Pranam Mantra of Nityananda Prabhu
sankarsanah karana-toya-shayi, garbhoda-shayi cha payobdhi-shayi |
sheshash cha yasyamsha-kalah sa nityanandakhya-ramah sharanam mamastu ||
Another Pranam Mantra
nityananda namastubhyam premananda-pradayine |
kalau kalmasa-nasaya jahnava-pataye namah||
Nityananda Prabhu is none other than Lord Balaram himself, he is the ocean of divine nectar and unlimited mercy.
Appearance & Childhood:
In 1395 Bengali era, 1473 AD, on January 12, Nityananda Prabhu appeared in the village of Ekachakra, Birbhum district, West Bengal. He was born on the auspicious tithi of Shukla Trayodashi (thirteenth day of bright fortnight). His father’s name was Harai Pandit and his mother’s was Padmavati. According to Gaura Ganoddesa Dipika, Harai Pandita was the combined manifestation of King Dasharatha and Vasudeva. His mother Padmavati was the manifestation of Rohini and Sumitra together. In his childhood, Nityananda Prabhu did not reveal himself. He played with children by imitating various pastimes of Lord Krishna like Mother Earth’s approaching the demigods and describing the oppression by the demons, Lord Krishna’s appearance in Kamsa’s prison, killing Putana, cart smashing, stealing butter, killing Kaliya, Dhenuka, Agha and Vatsa, uplifting Govardhana, stealing the garments of gopis, accepting seva from the brahmin wives, going to Mathura with Akrura etc. Sometimes he imitated the pastimes of Lord Ram like, the setuvandhana (making of the bridge), Lakshmana’s injury from Shaktishela, and killing Indrajita. Sometimes he used to perform the pastimes of Lord Vamana when the Lord seized King Vaki’s property and sent him to patala. In this way, Nityananda Prabhu passed his puberty and entered his adolescence.
Nityananda Prabhu’s traveling and accepting their Guru:
Nityananda Prabhu was the very heart of his parents. They loved him very much. They could not leave Nityananda even for a moment. Even though Harai Pandit was engaged in various activities, his life was devoted to Nityananda. One day a Vaishnava monk came to Harai Pandit’s house as a guest. The monk asked Harai Pandita to send Nityananda Prabhu with him as his traveling companion. The parents started crying but fulfilled the desire of the monk by saying “We are offering you our own heart. Please protect him always.” After this incident, Nithyananda Prabhu went on a pilgrimage with the monk. He came in touch with the Brahma Madhva Sampradaya i.e. the lineage of Madhvacarya during his tour of South India. He showed his mercy to Lakshmipati Tirtha by accepting him as his guru. Here is a verse regarding this pastime:
“Nityananda Prabhum Vande Srimad Lakshmipati Priyam
Sri Madhva-sampradaya Vardhanam Bhakta Vatsalam”
Meeting with Sri Madhavendra Puri:
During the trip to Western India, Srila Madhavendra Puri met Nityananda Prabhu. Both of them became overwhelmed after seeing each other. Sri Chaitanya Bhagavatam (Adi.9) describes it:
“ei-mata nityānanda-prabhura bhramaṇa
daive mādhavendra-saha haila daraśana”
Translation: As the Lord traveled in this way, by the will of providence He met Śrī Mādhavendra Purī. Ishwara Puri, Brahmananda Puri, and other disciples of Madhvendra Puri showed great respect to Nityananda Prabhu. Nityananda Prabhu spent some days with Madhavendra Puri and discussed Krishna.
Coming to Vrindavan:
After that Nityananda Prabhu went to Setuvandha and other pilgrimages. Later he visited Dhanustirtha, Vijayanagara, Avasti, and Godavari and finally arrived at Puri Dham. He saw the beautiful deity of Sri Jagannath in Puri and performed kirtana and danced in ecstasy. After staying a few days, he came to Gangasagara Tirtha. From there he went to Vrajamandala. He became overwhelmed after coming to Vrindavan. It is described in Sri Chaitanya Bhagavata, Adi-khanda, verses 205-206:
“niravadhi vrindavane karena vasati
krishnera aveshe na janena diva-rati”
Translation: He continually stayed in Vrindavana and became so absorbed in Krishna that He did not know whether it was day or night.
“ahara nahika, kadacit dugdha-pana
seha yadi ayacita keha kare dana”
Translation: He did not eat, but He occasionally drank some milk whenever someone offered it to Him.
Arrival at Navadvipa:
In Vrindavan, Nityananda Prabhu was seeking Krishna everywhere. But he did not find Krishna. Every temple and every altar seemed to be empty. Meanwhile, he heard an oracle: “Krishna has descended in Nadia. Now He is manifesting the Sankirtana pastime there. Go there at once.” Hearing this, Nityananda Prabhu left for Gaudamandala.
Meeting with Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu:
After arriving at Mayapur, Nityananda Prabhu took shelter in the house of Sri Nandanacharya, a great devotee. Nandana Acharya showed deep respect and great hospitality to him. Soon Sri Gaurasundara, the supersoul of everybody, came to know about him and went to Nandana Acharya’s house with his associates. There they manifested many divine pastimes and finally met with each other.
Nityananda Prabhu in Shrivasa Pandita’s house:
Then Mahaprabhu joyfully came to Srivasa Angana with Nityananda Prabhu and other associates. After dancing for a while in Sankirtana, Mahaprabhu ordered Nityananda to stay at Shrivasa’s house. Srivasa Pandita served Nityananda Prabhu as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Nityananda Prabhu considered Srivasa’s wife Malini Devi as his mother. Malini Devi also accepted Nityananda Prabhu as his son. Nityananda Prabhu performed various pastimes in Srivasa Pandita’s house. Also, Nityananda Prabhu delivered the two fallen souls Jagai and Madhai in Navadvipa. This incident spread the glories of Nityananda Prabhu throughout Navadvipa.
Role of Nityananda Prabhu in Mahaprabhu’s Sannyasa:
Nityananda Prabhu realized that Mahaprabhu was preparing to accept the ascetic order. He became very sad. Mahaprabhu said – “I will give up the Shikha & sutra (tuft hair and sacred thread) and take Sannyasa to deliver the world. I will renounce my household life. I am telling you my desire. I do whatever you make me do. Now give Me instruction for Sannyasa.” Nityananda Prabhu realized that Mahaprabhu would accept asceticism inevitably. He observed the rituals of Sannyasa.
Breaking the Sannyasa staff (danda):
While Mahaprabhu was going to Nilachala, Nityananda Prabhu, Jagdananda and other devotees accompanied Him. Finally, they reached the bank of Suvarnarekha River. One day Mahaprabhu gave His Sannyasa staff (danda) to Nityananda Prabhu and went out to beg. Nityananda Prabhu held the staff and addressed it, “O staff”, he said, “You have committed an offense. You have forced Mahaprabhu whom I carry in my own heart, to bear you. Do not make Him bear you anymore.” Nityananda, who is non-different from Lord Balarama broke the Sannyasa staff into three pieces. Nityananda Prabhu could not accept that Mahaprabhu Sri Krishna Chaitanya Deva, whom Nityananda Prabhu bore in his own heart would bear the load of this Sannyasa staff. Therefore he broke the staff.
Arrival at Gaudadesha by the order of Mahaprabhu:
Nityananda Prabhu is the main associate of Mahaprabhu. When Mahaprabhu was about to take Sannyasa to deliver the fallen souls, Nityananda Prabhu became His companion. He went to Nilachala along with Mahaprabhu. He spent some days there and participated in Rathayatra. One day Sri Gaurasundara asked Nityananda Prabhu, “If we both stay in Puri, who will deliver the people of Bengal? Therefore you should soon go to Gaudadesha. You should make the devotees of Gaudadesha happy and deliver the fallen souls.” Sri Nithyananda Prabhu, Rama Dasa, Sri Gadadhara Dasa, Sri Raghunatha Vaidya, Sri Krishna Dasa Pandita, Sri Parameswari Dasa and
Sri Purandara Dasa together set off towards Gaudadesha.
Danda Mahotsava at Panihati:
Nityananda Prabhu first came to Sri Raghava Pandita’s house in Panihati village. Gradually the devotees from Gaudadesha also arrived there. Nityananda Prabhu started conducting Sankirtana Mahotsava every day. Sri Nithyananda Prabhu manifested many miraculous pastimes in the Raghava Bhavana. In this way, Nityananda Prabhu bestowed prema bhakti to everyone. When he was in Panihati village, one day Sri Raghunath Dasa, the son of Sri Hiranya Govardhana Dasa approached Sri Nityananda Prabhu. Nityananda Prabhu called Raghunatha, but he did not go to him out of humility. Then Nityananda Prabhu pulled Raghunath Dasa and placed his lotus feet on his head. Nityananda Prabhu said, “Now arrange a feast of curd and chipped rice for my associates.” On the instruction of Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Raghunath Das conducted the Chiradadhi Mahotsava. Since then, the Chiradadhi festival has been held in Panihati every year. Later, by the mercy of Nithyananda Prabhu, Raghunatha Dasa Goswami became free from material bondage and attained the lotus feet of Mahaprabhu.
Taking initiatives to spread the mission of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Nityananda Prabhu stayed a few days in Panihati. Later he moved to Khardaha where he propagated the mission of Krishna consciousness. Then he arrived at Advaita Acharya’s place in Shantipur. After staying at Shantipur for a few days, Nityananda visited Mayapur, Navadvipa to meet Sachimata. There he spent a few days and performed Sankirtana.
Marriage of Nityananda Prabhu:
Nityananda Prabhu got married to Vasudha Devi and Jahnava Devi, two daughters of Pandit Suryadasa who lived near Shaligrama in Baragachi, Navadvipa. It is said in Gaur Ganoddesa Deepika that the two wives of Nityananda Prabhu, Vasudha and Sri Jahnava Devi are the expansions of Varuni and Revati respectively. Some identify Vasudha Devi as ‘Kalavani’ and Sri Jahnava devi as ‘Ananga manjari’. After marriage, Nityananda Prabhu spent a few days with his wives in the house of Suryadasa. Then he took his wives to Navadvipa. After meeting Sachimata in Navadvipa, they went to Advaita Acharsha’s house in Shantipur. Sita Devi and Advaita Prabhu welcomed them and showered merciful blessings. Then they went to Saptagram where Uddharana Dutta lived. After spending some days there, they finally returned to Khardaha.
Disappearance Leela:
Around 1522 AD, Nityananda Prabhu came to Khardaha with his two consorts: Vasudha and Jahnava. As Nityananda Prabhu arrived at Khardaha, lived there permanently, and propagated the sankirtan movement, Khardaha became a Vaishnava pilgrimage at his time. Sri Nityananda Prabhu lived in Kunjavatika at Khardaha. When Mahaprabhu left this material world Nityananda Prabhu started lamenting. He went to his native land Ekachakra with his wives. One day he entered into the deity of Bankima Raya and disappeared from the mundane eyes. According to Vaishnava Digdarshini, Nityananda Prabhu returned to Nitya Lila in 1542 AD.
