Most of the followers of the Lord who had developed disinterest to continue in family life all came to stay in Nilacala. Sri Nityananda spent a long time in Nilacala. He was always enthusiastic, jubilant, and roamed everywhere in Nilacala like the noonday sun. He was perennially saturated and intoxicated with divine love. I am incapable of writing fully about His unlimited ecstatic love. He was always chanting just one name, Sti Krsna Caitanya—no other name escaped His lips even in a dream. Just as Sri Laksmana is completely devoted to Sri Ramacandra; similarly, Nitai is fully surrendered in His love for Sti Caitanya. The reason for the whole world glorifying Sri Caitanya even today is solely 116Sti Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya-khanda by Vrndavana dasa Thakura due to the mercy of Sri Nityananda. In this way, the two brothers, Sri Kysna Caitanya and Nityananda Prabhu passed Their days in Nilicala, One day, Gaurasundara, the Supreme Personality of Godhead now manifest in human form, was sitting in a secluded place conversing with Nityananda. The Lord said to Nityananda Prabhu, “O exalted one, dear Nityananda, please listen. You must return to Navadvipa immediately. In My own words, I have promised, “I will drown every ignorant, wretched and fallen soul in the deluge of krsna-prema. However, if You also take to the reclusive life and discard Your indomitable enthusiasm to propagate the chanting of the Holy Name, then who will deliver these fallen souls? You are the storchouse of devotional mellows, distributing divine love to everyone. If You withdraw within Yourself away from these activities, then what was the necessity of Your appearance on this planet? In My opinion, I think You should go immediately to Bengal and relieve the sufferings of the conditioned souls by showering them with attraction for devotional service.” On receiving these instructions from the Lord, Nityananda Prabhu started for Bengal with all His devoted associates. These elevated souls were Rama dasa, Gadadhara dasa, Raghunatha Vaidya, Krsnadasa Pandita, Paramesvari dasa, and Purandara Pandita. On the way, Sri Nityananda was the first to be overcome with spiritual ecstasy; this spiritual mood then infected all His other associates. First, they were filled with wonderment seeing Nityananda. However, soon, they were also experiencing unlimited divine bliss. Ramadasa, a stalwart amongst the Vaisnavas, was imbued with the spiritual mood of the Supreme Lord, Sti Krsna Himself. All at once, right in the middle of the road, he stood like Gopala, bent in three places for almost an hour, oblivious of his surroundings. Gadadhara dasa was overcome with the mood of Srimati Radharani. Laughing in the sweetest peals, he said, “Who wants to buy yoghurt?” Raghunatha Vaidya was draped in the sublime personality of Mother Revati. Paramesvari dasa and Krsnadasa were both experiencing the mood of Gopala and the cowherd boys. They began to make sounds with their mouths as if herding the cows. Purandara Pandita climbed up a tree, shouting he said, “I am Angada,” and jumped down in a leap from 17Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya-khanda by Vrndavana dasa Thakura the branches. Sri Nity4nanda infused into everyone's heart the ecstatic experience of exhilarating spiritual moods. They travelled like this for a few miles, sometimes going to the left and sometimes to the right, without any particular discretion. After a while, they asked the local people, “Please tell us how we can reach the Ganga.” They replied, “O goodness, you have already come too far. You must go back a distance of two hours.” They changed direction according to the direction of the locals and travelled for a while in the right direction, but again after some distance, they got aimlessly lost in their mood of ecstasy. They had to stop someone and again ask for proper direction. Again, they were directed, “You have to travel another twenty miles to the left.” Realizing their confusion and looking at each other, they laughed and embarked once more on their journey. They had forgotten the existence of their own bodies, what to speak of remembering the right direction. Unconcerned about the needs of the body such as thirst, hunger, fear, and distress, they were always experiencing great joy. Who can describe the transcendental activities of Sri Nityananda as He travelled—they are inexhaustible and unlimited. Finally, they arrived at Panihati village on the banks of the River Ganga. Sri Nityananda went first to the house of Sri Raghava Pandita and put up there with all His devotees, Raghava Pandita, Sri Makaradhvaja Khan, and their families were very happy to receive their most exalted guests, who remained there for a few days. In that wonderful atmosphere, Nityananda and His devotees felt always spiritually exhilarated and occasionally, Nityananda would loudly roar out His appreciation. Once, He strongly felt within Himself the spiritual urge to dance. Suddenly, all the devotee singers began to appear there. Sti Madhava Ghosa, the famous kirtana singer, arrived. His kirtana singing was the best in the whole world. He was known as ‘the singer from Vindavane’ because he was especially expert in singing about the Lord’s Vrndavana pastimes, which were the favourite kirtanas of Sri Nityananda. 118Sti Caitanya-bhagavata, Aatya-khagda by Vindavana dasa Thakura Sri Nityananda danced with such ecstatic abandon that the earth reeled under His weight. Roaring sounds like thunder incessantly issued from His mouth and when He fell crashing to the ground people stood back in amazement. When His merciful glance fell upon any person, that fortunate soul was instantaneously infused with divine krsna-prema, which would cause the recipient to fall to the ground swooning. Sti Nityananda is the embodiment of the highest spiritual love and He has advented simply to alleviate the suffering due to the ignorance in this world. While dancing, He manifested all the different ecstatic symptoms of divine love. Finally, upon the request of the devotees, He sat down upon the throne of Sri Visnu to be bathed . Sri Raghava Pandita and the other eternal associates of Sri Nityananda immediately prepared for the abhiseka, bathing ceremony. They assembled hundreds of pots filled with Gang water and perfumed it with delicate aromas. With gladdened hearts, the devotees one by one poured water over Sti Nityananda’s head and all the while chanted the Holy Name of the Lord and appropriate mantras. They felt divine exhilaration surge through their persons. After the abhiseka, they clothed Him in fresh new clothes, decorated Him with sandalwood paste, and covered His full broad chest with garlands of fragrant wild flowers and tulasi leaves. They then sat Him upon an ornate golden throne of Visnu, which was draped with flower garlands and leaves. As Sct Nityananda sat down, Raghava Pandita went behind the throne and held an open umbrella over His head. The whole house now began to reverberate with the jubilant sound of human voices chanting the Holy Name, mingled with melodious musical instruments. Lifting their arms and begging the Lord to protect them, the devotees forgot all their cares and worries and even their own bodies. Sri Nityananda, now totally steeped in the ecstasy of His own divine self, glanced all around emanating kysna-prema from His eyes and showered the assembled devotees with His merciful teardrops. He called Raghava Pandita and ordered, “Dear Raghava Pandita, right this moment, go and bring Me a garland of kadamba flowers. I am very fond of kadamba flowers. In fact, | am always attracted to stay in a forest 119Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya-khanda by Vrndavana dasa Thakura of kadambas.” With folded hands Sri Raghava Pandita replied, “My Lord, this is not the season for kadambas.” The Lord gently pressed, “Go and look carefully in the garden. Maybe a few can be seen blooming somewhere.” Sri Raghava Pandita went inside the house to the courtyard garden and was very astonished to see what met his eyes. Fresh and lovely kadamba flowers were blooming gleefully upon his lemon tree. The flowers were a beautiful hue and gave out the sweetest fragrance. In fact, these extraordinary flowers would destroy all the material attachments of anyone who looked at them. Sri Raghava Pandita was beside himself with joy as he beheld this supra-mundane phenomenon. He quickly gathered the kadamba flowers and deftly strung them into a garland, bringing it before Sri Nityananda. Nityananda was greatly pleased to see the kadamba garland and wore it around His neck. The Vaisnavas became intoxicated by the heady aroma of the flowers and were fascinated by the miracle. Yet, soon yet another miracle took place. Suddenly, the whole room was fragrant with a new scent. The delectable fragrance of damanaka flowers filled the air captivating everyone's mind. Laughing aloud, Nityananda teased everyone saying, “Tell Me which flower smells like that.” The devotees replied with folded hands, “The air carries the delightful scent of damanaka.” Letting everyone speak first, Nitydinanda finally revealed to them a great secret. He said with overflowing compassion, “Pay good attention to this very mysterious happening. Sri Caitanya has come from Nilacala and is present here and now to hear yourkirtana, He is laden with the damanaka flower garlands that He is wearing around His neck and He has entered the form of a tree. Thus, the scent from His divine garlands is now permeating everywhere. He has come personally from Puri to hear your kirtana and witness your dancing. Therefore, all of you now leave everything else aside and just constantly chant the Holy Names of Kysna. Let the nectar of the wonderful activities of Sri Krsna Caitanya infuse you with kryna-prema.” After thus revealing this transcendental happening, Sri Nityananda began to roar loudly, and chanting, “Hari! Hari!” He glanced over 120Sti Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya-khanda by Vindavana dasa Thakura everyone, His vision emanating sublime love of Krsna. The devotees, touched by the infinitely tender glance of the Lord, were instantaneously transported to a region transcending the mundane plane of physical awareness. Dear readers, please try to comprehend the extraordinary potency of Sti Nityananda, how He inundated the entire planet with the knowledge and taste of devotional service to the Supreme Lord. The super excellent mood of devotional surrender of the damsels of Vrndavana as described in the Srimad Bhagavatam was facilely made available to the whole world by the mercy of Sri Nityananda. Lord Nityananda was sitting on the throne and all the devotees sang and danced in front of Him. Some of the devotees, unable to contain their surging glee, climbed up a tree and began to move about playfully on the tender branches and twigs, but miraculously no one fell. Others roared thunderously in the bliss of prema and jumped down from the trees. There were others who circled their arms around a tree trunk and uprooted the whole tree all the while loudly chanting, “Hari! Hari!” Some became so surcharged with such immense spiritual strength that they ran to a nearby row of betel nut trees and putting their arms around a number of them, uprooted them all at once as if they were a bunch of grass. The extraordinary potency of Sri Nityananda to infuse the devotees with blissful love of Krsna was so dynamic that their bodies began manifesting all the ecstatic symptoms of prema as described in the Srimad Bhagavatam; crying, shivering, being stunned, perspiring profusely, horripilation, roaring, hoarseness, turning pale, and so on. Wherever Lord Nityananda glanced, He showered the nectarine rains of devotional ecstasy. As His transcendental glance rested upon any devotee that devotee was instantaneously injected with divine love and fell swooning to the ground unaware of his actions and state of dress. Magnetically drawn to the divine person of the Lord, the devotees stretched out in an attempt to reach Him. Lord Nityananda, a perfect 121Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya-khanda by Vrndavana dasa Thakura picture of contentment, remained seated on His throne smiling benignly. All His main associates became imbued with extraordinary spiritual potency and mystic opulence. They became omniscient and their every word became true. Their features flowered into the beautiful attractiveness of Cupid. Whomever they touched became electrified with the divine spiritual energy, forgetting even their own bodies, what to speak of any attachment to mundane time, place, and circumstances. Sri Nityananda spent three months in Panihati performing transcendental pastimes with His associates, thus revealing the sublime nature of bhakti, devotional service. The three months passed quickly, carrying the devotees in the waves of divine ecstasy. Unconcerned about their physical needs, they sang and danced forgetful of hunger and sleep. The whole village of Panihati was heaved upon waves of jubilation that all the Vedas would find difficult to fully describe. In truth, what Lord Nityananda would do in the span of an hour is practically impossible for anyone to narrate exhaustively. Sometimes, He would dance in a stately manner surrounded by the devotees and then suddenly, He might decide to sit upon the throne and then order the devotees to dance before Him ‘one by one. During each dance performance of the devotees, many incidents occurred. The dancing would inspire transcendental loving emotion amongst the watching devotees, drowning them in a deluge of krsna- prema. Sometimes, when the ecstasy had reached an apex, all the spectator devotees would fall swooning; they looked like a cluster of banana trees being uprooted in a storm. The devotees joyfully did as directed by Nityananda and eagerly executed His desires. Led by Sri Nityananda, they constantly chanted the name and glories of Krsna Caitanya, thus the whole atmosphere was spiritually highly surcharged. Whoever came even to simply watch the happenings would be so infected with the spiritual atmosphere that they also would become totally involved and oblivious to everything else. Whatever the devotees 122Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya-khanda by Vrndavana dasa Thakura desired was immediately fulfilled. In this manner, the three months seemed to fly by in a moment without anyone noticing. One day, during these three months, Lord Nitynanda felt the desire to decorate Himself with ornaments and fine dress. As soon as He felt the urge, different people without prior intimation arrived bringing the fineries. All these gifts were very precious and of the best quality—the finest silks and exquisite gold jewellery studded with brilliant gems. The people came with their gifts and offered them with great reverence to the Lord who tried on all the different ornaments. No one had ever seen such a wide variety of jewellery of all shapes and designs. Gold ornaments—with the gold intricately worked to give the most exquisite designs—studded with pearls, emeralds, and rubies. Sri Nityananda put on beautiful rings upon all His ten fingers and many brilliant necklaces of priceless gems decorated His neck and chest. Then showing special favour to Lord Siva, He slipped two rudraksa necklaces around His neck. As He moved, the light set afire the gems set into His golden earrings. The silver anklets around His lotus feet tinkled pleasingly. White, cream, blue, and yellow silks draped Him in flowing grace. An enchanting sight it was indeed. Devotees had lovingly made beautiful elaborate garlands of fragrant flowers such as mdlatl, madhavt, mallika, yathi, and campaka and now placed them over His head to sit delicately upon His chest with the shimmering gems. With each motion, the garlands swayed and the fragrance mingled with the aroma of fresh sandalwood paste that was applied to His body. The air was filled with a heavy sweet scent. Soft shining silks of different hues were tied around His head to make a multicoloured turban. Bright flower garlands were neatly added to the turban to make a unique headgear. Sri Nityananda’s happy face exuded enough irresistible glowing charm to overshadow the brilliance of a million moons. Smiling, He constantly chanted the name of the Lord. His lotus-eyed glance roved the room and released in every heart the floodgate of love of Krsna. Two iron rods that shone like silver stood on either side of His throne. He held one in His hand just as Balaram holds His plough. His associates, who were actually expansions of the cowherd 123Sei Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya-khanda by Vindavana dasa Thakura boys of Vraja, took up the various ornaments and instruments that usually decorate them as they go grazing the cows. Thus, they dressed themselves with armlets, belts, anklets, and necklaces. They tied horns, flutes, and reeds to their belts and looped the ropes for tying cows around their shoulders. Then, Sti Nityananda went out with all His associates as if going to graze the cows. They visited the houses of all the Vaisnavas residing on both banks of the Ganga. Immersed in the ocean of ecstasy within Himself, the Lord blessed everyone with His association. On His sight, the people were helplessly drawn to Him, captivated by His power and beauty. Sti Nityananda is the embodiment of all transcendental mellows, representing both the Holy Name and the Supreme Godhead Himself. Even the atheists and agnostics upon seeing Him began to offer prayers, feeling an urge in their melted hearts to offer everything to Him. The most munificent Lord showers causeless mercy upon all. Wherever He went, whatever He did, Sri Nityananda was constantly absorbed in sarikirtana. Moreover, when He began dancing and singing in kirtana, He sent everyone reeling in spirals of divine exultation. Even young children exhibited wonderful powers in His presence. Children from ordinary households manifested such strength that they uprooted big trees whilst roaring loudly like thunderbolts. They said, “I am a cowherd boy, Gopala!” and ran about. Hundreds tried to hold these children but failed to do so. Certainly, these were extraordinary feats for mere children. They chanted jubilantly, “Sri Krsna Caitanya, Jaya Nityananda!” Sri Nityananda relished these pastimes and made the children perform acts that are even more extraordinary. One particular child fasted for over a month without any difficulty leaving everyone in the village wondering in amazement. Associating with the Lord, the children relished every part of His transcendental pastimes and often entered into complete, ecstatic trances. However, the Lord was like a guardian angel to the children and was their constant guide and protector. He treated them like a father to a son, often times feeding them with His own hands, Some of them, He kept by His side binding them with His 124Sti Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya-khanda by Vindavana dasa Thakura love, but sometimes as a disciplinarian He would even beat them all the while laughing loudly. One day, the Lord decided to visit the home of Srila Gadadhara dasa to convey His feeling of great affection for him. Srila Gadadhara was a very elevated Vaisnava who was always absorbed in the ecstatic mood of the Vraja gopts. Placing a waterpot filled with Ganga water upon his head, he would go around vending, “Who wants to buy cow’s milk?” Such was his absorption in the mood of Vraja. A Deity of Bala-gopala, possessing most exquisite, charming features and dressed in fineries was worshipped in Gadadhara’s home temple. Sri Nityananda, upon seeing Bala-gopala, immediately picked Him up from the altar and pressed Him tightly to His breast. The devotees loudly chanted the Holy Name in jubilation upon this momentous occasion as they beheld Ananta-Sesa, Nityananda, pressing Bala-Gopala to His heart. Sri Nityananda instantly entered a state of ecstatic trance and roaring like a lion, He began to dance. The especially gifted Sri Madhava Ghosa then started to sing in a very sweet voice. Hearing his song, which described the pastime of Krsna levying taxes from the gopis, Sri Nityananda was overwhelmed with a surge of divine emotions. Thus, the Lord engaged in ecstatic pastimes with the most fortunate Gadadhara dasa who never forgot for a moment that he was actually a gopi. The Lord continued to dance so gracefully that it is impossible to describe His lissom movements. He manifested all the ecstatic symptoms and the transformations of ecstatic emotion in kysna-prema. His movements were like flashes of lightning, yet charming and delicate. The expressions with His eyes and eyebrows were subtle and He always kept a mild smile playing upon His lips. The movements of His head were expertly done like a seasoned classical dancer knowing the correct nuances to express the various transcendental moods. Then bringing His exquisite feet together, He would pirouette and jump with ease and gracefully flowing movements. He was the all-merciful Lord, so wherever He looked all the men and women felt drawn into an ocean of indescribable bliss. Such was the impact of His benign glance that every 125Sti Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya-khanda by Vrndavana dasa Thakura recipient lost all sense of time, body, and matter, and experienced only an overwhelming joy. The highest quality of pure bhakti aspired for by only the best of yogis and philosophers was being received freely by ordinary mortals by the infinite grace of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. By His mercy, further miracles also began to manifest. When a grownup man as strong as an elephant has to fast for three days, he becomes weak. However, the children, who had been fasting for a month, now when they danced seemed to have more energy and stamina than young lions. Although Sri Nityananda manifested such miraculous powers and effects by the illusory potency of the Lord, Sti Krsna Caitanya, no one could understand the truth of the events. Sti Nityananda spent a few days more in the home of Gadadhara dasa drowning everyone in an ocean of transcendental bliss. Gadadhara dasa felt the deepest divine exhilaration and forgetting the external surrounding, he constantly chanted the Holy Name and tirelessly encouraged everyone to do the same. In the same village lived a very tyrannical Muslim Kazi, magistrate, who was very strict and fanatical. Out of hate and intolerance towards other religious practices, he had officially banned the performance of kirtana in public. Intoxicated with spiritual ecstasy arising from Sti Nityananda’s divine association, Gadadhara dasa one night made his way to the Kazi’s house. Everyone was mortally fearful of the Kazi, but this night Gadadhara dasa strode fearlessly to his residence. Never once did he stop chanting as he entered the house. The Kazi's friends and family members stared speechless in disbelief at Gadadhara dasa. Gadadhara dasa said, “Where is that rascal Kazi? He had better chant Kysna’s name, or I will sever his head.” The Kazi came charging in, fuming with rage, but upon seeing Gadadhara dasa, he calmed himself. The Kazi inquired, “Why have you come here, Gadadhara dasa?” Gadadhara dasa replied, “I have some things to discuss with you. Sri Krsna Caitanya and Sri Nityananda have incarnated in this age and have inspired the entire world to chant Krsna’s Holy Name. Only you remain yet to chant, so | have come to urge you to chant Sri Hari’s name. The Lord’s Holy Name is all auspicious and supremely beneficial 126Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya-khanda by Vindavana dasa Thakura and I take responsibility for saving you from all sinful reactions if you simply chant.” Although the Kazi was known to be very cruel, he was now speechless and stupefied. Then smiling wanly, the Kazi said, “Listen, Gadadhara dasa, tomorrow I will certainly comply with your request to chant, “Hari! Hari!” but tonight please go home.” As soon as Gadadhara dasa heard Sri Hari’s name from the Kazi’s mouth, he became jubilant. He said, “Why wait for tomorrow? Just now you have taken the Lord’s name, and so now you are completely free from all sins and inauspiciousness.” Saying this to the Kazi, Sri Gadadhara dasa began to dance like a madman clapping his hands. Then suddenly, he turned around and left, leaving a surprised Kazi still staring after him. Happily, Gadadhara dasa returned to his residence. Gadadhara dasa was always absorbed in meditation upon Sri Nityananda. He is counted amongst the foremost of Sri Caitanya’s associates. This Kazi was considered so evil that no saintly person would even go near him. In fact, they said his close proximity would contaminate anyone. Yet, Gadadhara dasa showed his mercy even to such a demoniac person as him. Gadadhara dasa was able to make him temporarily forget his malicious ways and at once inspire him to take Krsna’s Holy Name. The truth is that one who is imbued with love of Krsna can never be attacked by snakes, tigers or any wild beasts, or be burned by fire. The devotional surrender to Krsna for which Lord Brahma strives and the intimate loving exchanges of the gopis of Vrndavana with Krsna were all manifest in the associates of Sri Nityananda solely by His causeless mercy. Therefore, all of you, my brothers, please serve the lotus feet of Sr Nityananda. By His infinite grace, one can attain the eternal shelter of Sti Krsna Caitanya. A few days passed and one day Lord Nityananda had the urge to see Sti Sacimata. Therefore, He left the next day journeying towards Navadvipa with His associates. On the way, He came to a village called Khadadaha- grama and first went to the home of Purandara Pandita. Here 127Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya-khanda by Vrndavana dasa Thakura Nityananda danced in great jubilation with countless new gestures and postures—to properly describe His graceful and lithe movements is impossible, Sri Purandara was also a great devotee who was already mad with love of Krsna and he became so inebriated with the prema-rasa charged spiritual atmosphere that like a lunatic he climbed up on a tree and began to roar like a maddened lion. Another devotee present named Caitanya dasa had become so surcharged with spiritual ecstasy that he was oblivious of everything around him. He ran into the nearby forest and chased away the wild beasts with his rumbling roars. When he saw a tiger, he jumped on his back. The tiger was stunned and helpless, unable to do anything—such is the potency of the mercy of Sti Krsna. He then picked up a huge python, cradled it on his lap, and fondled it gleefully as if it were a toy. Just as earlier with the tiger, Caitanya dasa was absolutely fearless. All these miracles were taking place by the mercy of Sti Nityananda, who is so magnanimous, loving, and protective of His devotees. By this mercy, Sri Nityananda’s associates feel no terror even from wild, hostile beasts and they are easily rewarded with the rarest gift of prema-rasa, which is extremely difficult to obtain even for Lord Brahma. Sri Caitanya dasa was continually deep in ecstasy, completely forgetful of himself. Openly, he continuously spoke his most intimate thoughts. Once, he remained submerged in water for several days without the slightest trace of mental or physical discomfiture. Sometimes, he lay inert like a stone and at other times became boisterous like a hungry lion. His behaviour and activities were all very unusual and his devotional ecstasies were too numerous and subtle to be described. Sti Caitanya dasa was truly a surrendered devotee, just like the great Murari Pandita. Even if just the breeze that had touched his body reached someone, that person would immediately feel growing attachment for Sti Kysna.