The Glories of Sri Nityananda Prabhu
in the Scriptures

vande 'nantadbhutaisvaryam
sri-nityanandam isvaram
yasyechchhaya tat-svarupam
ajnenapi nirupyate

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: Adi-lila, 5.1)

Let me offer my obeisances to the Supreme Lord Sri Nityananda Prabhu, whose opulence is wonderful and unlimited. By His divine will, even a fool can understand His identity.

sankarsanah karana-toya-sayi
garbhoda-sayi cha payobdhi-sayi
sesas cha yasyamsa-kalah sa nitya-
nandakhya-ramah saranam mamastu

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: Adi-lila, 1.7)

Maha-Sankarsana, the predominating Deity of Vaikuntha who is the foundation of spiritual and material existence, Karanodakasayi Visnu, who presides upon the Causal Ocean of the cosmic manifestation, Garbhodakasayi Visnu, who presides over the waters of universal creation within an individual universe, Ksirodakasayi Visnu, who lies on the ocean of milk and maintains the existence of all individual souls within a single universe, and Sesa Naga, who assumes innumerable forms in order to satisfy the Supreme Lord's infinity of desires, are all the parts and subparts of the plenary portions of He who is known as Sri Nityananda Rama, the non-different form of Lord Balaram. May I embrace Him as my sole shelter.

mayatite vyapi-vaikuntha-loke
purnaisvarye sri-chatur-vyuha-madhye
rupam yasyodbhati sankarsanakhyam
tam sri-nityananda-ramam prapadye

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: Adi-lila, 1.8)

I surrender unto the lotus feet of Sri Nityananda Rama, who, far beyond the Lord's illusory energy in the infinite spiritual world of Vaikuntha, presides in full transcendental opulence in the form of Sankarsana, the all-attractive Lord, amidst the fourfold expansion of the Lord's original eternal form.

maya-bhartajanda-sanghasrayangah
sete saksat karanambhodhi-madhye
yasyaikamsah sri-puman adi-devas
tam sri-nityananda-ramam prapadye

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: Adi-lila, 1.9)

I surrender unto the lotus feet of Sri Nityananda Rama, whose first partial cosmic representation, lying on the Causal Ocean, is called Karanodakasayi Visnu. He is the original, supreme Personal Lord, the Master of the illusory energy and the shelter of all universes.

yasyamsamsah srila-garbhoda-sayi
yan-nabhy-abjam loka-sanghata-nalam
loka-srastuh sutika-dhama dhatus
tam sri-nityananda-ramam prapadye

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: Adi-lila, 1.10)

I surrender unto the feet of Sri Nityananda Rama, a secondary cosmic subpart of whom is Garbhodakasayi Visnu, the Lord of this individual universe. From the navel of Garbhodakasayi Visnu sprouts the lotus that is the birthplace of Brahma, the engineer of the universe who creates everything within the universe. The stem of that lotus is the resting place of the multitude of planets within the universe.

yasyamsamsamsah paratmakhilanam
posta visnur bhati dugdhabdhi-sayi
ksauni-bharta yat-kala so 'py anantas
tam sri-nityananda-ramam prapadye

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: Adi-lila, 1.11)

I surrender unto the lotus feet of Sri Nityananda Rama, whose third cosmic subpart is the Visnu lying in the ocean of milk, Ksirodakasayi Visnu, who is the Supersoul of all living entities and the maintainer of everything within the universe. Sesa Naga, a further subpart of that Ksirodakasayi Visnu, effortlessly upholds the Earth planet upon His head.

e-saba pramane jani nityananda-tattva-sima
tanhake 'ananta' kahi, ki tanra mahima

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: Adi-lila 5.126)

From these conclusions we can understand the supreme ontological identity of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. But it is not sufficient to describe His glory only by referring to Sesadev Ananta or His other partial manifestations.

ei-rupe nityananda 'ananta'-prakasa
sei-bhave—kahe muni chaitanyera dasa

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: Adi-lila 5.134)

Lord Nityananda Prabhu has unlimited incarnations and manifestations! But, in His own supreme personal transcendental form, He calls Himself a servant of Lord Chaitanya.

sei krisna—nabadwipe sri-chaitanya-chandra
sei balarama—sange sri-nityananda

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: Adi-lila 5.6)

The Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna appeared in Nabadwip as Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and Lord Balaram appeared with Him as Lord Nityananda.

apane karena krisna-lilara sahaya
sristi-lila-karya kare dhari' chari kaya

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: Adi-lila 5.9)

Lord Balaram Himself personally participates in the Pastimes of Lord Krishna, and He does the work of creation in the four other forms of Sankarsana, Karanodakasayi Visnu, Garbhodakasayi Visnu and Ksirodakasayi Visnu.

sristy-adika seva,—tanra ajnara palana
'sesa'-rupe kare krisnera vividha sevana

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: Adi-lila 5.10)

Lord Balaram thus executes the orders of Lord Krishna in the work of creation in four forms, and in the form of Lord Sesa He serves Krishna in an infinity of ways.

sarva-rupe asvadaye krisna-sevananda
sei balarama—gaura-sange nityananda

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: Adi-lila 5.11)

In all these forms He tastes the transcendental bliss of serving His Lord Krishna. That same Lord Balarama is Lord Nityananda, the companion of Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu.

chaitanya-kripaya haya nityanande rati
nityanande janile apad nahi kati

(Sri Chaitanya-Bhagavat: Adi-lila 9.220)

One becomes attached to Lord Nityananda by the mercy of Sri Chaitanya, and one who knows Lord Nityananda never faces any misfortune.

samsarera para hai' bhaktira sagare
ye dubibe se bhajuka nitai chandere
amara prabhura prabhu sri gaurasundara
e bada bharasa chitte dhari nirantara

(Sri Chaitanya-Bhagavat: Adi-lila 17.152-153)

Those who wish to cross the expanse of material existence and drown in the ocean of devotion must worship Sri Nitaichanda, the moonlike Lord Nityananda. I will hold this faith within my heart forever: My master is Nityananda Prabhu and His Master is Sri Gaurasundara.

kiba yati nityananda, kiba bhakta jnani ya'ra
yena mata iccha, na bolaye keni
ye-se kene chaitanyera nityananda nahe tabu
sei pada-padma rahuka hridaye

(Sri Chaitanya-Bhagavat: Adi-lila 9.223-224)

Someone may consider Lord Nityananda a sannyasi, someone may consider Him a devotee, and someone may consider Him a jnani (philosopher). They may say whatever they like. Even if Lord Nityananda was considered a most insignificant servant of Lord Chaitanya, still I would keep His lotus feet in my heart.

eta parihare o ye papi ninda kare
tabe lathi maron ta'ra sirera upare

(Sri Chaitanya-Bhagavat: Adi-lila 9.225)

I kick the head of any sinful person who disregards the glories of Lord Nityananda and dares to criticise Him.

madira javani jadi nityananda dhare
tathapi brahmara vandhya kahila tomare

(Sri Chaitanya-Bhagavat: Antya-lila 6.123)

This I tell to you, even if He drinks wine, and even if He embraces an outcaste girl, Lord Nityananda is fit to be worshiped by Lord Brahma.

dui bhai eka-tanu—samana-prakasa
nityananda na mana, tomara habe sarva-nasa
ekete visvasa, anye na kara sammana
"ardha-kukkuti-nyaya" tomara pramana

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: Adi-lila 5.175-176)

The two brothers Sri Gaura and Sri Nitai are like one form; They are identical manifestations. If you do not believe in Lord Nityananda, you will fall down. If you have faith in one but disrespect the other, your logic is like the logic of accepting half a hen.

kona chaitanyera loka nityananda-prati
'manda' bole, hena dekha,—se kevala 'stuti'

(Sri Chaitanya-Bhagavat: Adi-lila 9.226)

If you find any follower of Lord Chaitanya appear to say something bad about Lord Nityananda, you should know for certain that what they said was actually glorification.

nityananda-svarupe se ninda na laoyaya
ta'na pathe thakile se gaurachandra paya

(Sri Chaitanya-Bhagavat: Adi-lila 9.229)

Anyone who follows Lord Nityananda without finding fault in Him will surely attain the shelter of Sri Gaurachandra.

sarva-bhave swami yena haya nityananda
tan'ra haiya bhaji yena prabhu-gaurachandra

(Sri Chaitanya-Bhagavat: Adi-lila 9.231)

Let me serve Lord Gaurachandra under the instructions of Lord Nityananda, who is my worshipable Lord in all respects.

nityananda avadhuta sabate agala
chaitanyera dasya-preme ha-ila pagala

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: Adi-lila 6.48)

Sri Nityananda, the wandering avadhut, is the foremost of all the associates of Lord Chaitanya. He became mad in the ecstasy of loving service to Lord Chaitanya.

preme matta nityananda kripa-avatara
uttama, adhama, kichhu na kare vichara

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: Adi-lila 5.208)

Because He is always intoxicated with ecstatic love for the divine Name of Sri Gaurangadev, and because He is an incarnation of mercy, Sri Nityananda Prabhu is very, very merciful to the fallen souls and does not discriminate between fit and unfit recipients of His divine, love-giving grace.

prema-pracharana ara pasanda-dalana
dui-karye avadhuta karena bhramana

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: Antya-lila 3.149)

For two purposes—to distribute divine love and to subdue the deluded (atheists)—the avadhut Lord Nityananda, the most dedicated devotee of the Lord, moves throughout the country.

jaya jaya avadhuta-chandra nityananda
jagat bandhila yenha diya prema-phanda

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: Antya-lila 8.3)

All glories, all glories to Avadhutchandra Sri Nityananda Prabhu, who has bound the entire world with a knot of ecstatic love!

nityanandam aham naumi
sarvananda-karam param
hari-nama-pradam devam
avadhuta-siromanim

(Sri Nityananda Pranam)

I bow down to the Supreme Lord Sri Nityananda Prabhu, who is known as Avadhut, the crest jewel of all paramahamsa mendicants. He is the awarder of the highest joy to all and the bestower of the Holy Name of Lord Hari.

saksatei dekha sabe ei tribhuvane
nityananda-dvare pailena prema-dhane

(Sri Chaitanya-Bhagavat: Adi-lila 9.216)

Just see for yourself how Nityananda Prabhu has blessed the people of this universe with the treasure of divine love.

bhaja gauranga kaha gauranga laha gaurangera nama
ye jana gauranga bhaje sei haya amar prana

Sriman Nityananda Prabhu mercifully calls out: "Please always worship Gauranga, speak about Gauranga and take Gauranga's Holy Name with all devotion. One who adores My beloved master Gauranga is as dear to Me as My own life, he is My life and soul."

nache matoyara nitai godrumera mathe
jagat mataya nitai premera malasate
palaya duranta kali poriya bibhrate
ki sukhe bhasilo jiva gorachandera nate
dekhiya suniya pasandira buke phate

(Gitavali—Nagara-kirtan 8.5-8)

All glories to Nityananda Prabhu! Maddened by ecstatic love of Godhead, He overwhelmed the universe with ecstasy. He slapped His hands together like a warrior who is about to attack, and upon seeing this the wicked Kali fled in terror, fearing for his life. All souls were drowned in happiness because of the dancing of Sri Gauranga and Nityananda. Seeing such dancing, or even hearing of it, melts the hearts of even great atheists.

jaya nityananda-chandra jaya chaitanyera prana
tomara charanaravinde bhakti deha' dana

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: Antya-lila 11.6)

All glories to Lord Nityanandachandra, He is the life and soul of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu! My dear Lord Nityananda, kindly bless me with the gift of devotion for Your lotus feet.

nityananda-prasade se gaurachandra jani
nityananda-prasade se vaisnavere chini
nityananda-prasade se ninda yara ksaya
nityananda-prasade se visnu-bhakti haya

(Sri Chaitanya-Bhagavat: Madhya-lila 22.135-136)

By Lord Nityananda's mercy one knows Lord Gaurachandra. By Lord Nityananda's mercy one can recognise the Vaisnavas. By Lord Nityananda's mercy one's offences are destroyed. By Lord Nityananda's mercy one attains devotion to Lord Visnu.

nityananda-mahima-sindhu ananta, apara
eka kana sparsi matra,—se kripa tanhara

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: Adi-lila, 5.157)

The ocean of Lord Nityananda's glories is infinite and unfathomable. It is only by His mercy that I can touch even a drop of it.

ha ha prabhu nityananda, premananda sukhi
kripa-bolokana koro ami bodo duhkhi

(Prarthana—Savarana Sri Gaura Pada Padme Prarthana 3)

O Lord, O Lord Nityananda Prabhu, ever in the joy of Your love; kindly give Your gracious glance, I am miserable without You.

ara kabe nitai-chanda koruna koribe
samsara-basana mora kabe tuccha ha'be

(Prarthana—Lalasamayi Prarthana 2)

When will I obtain the mercy of Lord Nityananda Prabhu? When, by His mercy, will my desire for material enjoyment become insignificant?

kabe nityananda, more kori doya,
chadaibe mora visoyera maya
diya more nija- charanera chaya,
namera hatete dibe adhikar

(Saranagati—Vijnapti 6)

When will Lord Nityananda Prabhu be merciful to me and release me from the illusion of worldliness? Giving me the shade of His lotus feet, when will He allow me to enter the marketplace of the Holy Name?

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