KRISHNA

CHAITYNA
PRABHU
NITYANAND
A
Nityananda Prabhu was born on the thirteenth day of the bright fortnight of Magha (February-March) in the
village of Ekachakra in the district of Birbhum in 1395 Saka (1473 AD).

His father was Hadai Pandita (Hado Ojha)

his mother was Padmavati.

Place of birth: Ekachakra

After a short time Lakshmipati saw
the 'avadhuta Brahmin' and his
mind became full with anxious
anticipation. When they met,
Lakshmipati couldn't take his eyes
off the beautiful form of the Lord,
His aura and His Moonlike face
and unblinking eyes. Hearing the
sweet words of Lord Nityananda,
Lakshmipati's eyes brimmed over
with swelling tears.
On one occasion, one of the boys dressed as Akrura and took Krishna and Balarama away
from Vrindavana on the order of Kamsa. Nitai cried in grief, feeling the separation of the
gopis. Tears of love flowed from His eyes. (In the image: Akrura taking Krishna and
Balarama to Mathura, Gopis are crying, Shri Vrindavan Dham).
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.
Having received the mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu
and Lord Nityananda, both the brothers became
completely transformed. They would chant 200,000
names of the Lord every day, offer every one humble
obeisance and constantly berate themselves for their
past sinful activities. Madhai in particular was very
remorseful at the fact that he had caused physical
harm to Nityananda Prabhu and would shed many
tears for this. Finally he approached the Lord and
begged for some act of atonement. The
compassionate Lord assured him that he was
completely forgiven, but if he wanted to atone for his
other past sins then he could build a bathing place on
the banks of the river Ganges to help people take a
bath.
Lord Sri Krishna, as the Vedic literature ultimately
explains, is the absolute Personality of Godhead,
and His first expansion in a form for pastimes is Sri
Balarama. In the age of Kali-yuga, Lord Krishna
appears in this material world as Lord Caitanya, and
Balarama appears as Lord Nityananda. Lord
Nityananda, pictured to the right, is the spiritual
brother of Lord Caitanya, and is the expansion of
Lord Balarama, the brother of Lord Sri Krishna on
the spiritual planet of Krishnaloka. He has
descended to assist Lord Caitanya in spreading the
chanting of the holy names of Lord Krishna in
harinama-sankirtana, or the congregational chanting
of the Lord’s holy names, and to bring the mercy of
Lord Krishna to all the fallen, materially conditioned
souls.
Nityananda prabhu showing the preaching targets of lord chaitanya to
Haridas Thakur
Lord Nityananda enjoyed an especially opulent
mood. In Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata, Srila
Vrindavana Dasa Thakura, a disciple of
Nityananda Prabhu, vividly describes how Lord
Nityananda adorned His body with beautiful blue
silk garments, valuable jewels, and many flower
garlands. Once, He sat upon a golden throne while
His followers offered Him abhisheka, bathing His
body with milk, yogurt, juices, and other
paraphernalia as described in scriptures pertaining
to deity worship. By demonstrating His opulence
and grandeur, He revealed His divinity and
attracted many souls to pure devotional service.
“O my dear Krsnadasa, go to Vrndavana, for there you will attain all things.”
CONCH (sankha) -This auspicious mark indicates that those who take shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda are
always rescued from all sorts of distress. Just as during the arati ceremony the conch-shell is used to hold water that is
offered directly after the fire of the ghee-lamp, similarly Nityananda’s lotus feet hold transcendental water that soothes
His devotees from the blazing fire of material miseries. Also this symbol proclaims ultimate victory for the devotees,
since the conch-shell mark on His feet contains the entire ocean of material existence that may now be easily crossed.
This mark also shows that those who resort to Nitai’s feet become completely fearless.

UMBRELLA (catra) - This mark proves that those who take shelter of Nitai’s feet are shielded from the incessant
rainfall of material miseries. It also denotes that those who sit in the shade of His feet become exalted just like
maharajas (great kings), who usually have umbrellas held over their heads.

FISH (matsya) - This mark shows that just as a fish cannot live without water, similarly the surrendered devotees
cannot live a moment without directly associating with His feet. It also shows that all the most cherished desires and
longings of those who resort to Nitai’s feet will be truly fulfilled. It also means that the mind is very fickle, just like a
fish that wavers this way and that, and so only after much meditation do His feet finally come into the heart. It also
indicates that Nitai’s feet will come to live in one’s heart only if the heart has been liquefied by soft loving emotions;
His feet do not thrive where it is dry.

LOTUS (kamala) -This mark increases greed for nectar in the minds of the bee-like devotees who meditate on Nitai’s
feet. The lotus also signifies that just as a lotus grows out of water, similarly those whose eyes swell with tears upon
holding the Divine lotus feet of Srila Nityananda Prabhu to their heart receive the highest benefit. This mark also
shows that the goddess of fortune, Sri Laksmi Devi always resides at His feet rendering humble service. It signifies
that His feet are so soft that they can only be compared to lotus petals; indeed upon first glancing at His lotus feet, you
would think you are directly seeing fresh lotus blossoms. It also reveals that just as a lotus blooms by day and contracts
by night, similarly those who remain steeped in meditation on Their feet always feel the blossoming unfoldment of
brilliant sattvika ecstasies that dispel the darkness of ignorance. It also means that the bee of the devotee’s mind cannot
fly beyond the bondage of dry jnana (knowledge) and vairagya (renunciation) without the temptation offered by the
superior nectar of Their lotus feet.