandana (the son of King Nanda) appeared, Narada and other devotees came to Nanda Bhavan. They congratulated Nanda Maharaja and sang the following song:
“Vipra vrindam abhudalankriti godhanair bhi purnam, Gayanamapi Mad vidhan vrajanatha toshara turnam
Sunuradbhuta sundaro ‘jani Nandaraja tabayam., Dehi gosthajanara vanchita mutsavochitadayam.
Tabkatmaja vikshana kshana nandimadvidha chittam, Yanna kairapi lavdhamathi virotadichchati vittam.”
(Description of Nandosava by Srimad Rupa Goswami in Stavamala)
Meaning: O Nanda, the king of Vraja, the Brahmins have become enamored with ornaments and cows. O Nanda Maharaja, this beautiful son has been born to you; So fulfill the desires of the residents of Braja by donating various festive gifts. Our hearts are overjoyed to see your son. So the mind does not pray for anything else. But give us that wealth no one can ever get, i.e. give us the service of Lord Krishna. These words of Devarshi Narada to Nanda Maharaja are the ultimate goal of Nandotsava. Sri Rupa Goswami Prabhu said this in the hymns of his book Stavamala.
Proper Donation of Nandotsava:
Krishna, the moon of the clan of Nanda, gives pleasure to Nanda. One who has witnessed His toenail beauty never prays anything else except the living service of His lotus feet. They become the followers of Nanda Maharaja and beg the opportunity to serve Nandakumara. This is their real benediction.
Glories of Nanda Maharaja:
Sri Raghupati Upadhyaya, a Maithil disciple of Srila Madhavendra Puri, sang a verse when Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited Arail village. This verse accurately revealed the glories of Nanda Maharaja. The verse is as follows:
“Shrutimapare Smritimitare bharatamanye Bhajantu bhavabhita
Ahmiham Nandam vande Yasyalinde Parambrahma”
Meaning: Those non-devotees who fear the material world and desire moksha (salvation), appreciate the hymns of Vedic literature. Let them do it. The fruitive workers who are adherents of Smartas and want to worship the Smriti Shastras, let them do so. Those who are attracted to mundane affairs and want to study Mahabharata for moral lessons, let them do so. I only sing the glories of Nanda Maharaja in whose corridors, Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the embodiment of supreme bliss, is engaged in childish games.
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu revealed the glories of Nanda Maharaja by propagating this verse by Sri Raghupati Upadhyaya.
Srila Prabhupada’s contemplation regarding Nandotsava:
The heart of Nanda Maharaja was not attracted by any Godly opulence of his son. His heart was filled with only pure natural love for Him. Therefore his heart became a ground of spontaneous festivals. The genuine love of Nanda Maharaja is “Krishna-indriya-tarpana-icchamayi” i.e. its only goal is to satisfy Krishna’s senses. When the consciousness of a living entity gets infused with the mood of Nanda Maharaja’s natural love, the original purpose of Nanda Utsava is attained. As long as this intuition is awakened, neither worldly sorrows, fears, infatuations, nor all the illusions of impermanent festivals like piety, wealth, lust, the desire for salvation, etc., and the unworthy shadow reflection of pleasures can agitate our hearts. Nandotsava is the root cause of all festivals. As soon as we fall from the state of Nandotsava, various kinds of external displeasures related to our body and household, grasp us in the name of temporary festivals.
