“If you worship Nityananda Prabhu, it is as good as to worship Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.” (7th March 1974, Mayapur)
● 2. Make Nityananda Your Master
One who has become the dog of Nityananda Prabhu, he gets his eternal life… So better to become a dog of Nityananda Prabhu. Then we shall be happy. Everyone is searching after to serve a master. But none of them are satisfied because that is false master. You take real master — Nityananda Prabhu — you’ll be happy. (Srila Prabhupada, Bhubaneswar, February 02, 1977)
● 3. All Souls are Under Nityananda First
Individual souls are under the direction of Śrī Nityananda. They receive their appointment of service to Śrī Gaurasundara, who is none other than Śrī Krishna, from Śrī Nityananda’s hands. (Srila Prabhupada, 1969 Los Angeles)
● 4. First Develop Your Love for Nityananda
When the devotee develops his love for Nityananda Prabhu, he is freed from all attachment to the material world, and at that time he becomes eligible to understand the Lord’s pastimes in Vrndavana.” (Srila Prabhupada Bhaktivedanta Swami, Cc. Adi 7.17 purport)
● 4. You Are Weak Without Nityananda
Nāyam ātmā bala-hinena labhyaḥ. This bala-hinena labhyaḥ, this Vedic injunction, means “Without the mercy of Balarama you cannot understand, you cannot realize your spiritual identification. So that Balarama comes as Nityananda Prabhu. Balarama hailā Nityananda. Therefore we must take shelter of Balarama. That is…(Srila Prabhupada 1969 Los Angeles)
Nityananda Gauranga
● 5. If You Want to Go to Vraja, Seek Out Nityananda
If you are actually serious about going back to home, back to Godhead, then please seek after the mercy of Nityananda. (Srila Prabhupada, 31 January 1969, Los Angeles)
● 6. Best Policy is to Take Shelter of Nityananda
He says that “If you are anxious to go back to home, back to Godhead, and become associate with Rādhā and Krishna, then the best policy is to take shelter of Nityananda.” Then he says, se sambandha nāhi jā’r, bṛthā janma gelo tā’r: “One who has not been able to contact Nityananda, then one should think of himself that he has simply spoiled his valuable life.” Bṛthā janma gelo, bṛthā means for nothing, and janma means life. Gelo tā’r, spoiled. Because he has not made connection with Nityananda.
● 7. Nityananda Means Eternal Pleasure
The Nityananda, very name, suggests… Nitya means eternal. Ānanda means pleasure. Every one of us, as living entity, we are searching after pleasure. Real pleasure is Nityananda, eternal pleasure. So anyone who has no contact with Nityananda, it is to be understood that his life is spoiled. (Srila Prabhupada, Jan 31, 1969,Los Angeles)
● 8. Nityananda is Cooling Like Millions of Moons
So here Narottama dasa Thakura is singing that “The whole world is suffering under the blazing fire of material existence. Therefore, if one takes the shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda…,” whose birthday is today, 31st, January, 1969. So we should relish this instruction of Narottama dasa Thakura that in order to get relief from the pangs of blazing fire of this material existence, one should take shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda because it is as cooling as the moon rays combined together of millions of moons.
● 9. Nityananda is Peace and Relief
That means one will immediately find peaceful atmosphere. Just like a man works whole day and if he comes under the moonshine he feels relief. Similarly, any materialistic man who comes under the shelter of Lord Nityananda will immediately feel that relief. (Srila Prabhupada, 31 Jan 1969)
● 10. All Incarnations Are Partial Expansions of Nityananda
Now, all these different incarnation of Viṣṇu is summarized here by Kavirāja Gosvāmī that “All of them are partial expansion of Nityananda,” to understand what is Nityananda Prabhu. (Srila Prabhupada, 31 March 1975-Mayapur)
● 11. Nityananda is the Source and Origin of All Vishnu Tattva
So Nityananda Rāma… So yasyāṁśa sa Nityananda-rāmaḥ. Nityananda is Balarama. Therefore He is said, nityānandākhya-rāmaḥ. Just like Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu… Kṛṣṇāya-Krishna-caitanya nāmne: “I offer my respectful obeisances to Krishna now appeared as Krishna Caitanya.” He’s Krishna. Similarly, Nityananda is Balarama. So Balarama hoilo Nityananda. Therefore it is said here, nityānandākhya-rāmaḥ: “He’s Rāma, Balarama, but at the present moment He has appeared by the name Nityananda.” (Srila Prabhupada, 31 March 1975 Mayapur)
● 12. Soul Cannot be Known Without Nityananda
Now, what is the identification of Nityānandākhya-Rāma? Rāma, Balarama, and Baladeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa—there are so many names of Śrī Baladeva. In the Upaniṣad it is said, nāyam ātmā bala-hīnena labhyo: “Self-realization is not possible without being strengthened by the mercy of Balarama.” Sometimes they take it foolishly, that “Without being very strong bodily, nobody can realize self.” But that is not the fact. Nāyam ātmā pravacanena labhyo na medhayā na bahunā śrutena. This is the Vedic injunction. That bala-hīnena means without being favored by Nityananda Prabhu, Balarama. (Srila Prabhupada, 31 March 1975- Mayapur)
● 13. Gauranga Delivers Through Nityananda
Pāpī tāpī yata chilo, harināme uddhārilo. And evidence? Tāra sākṣī jagāi and mādhāi. You see Jagāi-Mādhāi. So Caitanya Mahāprabhu exhibited one example, to deliver Jagāi-Mādhāi. But Caitanya Mahāprabhu, through the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu, delivered them. (Srila Prabhupada, Vrindavan April 4 1976)
That is described by Narottama dasa Thakura, mahājana, pāpī tāpī yata chilo, hari-nāme uddhārilo, ta’ra sākṣī jagāi-mādhāi. This is the business of Nityananda Prabhu. (Srila Prabhupada, 26 March 1975 Mayapur)
● 14. Become Eternal by Nityananda Seva
As Lord Nityananda is eternal, hence His lotus feet are also eternal and anyone who takes to the service of Lord Nityananda, he also becomes eternal. (January 31, 1969, Los Angeles, Srila Prabhupada)
● 15. Realize Your Spiritual Identification Due to Nityananda
Balarama means guru-tattva. Balarama represents guru. Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādaḥ. If we want to understand Caitanya Mahāprabhu, if we want to understand Krishna, then we must take shelter of Balarama. Nāyam ātmā bala-hinena labhyaḥ. This bala-hinena labhyaḥ, this Vedic injunction, means “Without the mercy of Balarama you cannot understand, you cannot realize your spiritual identification.” So that Balarama comes as Nityananda Prabhu: Balarama hailā Nityananda.
● 16. Become Satisfied With Nityananda
Therefore we must take shelter of Balarama. That is… This song has been sung by Narottama dasa Thakura. Nityananda-pada-kamala, koṭi-candra-suśītala. If we take shelter of Nityananda Prabhu, then we get peace. Koṭi-candra-suśītala. Just like in daytime, especially in the summer season, we become very much exasperated. But at night, in the evening, as soon as there is moonshine, we become very much satisfied. All day’s labor and fatigue is immediately moved.
● 17. Get Strength From Nityananda
So Nityananda-pada-kamala, the shade of Nityananda Prabhu’s lotus feet, is koṭi-candra-suśītala: as pleasing as one crore of moonshine. One moonshine gives us so much pleasure. So if we want actually peace of mind, if we actually want to be free from this material fatiguement, then we must take the shelter of Nityananda Prabhu. Nityananda Prabhu is the strength, spiritual strength.
● 18. Can’t Understand Krishna Without Nityananda
And without spiritual strength you cannot approach Krishna. Nāyam ātmā pravaca… Simply by talking nonsense… Nāyam ātmā pravacanena labhyaḥ. If you are a good speaker, that does not mean you’ll understand, yourself. Na medhayā: “Neither by good brain.” Because you have got very good brain you’ll understand Krishna—no. Nāyam ātmā pravacanena labhyo na medhayā na bahunā śrutena. If you think that you are a very good scholar, university degree-holder, then you’ll understand—no. This is not possible.
● 19. Nityananda is Spiritual Strength
So we must have spiritual strength. That source of spiritual strength is Balarama, Krishna’s next manifestation, prakāśa-vigraha. Krishna is manifesting Himself through Balarama. So we have to take shelter of Nityananda Prabhu. Nityananda-pada-kamala, koṭi-candra-suśītala, je chāyāy jagata jurāy (Srila Prabhupada, Bhubaneswar, February 02, 1977)
● 20. Don’t Waste Your Time Without Nityananda
Sambandha nāhi jār, bṛthā janma gelo tār. So if you have no connection with Nityananda Prabhu… Nityananda means “always.” Nitya means “always”; ānanda means “pleasure.” This is another meaning you can draw. So therefore, if you have no connection with Nityananda Prabhu… Se sambandha nāhi jār bṛthā janma gelo tār: “He’s simply wasting time.” Bṛthā means “useless.” Uselessly, he’s wasting time.
● 21. Take the Real Master Nityananda
That is not possible. The dog, from the childhood he’s searching after food, searching after food, and cannot get food. Unless a dog has got a master, he’s street dog and he’s always unhappy. So better to become a dog of Nityananda Prabhu. Then we shall be happy. Instead of becoming dog of so many other people… Everyone is dog. Everyone is searching after to serve a master. But none of them are satisfied because that is false master. You take real master—Nityananda Prabhu—you’ll be happy. (Srila Prabhupada, Bhubaneswar – February 02, 1977)
● 22. Enlightenment by Nityananda
Ahaṅkare matta hoiya, Nityananda pada pasariya. But if we take shelter of Nityananda Prabhu, then you get the enlightenment. Asatyere satya kori māni. Nityanandayer koruṇā habe, braje rādhā-Krishna pabe, dharo Nityananda-caraṇa du’khāni.
● 23. Nityananda Grants Eternal Life
Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura advises that… Today is Nityananda Prabhu’s āvirbhāva, appearance day. Let us at least remember today Nityananda-pada-kamala. That is wanted. Nityananda caraṇa satya, tāhāra sevaka nitya. The reality is Nityananda-caraṇa, and anyone who is servant of Nityananda… So Nityanandayer caraṇa satya, tāhāra sevaka nitya. One who has become the dog of Nityananda Prabhu, he gets his eternal life.
● 24. Nityananda Ends Our Transmigration
We are eternal, but under misconception of material identification, we are under the subjugation of māyā. Bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate (BG 8.19). Tathā dehāntara… (BG 2.13). It is very botheration, but they do not know. I am going from one body to another, transmigration. And that is not guaranteed, what kind of body. They have no science, no knowledge about understanding tathā dehāntara, the very first instruction of Bhagavad-gītā.
● 25. Accept to Nityananda That You Are Not Happy
Nityananda caraṇa satya, tāhāra sevaka…, Nityananda-pada sadā koro āśā. Therefore we should always expect to be under the shelter of Nityananda-pada-kamala. Narottama boro duḥkhī. Narottama dasa Thakura, he’s ācārya. He is presenting himself… That is ācārya. Means he is not duḥkhī, but he’s presenting himself as duḥkhī. That is ācārya. Ācāryas, they are never duḥkhī. But taking the common man’s position, he says, narottama boro duḥkhī.
● 26. Only Nityananda Can Make You Happy
Or, in other words, Narottama… Narottama means the best of the human being. So here in this material world one may be the best of the human being, very exalted position, but everyone is duḥkī, unhappy. Narottama boro duḥkī. Nityananda more koro sukhī: “Only Nityananda can make me happy. Otherwise not possible.” Rakho raṅga-caraṇera pāśa.
● 27. Be Happy Under Nityananda
So today is Nityananda Prabhu’s appearance day. We shall always pray Nityananda Prabhu, “Kindly keep me under Your shelter so that… I am very duḥkī; I am very unhappy. Under the shelter of Your lotus feet I shall be happy.” And that is real happiness. (Srila Prabhupada, Bhubaneswar – February 02, 1977)
● 28. Nityananda Broken the Dham of Love and Mercy
In Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s time, Śrīman Nityananda Prabhu broke open the dam that blocked the ocean of mercy, and began to distribute prema to any and everyone. The society of goldsmiths in Saptagrāma were harassed by the artificial caste system of Ballal Sena. They were of the lowest caste, yet Śrīman Nityananda Prabhu went from door to door and delivered them all. “Murkha vaṇik kula karilena uddhara – He delivered the society of goldsmiths.”
● 29. Nityananda Gave Everyone the Right to Do Bhakti
Each and every person has the right to perform bhakti; one’s caste and dynasty are of no consideration. In this mood, Sriman Nityananda Prabhu bestowed prema upon all. The Compassionate Avatāra of Kali-yuga (Karuṇaya-avatīrṇaḥ Kalau – Part 1 by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedanta Svāmī Mahārāja)
● 30. Commentary on Nityananda Nishtha Song by Srila Narottama dasa Thakura
Below are some quotes of Srila Prabhupada on the Nityananda Nistha song. They are from the 71st page of the book Songs of the Vaishnava Acharyas, published in 1972.
“This is a very nice song sung by Narottama dasa Thakura. He advises that Nityananda-pada, the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda (kamala means lotus, and pada means feet), are a shelter where one will get the soothing moonlight not only of one but of millions of moons.
“If the world wants to have real peace, it should take shelter under the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda..
“If one actually wants relief from the struggle of existence and actually wants to extinguish the blazing fire of material pangs, Narottama dasa Thakura advises, “Please take shelter of Lord Nityananda.”
“The aim of this Krishna consciousness movement is to enable us to approach Radha-Krishna and associate with the Supreme Lord in His sublime pleasure dance. Narottama dasa Thakura advises that if one actually wants to enter into the dancing party of Radha-Krishna, he must accept the shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda.
“If one actually wants to enter into the dancing party of Radha-Krishna, he MUST accept the shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda.
“In another song also Narottama dasa says, hari hari viphale janama gohainu: anyone who does not approach Radha-Krishna through a relationship with Nityananda has uselessly spoiled his life.
“Anyone who does not approach Radha-Krishna through a relationship with Nityananda has uselessly spoiled his life.
“Narottama dasa Thakura then says, Nityanandara karuua habe, braje radha-krishna pabe: “If you actually want to approach the association of Radha-Krishna, you must achieve the mercy of Lord Nityananda first.
“If you actually want to approach the association of Radha-Krishna, you MUST achieve the mercy of Lord Nityananda first
“When He is merciful toward you, then you will be able to approach Radha-Krishna. ‘Dharo Nityananda-carana du’khani.’ Narottama dasa advises that one firmly catch the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda.
“When He is merciful toward you, then you will be able to approach Radha-Krishna … Therefore Narottama dasa confirms, Nityananda carana satya: The lotus feet of Nityananda are not illusion; they are a fact.
“Tahara sevaka nitya: and one who engages in the transcendental loving service of Nityananda is also transcendental. One who engages in the transcendental loving service of Nityananda is also transcendental.
“If one engages in the transcendental loving service of Nityananda in Krishna consciousness, he immediately achieves his transcendental position on the spiritual platform, which is eternal and blissful. Therefore he advises, Nityananda-pada sada koro asa: always try to catch the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda.
“Narottamo baro dukhi. Narottama dasa Thakura, the acarya, is taking the position that he is very unhappy. Actually, he is representing ourselves. He says, ‘My dear Lord, I am very unhappy.’ Nityananda more koro sukhl: ‘Therefore I am praying to Lord Nityananda to make me happy.’ Rakha ranga-caranera pasa. ‘Please keep me in a corner of Your lotus feet.’”