Nityananda Prabhu's Campaign

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Adhivas of Lord Nityananda Prabhu's Appearance, evening class
Sri Ekachakra Dham, 24 February 2021, part 14
Translated from Bengali

(His Divine Grace reads from Sri Nityananda Mahimamrita, 2nd expanded edition.)

It is mentioned in the scriptures that Sri Nityananda Prabhu's name is avadhut. Avadhut is the one who is above all obstacles and prohibitions—the one who does not follow any rules and regulations because He has no consciousness of them. 'Ava' means 'low', 'dhuta' means 'purifier'—He who purifies the low and the impure is called 'avadhut.' Even if you see any misconduct in the spiritual practices of the practitioners of the highest calibre, or the perfected souls, they eternally remain pure. There is a sloka in Srimad Bhagavad-gita,

অপি চেৎ সুদুরাচারো ভজতে মামনন্যভাক্ ।
সাধুরেব স মন্তব্যঃ সম্যগ্ব্যবসিতো হি সঃ ॥

api chet suduracharo, bhajate mam ananya-bhak
sadhur eva sa mantavyah, samyag vyavasito hi sah

"If even a very sinful person serves Me exclusively with devotion, he should be regarded as saintly, for his resolve is perfect."

(Srimad Bhagavad-gita, 9.30)

If you read this sloka, you will understand it.

Another thing that is written here is an explanation why Sri Nityananda Prabhu broke Mahaprabhu's danda. Chaitanya-charitamrita says (2.5.157), "Inho kene danda bhange, tenho kene bhangaya: why Nityananda Prabhu broke the danda, and why did Mahaprabhu allow Him to break the danda?"

To teach others, Mahaprabhu took eka-danda sannyas (mayavadi-sannyas), but this pastime shows that if you are to take a sannyas, you must take a tridanda-sannyas (kaya, mana, vakya—with your body, mind, and speech). That is why, Prabhupad Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur established the tradition of tridanda-sannyasa. At the same time, Sri Nityananda Prabhu thought, "Why will Prabhu carry Me? I Myself am the danda, why will He carry Me? Besides, why must He take sannyas at all? This danda does not suit Him!" So, Sri Nityananda Prabhu broke it into three pieces. This is why Sri Nityananda Prabhu broke it, and this is why Sriman Mahaprabhu allowed Him to.

Srila Param Guru Maharaj also writes: there is another misconception that I would like to clarify. Sri Nityananda Prabhu's behaviour and policy were of different kinds, but His strategy was such that He first and foremost pulled to Himself those who were the worst, the most sinful, and extremely fallen among people. He was like Bonaparte Napoleon, who would first defeat the enemy's impenetrable prison. In the same way, Sri Nityananda Prabhu first rescued the lowest and the most fallen souls and threw them at the holy lotus feet of Sriman Mahaprabhu. We have a misconception that a sannyasi runs away from the illusory world thinking, "I will go to a cave and meditate twenty-four hours a day." In India, sadhus usually preach, "Leave everything and go to live in a solitary place; find a cave in some jungle and engage yourself with full energy in meditation on the Lord." However, our Gurudev was completely different. Like Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu, he would say, "Become a general and attack maya!" He declared a totalitarian war against maya and all other existing conceptions of religion, proclaiming, "Everything belongs to Krishna (isavasyam idam sarvam). Whatever I see, everything that is created in this world, everything is for Krishna's service, not for my enjoyment. Do not indulge in the wrong conception that 'this is mine and that is Krishna's'. Attack and crush this whole wrong idea! Remove this misconception."

He [Srila Prabhupad] told us that kirtan means preaching against this misconception, against the illusory condition of the souls charmed by this misconception. Go door to door and preach Krishna consciuosness. Preaching Krishna consciousness means preaching about a life where the very goal is to please Krishna. If they can understand that everything is for Krishna's enjoyment, then they will be saved and rescued. This is plain truth. Why would they not be able to understand it?

In this sense, we see nothing but fear wherever we cast our glance. One time, a Vaishnav who loved solitary life asked our Gurudev, "Why do you stay in Kolkata? It is Satan's place. Here is only a daily competition for enjoyment, for selfish interest. Leave this place and come to a holy dham." However, Srila Saraswati Thakur did not listen to it. He said, "I want to preach Sriman Mahaprabhu's conception here, in the most contaminated place."

For this reason, Srila Prabhupad wanted to send men to the West, thinking, "Attracted and charmed by the external glitter of the West's beauty, the people in this country have started to imitate them. The people of this country always try to go to America and London, but I am telling them: you want to leave, but there is a hidden treasure, hidden wealth in this country! Search for it! There is Krishna-prema in this land! The Lord Himself appeared in this land so many times! Gaura Nitai appeared in this Mayapur, Sri Nabadwip Dham. Search for this happiness!"

Such was Sri Nityananda Prabhu's enthusiasm. From the beginning, He raised the banner of rescuing the fallen souls of this world and cleared the path for them to become attracted to the holy lotus feet of Sriman Mahaprabhu.

How beautiful these words are. Srila Guru Maharaj (Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj) wrote this. When I read it, I want to read it all day and all night, but I do not get time... Guru Maharaj and Prabhupad wrote very beautifully. Get this book (Sri Nityananda Mahimamrita) and read it.

Srila Prabhupad also wrote very beautiful glorification on Sri Nityananda Prabhu's appearance day, but I will leave it for tomorrow. I will tell you about it tomorrow.

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay.

I will sing a kirtan now.

Hare Krishna, Hari bol. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

[His Divine Grace chants the kirtan 'Amara jivana'.]

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