Introduction to Sri Nityananda-caritamrta

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"Srila Narottama dasa Thakura says, hena nitai bine bhai radha-krsna paite

nai, that without the mercy of Lord Nityananda, no one can attain Sri Sri

Radha and Krsna. The ultimate goal of life is the attainment of krsna-prema.

This is possible only by the mercy of sadhu-guru. Sri Nityananda Prabhu is

the sum total of all gurus (samasti-guru). He is guru-tattva. All individual

gurus (vyasti), are representation of Sri Nityananda. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta

Sarasvati Thakura writes as follows about the manifestation of guru in the

form of Sri Nityananda:

 

"The guru is the embodiment of the manifestation of the Divinity to the

pure receptive spiritual essence of the disciple. Nityananda is the primary

manifestive constituent of the Divinity. Nityananda alone possesses the

distinctive function of the guru. In Nityananda the function is embodied.

Nityananda is the servant-God. He serves Sri Gaurasundara by the distinctive

method of reverential servitude. He is identical with Sri Balarama of

krsna-lila. Sri Balarama is not the chum of Krsna, but His respected elder

brother. It is an intimate relationship characterized by becoming reserved

on one side, and of respectful deference on the other. Individual souls are

under the direction of Nityananda. They receive their service of Sri

Gaurasundara, i.e., of Krsna, at His hands. Nityananda is not a jiva. He is

Divinity. He is the ultimate source of the jiva. The jiva is a potency of

Nityananda. No jiva can be the medium of the service of the Absolute to

another jiva. The Absolute alone may communicate His service to the

separable constituents of Himself. This is the real nature of the function

of the guru."

"But Nityananda does not directly instruct in the confidential service of

Krsna. Srimati Radhika is the guru of the inner circle of the servants of

Krsna. Srimati Radhika, however, accepts the offer of service of only those

souls who are specially favored by Nityananda and are deemed by Him to be

fit for Her service. There is, therefore, a most intimate relationship

between the function of Nityananda and that of Srimati Radhika, which is at

once supplementary and inclusive of the former."

"But all jivas are not liable to be eclipsed by the deluding potency.

Those who are so liable are again distinct from the eternally free jévas.

The eternally free jivas are inseparable associates of Nityananda. They are

integrated part and parcel of Himself. They never fall into the clutches of

maya. When Nityananda manifests His appearance on the mundane plane, His

inseparable constituents also appear in His company. They sometimes manifest

their function on this lower place in a visible form on the errands of

Nityananda. They are Vaisnavas whose subordination to Nityananda is natural

and ingrained in their nature. It is not necessary for such souls to undergo

the process of enlightenment for being restored to the spiritual plane.

Unless this fact is borne in mind, the conditioned soul may be tempted to

undervalue the constant guidance of the guru on the hypocritical plea of

following in the footsteps of the eternally free pure devotees. Those,

therefore, who suppose that deliverance from the bondage of this world

should be practicable without the constant guidance of the spiritual

preceptor, confound the conditioned state with the free."

 

There is no difference between Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda. As Lord

Krsna and Lord Balarama are essentially the same and the original forms of

Godhead, so Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, who are Krsna and Balarama

directly, are one and the same. Lord Krsna manifested Himself as a separate

form of Lord Balarama for the performance of His own lilas and to benefit

the jivas by showing them the path of developing loving service unto

Himself. In the Caitanya Caritamrta, Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami

explains that Lord Krsna is eternally enjoying Himself in Goloka Vrndavana

along with His unlimited associates. Lord Balarama, however, is the source

of all spiritual and material manifestations. All the Narayana and Visnu

expansions come from Lord Balarama. As such, Lord Balarama is directly the

source of all incarnations in this material world.

As the Lord Caitanya's pastimes are much more pleasing than Krsna's

pastimes, so Lord Nityananda's pastimes are much more pleasing than those of

Lord Balarama. Lord Balarama was famous for His pastimes of chastising the

miscreants, such as killing so many demons, being ready to throw the whole

city of Hastinapura into the ocean, and the killing of Romaharsana Suta. His

form as Lord Nityananda, however, is known as akrodha paramananda

nityananda-raya, He never gets angry. The form of Lord Nityananda is the

most merciful form and the giver of Krsna-prema-bhakti. Lord Caitanya

Himself declared, "Those who develop love, affection, and respect for Sri

Nityananda, develop love and affection for Me. All the demigods headed by

Lord Siva and Lord Brahmä offer worship to Nityananda Svarupa. If somebody

thinks ill of Sri Nityananda or blasphemes Him, whoever he may, still he

must fall down. Even if such a person profess to be a devotee of Mine, he is

not My devotee"

Sri Nityänanda Caritamrta is an authentic Vaisnava literature compiled by

Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura. This book describes the transcendental glories

of Lord Nityananda. The birth of Nityananda, His childhood pastimes, His

leaving home, His traveling to the holy places, His arrival at Navadvipa and

meeting Lord Caitanya, His preaching the holy names of the Lord by the order

of Lord Gauranga, His pastimes with Mahaprabhu at Nadia, His presence at the

Lord's pastimes of accepting sannyasa, His accompanying the Lord to

Nilacala, His return to Navadvipa by the order of the Lord, His marriage,

His distribution of love of God, and His disappearance from this world. All

these subjects are elaborately and properly described in this book. The

author of this book, Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura, is forever remembered in

the Vaisnava communities for his wonderful literary work, Sri Caitanya

Bhagavata. The glories of Sri Caitanya Bhagavata was proudly described by

the author of Sri Caitanya Caritamrta, Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, in

his book as follows:

 

manusye racite nare aiche grantha dhanya

vrndavana-dasa-mukhe vakta sri-caitanya

 

"No human being can compose such a book. Actually, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu

speaks through the mouth of Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura." (Caitanya

Caritamrta Adi-lila 8:39)

 

Sri Caitanya Bhagavata is the original book in Bengali language about the

pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Following the codes of Caitanya

Bhagavata, other books such as Sri Caitanya Caritamrta were compiled. This

present book contains what is presently in Caitanya Bhagavata about Lord

Nityananda, but additional materials have been added by Srila Vrndavana dasa

Thakura. These include: the affection of Hadai Pandita for Lord Nityananda,

the marriage of Vasudha and Jahnava with Lord Nityananda, and the

disappearance of Lord Nityananda. Therefore this book, Sri Nityananda

Caritamrta, is very similar to Sri Caitanya Bhagavata. "

 

For enquiries on getting copies please write the publisher at these e-mail

addresses : isvara.ggs (AT) pamho (DOT) com, isvara_99 , and

martins72 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com.

 

 

ys,

 

Isvara dasa.