CONTENTS:
- WHO IS NITYANANDA PRABHU? (PART – 3)
- SRILA PRABHUPADA’S APPRECIATION
- GURU MAHARAJA’S INSTRUCTIONS
1. WHO IS NITYANANDA PRABHU? (PART – 3)
So, Nityananda Prabhu was taken away from His parents by one sanyasi. The sanyasi came to the house of Hadai Pandita and while he was about to leave Hadai Pandita wanted to give him a gift and asked him, “What can I can do for you?” The sanyasi said, “I don’t need anything but if you really want to give me something then give me your son.” Nityananda Prabhu was so dear to His father that Hadai Pandita could not even stay even for a moment without seeing Nityananda Prabhu, he was so fond of him but when the sanyasi asked then Hadai Pandita gave his word so he gave his son. Nityananda Prabhu went with this sanyasi travelling to various places, pilgrimage and finally Nityananda Prabhu went to Vrindavan. He was waiting in Vrindavan for Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to begin His pastimes. When Mahaprabhu started His pastimes of distributing Krishna Consciousness, His sankirtan movement then Nityananda Prabhu came to Navadwip from Vrindavan and this is how Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu met. It is very wonderful how Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu met; I will just read:
All glories to Krishna Chaitanya and all glories to Nityananda, all glories to Sri Advaita Acharya and all glories to the devotees of Gaura and all glories to the Lord who is the life and soul of Narahari and Gadadhar. O Lord please glance mercifully to me. All glories to Sri Gauranga along with His devotees. If one hears the topics of Lord Nityananda, he will certainly achieve pure devotional service. The topics of Madhya kanda are just like nectar, hearing them destroys one’s atheistic mentality, please behold the beautiful Lord Nityananda to your eye’s full satisfaction. He is personified love and affection for Lord Gauranga. Lord Nityananda’s limbs are filled with transcendental mellows of Lord Gauranga. Speaking in a faltering voice and unable to walk properly Lord Nityananda resided in Vrindavan. Meanwhile, Sri Gaurachandra revealed Himself in Navadwip. Lord Gauranga did sankirtan in great ecstasy. He felt distressed however not seeing Lord Nityananda.
Lord Nityananda could understand the manifestation of Lord Gaurachandra. He lived in Vrindavan waiting for this auspicious moment. Understanding that His Lord had revealed Himself, Lord Nityananda immediately went to Navadwip and stayed at the house of Nandan Acharya. Nandan Acharya was a mahabhagavat, a pure devotee of the Lord. He saw Lord Nityananda as effulgent as the sun, Lord Nityananda was dressed as an avaduta or a mendicant. He possessed an attractive body. He was always in deep, sober mood. Lord Nityananda chanted the holy names of Krishna day and night. He was the abode of Lord Chaitanya’s mercy within the three worlds. He often shouted loudly out of His own ecstasy maddened with love of God. He was an incarnation of Lord Balarama. The enchanting beauty of His face defeated millions of moons. His sweet smile enlivened all the people of the world. His beautiful brilliant teeth were just like pearls and his two broad lotus eyes increased the beauty of His face. His hands stretched to His knees and His chest was very wide.
His Lotus feet were expert in walking. Lord Nityananda spoke with everyone with burning compassion. Hearing the words from His lotus mouth completely destroyed one’s bondage of fruitive activities. As Lord Nityananda arrived in Navadwip all the residents began to chant, “JAI, JAI” Who is so expert to describe His glories? It is Lord Nityananda who broke the sanyas danda of Gaurasundar. It is He who enlivened all the fallen foolish traders of Bengal. If anyone even chants His holy names he will certainly be purified. Seeing Lord Nityananda Nandan Acarya became very happy, he offered Him lunch and kept Him at His house. Whoever hears about Lord Nityananda’s arrival at Navadwip will certainly obtain the treasure of love and devotion. Aware of Lord Nityananda’s arrival at Navadwip Sri Visvambhara became extremely happy within His heart. The Lord had on some pretext or other already disclosed the arrival of Lord Nityananda to the Vaishnavas but none of them could understand the meaning of His words. Lord Visvambara had said, within a day or two an exalted personality will come here.”
So, Nityananda Prabhu arrived but He did not go directly to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Nityananda Prabhu went to the house of Nanadan Acharya. Nanadan Acharya’s house is a little distant from Jagannatha Misra’s house. Like Yogapith and after two temples about 100m from ISKCON temple is the house of Nandan Acharya. About 1km or so. Nityananda Prabhu was hiding in Nandan Acharya’s house. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu declared within a day or two a great devotee will come and then Chaitanya Mahaprabhu sent the devotees to go and find that exalted devotee who had arrived so they all went and they could not find Him. They came back and said, “No, we couldn’t find nobody.” The Lord said to everyone, “Today I had a wonderful dream, I saw a beautiful chariot with a flag on top that came and stopped near My door, within that chariot there was a remarkable personality, He carried a large pillar on His shoulder and appeared restless.
He had a stick tucked in His clothes and carried a pitcher in His left hand. He dressed in blue garments with a blue chaddar on His chest, a wonderful earring hung on His left ear. By His feature, He is none other than Haladhar Balarama. He repeatedly asked is this the house of Nimai Pandita? Lord Chaitanya continued, “I have never seen such a noble and powerful personality. He was effulgent and dressed as an avaduta or mendicant. I was severely stunned to see Him, I asked Him, “Who are You?” He smiling replied, “I am Your brother. We will meet and know each other tomorrow.” Hearing His words my happiness increased I consider Myself a similar to that personality.” Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is Krishna and who is His brother? Balarama. So now Balarama has come to meet Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had a dream of Nityananda Prabhu’s arrival and so He told that to all the devotees.
Speaking like this Lord Chaitanya fell into an ecstatic trance and began to roar loudly in the mood of Haladhar Balarama. The Lord demanded, “Bring wine, bring wine.” Balarama actually drinks a transcendental wine called Varuni and varuni is made out of honey. Actually, whatever is here in the material nature is also there in the spiritual nature but in the material nature it is the perverted reflection. Here is this material nature there is something called wine so it must be there in the spiritual sky also but in the material nature the wine is an intoxicant, it is toxin and poison but in the spiritual world it is nectar. When one drinks poison, one dies but when one drinks nectar what happens? One becomes immortal. In the material nature when one drinks wine what happens? He loses his consciousness but in the spiritual nature when one drinks transcendental wine what happens? He gets Krishna Prema. So, these activities of the Lord should not be imitated. Balarama can drink wine but if we drink wine in the material nature, if we can get varuni just drink it, that’s what we drink on some special occasions, what is that drink? That drink is honey. So yes, drink honey but not whiskey.
In the mood of Balarama He said, “Bring wine. His loud voice almost shattered the ears of everyone present. Then Srivas Pandita said, “Please listen O Gosai, the wine that You are asking for is right here in front of You only those You give it to can relish it. All the devotees remained shivering at distant place. They all thought that there must be some reason behind this The Lotus eyed Lord loudly talked aimlessly, He smiled and moved His body to and for in the mood of Sankarshan. After a short while the Lord returned to His normal condition. Explaining the meaning of His dream, He became absorbed in the mood of Balarama, The Lord said, and “I have a feeling in My heart that some holy personality has arrived in Navadwip. I already told all of you that I would meet Him soon. O Haridas, O Srivas Pandita, go and find out who has come and where has He come from?”
By the order of the Lord both pure devotees Haridas Thakur and Srivas Pandita happily wondered and searched all over Navadwip for Lord Nityananda. While wondering both of them talked to each other. They thought Lord Sankarshan might have come here; they happily wondered the streets of Navadwip but were unable to get any news. After searching the entire Navadwip for nine hours they returned to the Lord without success. They humbly reported to the Lord,” We did not find the stranger in Navadwip, we looked in the houses of sanyasi, Vaishnavas, jnanis and atheists. We saw the entire Navadwip but did not go to the villages outside Navadwip.” Hearing them Sri Gaurasundar began to smile, by the pretext of ordering the search He showed that Lord Nityananda is most confidential.
Some people glorify Lord Gaurasundar but as soon as they hear the name of Nityananda they get up and leave just like if one worships Govinda but does not respect Lord Shiva for that offense, he will surely go the abode of Yamaraja. Similarly, this incarnation of Lord Nityananda is most confidential. Without the inspiration of Lord Chaitanya no one can even see Him, if anyone criticizes Lord Nityananda’s unfathomable qualities though he possesses devotion to Lord Krishna such devotion will be checked.
2. SRILA PRABHUPADA'S APPRECIATION
“After Bhagavatam class that day, Bhavananda Maharaja told me, “Srila Prabhupada is going to leave Kumbha-mela tonight.” “Yes” I replied, “I heard”. But I was shocked by what he said next: “A small group of devotees will be travelling with him, and you have been included in the team.” I could not believe my ears. I was so excited and happy, I practically started to dance. The thought that I would be travelling on the same train with Srila Prabhupada made me feel like the most fortunate person in the world. All I could do is thank Maharaja again and again.”
(Extract from Ocean of Mercy, a book written by HH Bhakti Charu Swami Page 75)
3. GURU MAHARAJA’S INSTRUCTIONS
In the material nature when one drinks wine what happens? He loses his consciousness but in the spiritual nature when one drinks transcendental wine what happens? He gets Krishna Prema. So, these activities of the Lord should not be imitated. Balarama can drink wine but if we drink wine in the material nature, if we can get varuni just drink it, that’s what we drink on some special occasions, what is that drink? That drink is honey. So yes, drink honey but not whiskey.
(The content of this E-magazine is based on a lecture given by His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami in ISKCON Ujjain on Nityananda Triyodasi, 31 January 2017)
(Compiled and Edited by Hemavati Radhika Devi Dasi)