(1/9) Gaura-Nitai's Mercy

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Mejhiari, temple inauguration programme,
20 April 2019, noon, part 1
Translated from Bengali

[His Divine Grace recites Sri Jaya Dhvani, Vandana, chants a few kirtans (Sri Guru Parampara, 'Sri Guru-charana-padma', 'Sri Krishna Chaitanya Prabhu daya kara more', 'Ei-bara karuna kara', 'Akrodha paramananda', 'Yadi Gaura na hata' and the Hare Krishna maha-mantra) and then addresses the assembled fortunate souls at the temple inauguration programme.]

We have assembled today here in your village to inaugurate a branch of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math (a part of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Sankirtan Maha-Mandala). The installation of the Deities is being done now. A Deity of the Lord is non-different from the Lord Himself: vigraha tumi nao, saksad Vrajendra-nandan. As you know, Gaura-Hari Himself and Gaura-Nityananda Prabhu Himself will come and stay here.

In Mahaprabhu's time, His Deities were installed in three places: Gaura-Gadadhar in Chapahatti (Bardhaman), Gaura-Nitai in Kalna, and Mahaprabhu served by Vishnupriya Devi in Nabadwip. At present, Gauranga Mahaprabhu's Deities are installed in many places, many Gaudiya Math temples. The reason why Mahaprabhu's Deities are always installed is because the worship of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govinda-sundar, Sri Sri Radha-Madan-mohan and other Deities of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna is quite difficult, but Gaura-Nitai's service is very easy because without Gaura-Nitai's mercy it is not possible to get the mercy of Radha-Krishna. So, it is necessary to first serve Nitai-Gaura; without Their service we will not be able to understand anything. If we do not serve Nitai-Gaura, if we cannot get Nityananda's and Gauranga's mercy, we will not get Radha-Krishna's mercy. 'Nitaiyer karuna habe Vraje Radha Krsna pabe (নিতাইয়ের করুণা হবে ব্রজে রাধাকৃষ্ণ পাবে): you can come to Radha-Krishna in Vraja if you get Nityananda Prabhu's mercy.' You all know these words from one of the kirtans that we sing.

নিতাইয়ের করুণা হবে, ব্রজে রাধাকৃষ্ণ পাবে,
ধর নিতাইয়ের চরণ দুঃখানি ॥

nitaiyer karuna habe, vraje radha-krsna pabe,
dhara nitaiyera charana duhkhani

'If you get Nitai's mercy, you will get Radha-Krishna in Vraja. O miserable soul, hold onto Nitai's feet!'

(Srila Narottam Das Thakur)

We must get Nityananda Prabhu's mercy. Nityananda means guru-tattva – He is non-different from Sri Gurudev. It is this Nityananda Prabhu's Deity that is going to be installed here today. Actually, Nityananda Prabhu is esoteric, so it is very hard to understand Him. He is known as avadhut – 'avadhut' means One who bestows His mercy upon the most fallen and lowly souls. There are many faults and shortcomings inside us, and Nityananda Prabhu takes us on His lap despite all those faults.

So, today we will speak about the Deity installation based on what is written in the scriptures. There are many things mentioned in various scriptures.

Among the total of sixty-four limbs of devotion, these five are considered to be main: association of saints (sadhu-sanga), chanting the Holy Name of the Lord (Nama-sankirtan), listening about the Lord (Bhagavat-sravan), residing in the Lord's holy abode (Mathura-vasa), serving the Lord's Deities with faith (sraddhaya sri-murtir sevana). It is necessary to serve Deities with faith. You must always keep the Deities clean and neat – serve Them in a sincere, unswerving mood. It is not the mantras that matter so much; rather, cook whatever you can and offer that to the Lord nicely, neatly.

You must offer bhog to the Deities five times a day: balya-bhog in the early morning, then morning offering, noon offering, then offer again some fruit and sweets in late afternoon, and make an evening offering. Offer the Lord whatever you can get. Offer balya-bhog right after the morning arati – it can be a few sweets, some coconut or anything else you can make. After that, make breakfast offering. Offer to the Lord whatever you are used to cooking for breakfast. At noon, cook rice and vegetables. In late afternoon, offer some fruit; and in the evening, offer some roti or rice with something, whatever you can make. This is the rule how you must serve Deities. It is necessary to serve Deities with faith and devotion. We are born in this world to serve the Lord.

** Prabhu has requested me many times, 'Maharaj, I will arrange everything, please inaugurate a temple.' That is why I have come here to you all. You must have class, kirtan and Hari-katha here every day. You will get an opportunity to do this service here. Many of you cannot come to Nabadwip or other places, so now Gauranga Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu have mercifully come to you to take your service. You must listen carefully about how you must serve Them and understand how to get Their mercy.

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Length: 58 min
Language: Bengali

READ OTHER PARTS:

1) Gaura-Nitai's Mercy
2) Faith in Deity
3) Madan-Mohan's Miracle (Part One)
4) Madan-Mohan's Miracle (Part Two)
5) Deity and His Devotee
6) Lord Jagannath's Appearance (Part One)
7) Lord Jagannath's Appearance (Part Two)
8) Lord Jagannath's Appearance (Part Three)
9) Eternal Deities of Eternal Servants