“The entire universe is purified by singing Nityananda’s name, as it is only He who ran after the merchants, the distressed, and the foolish and gave them His love unconditionally.” (Srila Vrindavana dasa Thakura in CB 2.3.134)
● 1. Drown In Rebirth Without Nityananda Nam
“nityananda” na bolilo mukhe
majilo samsara sukhe
vidya kule ki koribe taar
(Narottam das Thakur in Nityananda Pada Kamala)
“Those who don’t sing Nityananda’s name are guaranteed to sink deeply into the ocean of illusory nescience, some way or another. Their high-class education will not be able to save them from being forced into the animal species in their next lives due to their karma.”
“Bolilo” means to say or sing Nityananda Nam. Nityananda’s name is the very antithesis of envy, offense, and, ignorance. For chanting pure Harinam with love, it is mandatory to first overcome the all-powerful desires to indulge in harmful thoughts and for criticising others. Otherwise, the ten offenses in Harinam will doom us to a fate even worse than before.
For this, the all-forgiving, all-destroying, and all-awarding Nityananda Nam is our only hope, according to Narottam das. Just as he says that no one can attain Radha Krishna without Nityananda in this same song, he means that no one can chant shuddha Harinam without singing Nityananda Nam, in the form of the above verse.
● 2. Sing Nityananda Nam To Be Mad In Love
samsara sukhera mukhe
tule dibe chai
nagare magiya khaba
gaiya “nityananda” rai
(Locana dasa Thakura in Nityananda Mora Jivana dhana)
“I will spit at the very thought of dull harmful indulgence, and leave everything else and eat by begging, just so that I can sing ‘Nityananda’ and relish its infinite bliss and love all the time.”
Some don’t want to sing Nityananda Nam because they wrongly think that they minimize Harinam Sankirtan. As per Lochan das, Nityananda Nam Kirtan is also the Sankirtana of Kaliyuga. Pure Harinam and Krishna-lila Kirtan remains a myth until we drown in the bliss of Nityananda Gauranga Nam and Lila Kirtan first. Nityananda Nam is also the name of Hari (Harinam) as Nityananda is non-different from Hari.
The only difference is that Nityananda Nam does not consider any offenses or qualifications. This helps us to realize the form, qualities, and pastimes of the Lord quickly in Nityananda Nam first, and thus feel its full bliss. After that, pure Gaura Radha Krishna Nam instantly manifests Gaura Radha Krishna’s eternal pastimes in our hearts.
● 3. Attain Vraja By Nityananda Nam
“nityananda” boliya
du bahu tuliya
cholibo vrajera pure
das vrindavan
ei nivedan
nityananda na
chado more
(Srila Vrindavana dasa Thakura in Antare Nityananda)
“By always singing ‘Nityananda’ and raising my hands, I will attain Vraja dham very quickly in this very life, without fail. The only plea of Vrindavana dasa is that Nityananda should never leave me, and I should never leave Nityananda Nam. Then I will attain everything.”
Nityananda Nam is non-different from Vraja dham, because the dham is Nityananda. Those who take full shelter of Nityananda Nam along with Harinam are always in Vraja.
By inducing another soul to sing Nityananda Nam, we ensure that he or she attains the topmost love in this life. So distributing Nityananda Nam is the topmost sadhana. Gauranga will never stop (na chado) protecting such a soul who does Nityananda Nam Kirtan. He quickly awards pure Harinam to him or her.
● 4. Nityananda Nam Is The Only Hope In Kali
vanik adhama murkha
ye karila paar
brahmanda pavitra haya
nam laile jaar
(Caitanya Bhagavata, Madhya Khanda, 3.134)
“The entire universe is purified by singing Nityananda’s name, as it is only He who ran after the merchants, the distressed, and the foolish and gave them His love.”
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada:
“nityanandera prabhura nam shravan karile, jagatera sakala lokera papa-pravrtti prashamita haiya pavitraatara udaya haya. vanik, adhama, murkha – iharau pavitra haiya brahmagya u bhagavad-bhakta hana”
“Simply by hearing Nityananda’s name, the deep-rooted harmful and violent inclinations in the hearts of all the living entities in this universe are permanently destroyed, and their dormant purity is automatically awakened. Nityananda Nam can instantly uplift even the lost merchants, distressed, and foolish people into topmost self-realized pure devotees.”
● 5. Wear Nityananda Nam Always As A Necklace
yahara prasade pamara
paila nistaar
hena prabhu-nam
haar hauka galaar
(Srila Vrindavana dasa in Nityananda Charitamrita, Antya Khanda, Chapter 13, Verse 76)
“Since the most lost souls have got pure love only due to Nityananda, every one of us should constantly wear Nityananda’s name as a necklace around our necks by singing it.”
When we sing Nityananda Nam, it enters through our ears and touches our soul. In this way, it becomes our ornament purifying our voice. It also acts as an offenseless trigger to awaken the divine vision of nitya-lila in our hearts; as soon as we chant, sing, hear, or read about Gaura Radha Krishna.
Nityananda gave prema to the most hopeless without any conditions. We should not be proud to think that we are qualified, when we are not. Srila Vrindavana dasa states in this verse that Nityananda Nam is our only hope to attain Shuddha Harinam, whether we accept it or not. There is no other way. So we should desperately hold on to Nityananda Nam at all times like a necklace.
● 6. Instant Krishna Prema By Nityananda Nam
“nityananda” balite haya
krishna premodoya
aulaya sakala anga
ashru-ganga vaya
(Caitanya Caritamrita, Adi Lila 8.23)
“Dormant Krishna-prema arises instantly on saying or singing Nityananda Nam and overwhelms our whole body with ecstatic symptoms; causing rivers of tears of bliss to flow from our eyes.”
Here the words “balite haya” one after the other mean that the rarest Krishna-prema, which may be unattainable by Harinam-sadhana for millions of lives, is effortlessly attained in an instant due to causeless mercy, simply on audibly singing Nityananda Nam. “Balite” means to sing audibly.
In the CC verses 1.8.16 and 29, it is stated: “bahu janma kare yadi..” and “hena krishna nam yadi laya bahu baar..” resp. It means that it may take millions of lives by only chanting Harinam. But by also singing Nityananda Nam together with Harinam, one attains Krishna-prema instantly with ecstatic symptoms. This proves that Nityananda Nam is the only way if one is serious to chant or sing Shuddha Harinam in this life.
● 7. Hear Nityananda Nam To Attain Krishna
“nityananda” hena bhakta
shunile shravane
avashya paibe krishna-
chandra sei jane
(Caitanya Bhagavata, Adi Khanda 9.185)
“That fortunate devotee who simply hears Nityananda Nam certainly attains Krishna Chandra quickly without any doubt.”
Hearing Nityananda Nam in the modern times is most effectively possible by listening to the recorded or live singing of Nityananda Nam and Nityananda Lila in the voice of rasika devotees; who have realized the form, qualities, and pastimes in Nam. One can keep on listening through speakers or headphones, while doing other activities.
It is the easiest but topmost sadhana of them all, since it induces Krishna to appear before us, as per the above words of none other than Madhavendra Puri himself. By inspiring others to sing Nityananda Nam, we are making them hear it also. Thus, we are awarding Krishna to them. They don’t have to wait to reach Him, He comes to them. This makes sharing it the greatest service to every soul.
● 8. Become Gaura’s Own By Nityananda Nam
ek baar “nityananda”
bale janama dhari
se jana pavitra haila
se loka aamaari
(Chaitanya Mangala, Madhya Khanda 6.99)
Gauranga proclaimed, “One who utters Nityananda Nam even once in this human life is fully purified and becomes My Own.”
Singing Nityananda Nam purifies not only the one who sings it but also all those who hear it. All such souls instantly become Gauranga-nija-jana as they are accepted by Gaura in His circle.
This is the power of Nityananda Nam. Some argue that we are displeasing Gaura by taking Nityananda Nam, because He wanted us to chant Harinam only. This erroneous argument is refuted in this verse by Lochana das. Some say that they will take Nityananda Nam, but only in the form of the Pancha Tattva mantra.
But nowhere in the scriptures, Gaura Himself or the Acharyas have recommended us to chant Pancha Tattva mantra for more than a few times daily, like they have recommended to sing Nityananda Nam, as we see in all these verses.
● 9. Destroy All Offenses By Nityananda Nam
emon doyāl to nāi he
mār kheye prema dey
aparādha dūre jābe
pābe prema-dhan
o nāme aparādha
vicāra to nāi he
(Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in Gitavali, Sri Nam Kirtan, Song 2)
“There is no one as merciful as Nityananda in the whole creation, because He awards love even to those who hit Him. There is no consideration of offenses at all in Nityananda Nam. In fact by singing Nityananda Nam, all the offenses in Harinam vanish forever, and we attain pure love for Gaura Radha Krishna.”
The 10 Harinam-aparadhas, 10 Dham-aparadhas, 64 Seva-aparadhas, and all other harmful karmic reactions from past unlimited lives are all permanently eradicated by Nityananda Nam. This is because of the all-forgiving, liberal, and merciful nature of Nityananda Himself.
How can His name ever consider any of our offenses when He Himself embraces and gives His love even to those who hit, blaspheme, or envy Him? In fact, Nityananda is always searching to specifically deliver the most offensive souls in creation. Nityananda Nam is the ONLY hope for the wicked (kapat pavan).
● 10. Nityananda Nam Awards Extreme Bliss
navadvipe purushottam
pandit mahashaya
nityananda name
janra mahonmada haya
(Caitanya Caritamrita, Adi Lila 11.33)
“Nitya-siddha Purusottama Pandita from Navadvipa would always remain in extreme rapture by constantly singing Nityananda Nam.”
If you want to remain in a perpetual state of blissful trance or samadhi, Nityananda Nam is the only way. By singing Nityananda Nam, we can live in the most degraded places without getting affected. In fact, the whole world around us becomes a supreme festival of exaltation, and an opportunity to give love to other souls. We will never run away from the battlefield due to the empowerment of Nityananda Nam.
Nityananda’s heart constantly cries so much for every soul, that He is willing to even sell His very self to give love to just one of His part and parcels. A tiny part of that compassion also awakens within us by singing Nityananda Nam, since Nityananda Nam has the same infinitely merciful qualities of Nityananda Himself. Devotees in all the five rasas, including madhurya, need Nityananda Nam to behold their own spiritual form in Harinam.
● 11. Offenses Can’t Block Love in Nityananda Nam
balaram das, krishna
prema-rasāsvādi
nityananda name
haya parama unmadi
(Caitanya Caritamrita, Adi Lila 11.34)
“Nitya-siddha Balarama dasa would always relish pure love of Krishna by remaining divinely intoxicated in singing Nityananda Nam.”
Krishna-prema and Nityananda Nam are synonymous, because Nityananda is always drenched with love fully from His toe to head. While chanting Harinam, there is an insurmountable mountain of our offenses before us, which we need to cross before reaching Krishna-prema on the other side. But as we sing Nityananda Nam, that Krishna-prema on the other side of the mountain comes searching for us, in such a way that our offenses can’t obstruct it (suvimala krishna-prema anveshaye take).
So which one is better? To wait for endless lifetimes for our offenses to end by chanting only Harinam, or to instantly attain Krishna-prema by singing Nityananda Nam along with Harinam, thereby quickly destroying all our offenses? Nityananda Nam grants us love even if we can’t give up our offenses initially. (aparadha sattve jiva labhe prema dhana). Isn’t that mind-boggling?
● 12. Gaura Sings Nityananda Nam To Feel Blissful
ati anirvachaniya
dekhi mukha-chandra
ghana ghana dake
nityananda nityananda
(Caitanya Bhagavata, Madhya Khand 26.74)
“Gauranga intensely called out Nityananda Nam constantly. Due to this, His moon-like face assumed unspeakable divine beauty.”
By singing Nityananda Nam, we become blissful within and beautiful without. Since the Supreme Lord Gauranga Himself always sings Nityananda Nam as shown by this verse, only the most unfortunate devotees will refuse to relish singing Nityananda Nam by giving speculated excuses that it will displease Gauranga, Nityananda, Krishna, or one’s Gurus. Gaura is teaching us by His own example how we should constantly call out Nityananda Nam in Kirtan to beg for Doyal Nityananda’s mercy, which is our only hope.
Nityananda Nam has the infinite bliss to make even Gauranga, the ultimate abode of Mahabhava-Rasaraja, happy. Krishna, even after accepting Radha’s love as Gaura, still sings Nityananda Nam. This shows how Nityananda Nam is the supreme granter of manjari-prema, which even Krishna hankers for.
● 13. Gaura: Nityananda Nam Is Personified Bliss
naame nityananda tumi
rupe nityananda
ei tumi nityananda
rama murtimanta
(Caitanya Bhagavata, Madhya Khanda 12.18)
Gaura said to Nityananda, “Your name is personified eternal bliss, and so is Your form which manifests from Your name. Thus, you are Nityananda Balaram Himself.”
Our first touch of Nityananda’s supreme bliss is His holy name. Nityananda Nam is the topmost wealth in Krishna’s infinite treasury. It may take us millions of lives to attain the very first step of seeing Krishna’s form while chanting Harinam. But we can instantly see Nityananda’s form while singing Nityananda Nam, due to its offenseless nature.
In this way, Nityananda Nam removes the curtain of our offenses hiding the form in the Nam. Then if we chant Gauranam and Harinam, we can see the forms, qualities, and pastimes of Gaura Radha Krishna in this very life without delay. So Nityananda Nam awards us with Shuddha Harinam. “Naame Nityananda” also means that Nityananda Nam grants eternal bliss to even those who sing it enviously, unknowingly, or just for fun.
● 14. Melt Your Heart By Nityananda Nam Kirtan
haay re abhagara prana
ki sukhe achaha
“nityananda” baliya kena
mariya na yaha
tara nam laite na
gale mora hiya
krishna das kahe
mui bada abhagiya
(Krishna dasa in Adosha Darashi Mora Song)
“Alas, oh unfortunate soul! You are satisfied with with harmful thoughts and pleasures because you have never relished the singing of Nityananda Nam. This is death. If my heart does not melt in pure love by singing Nityananda Nam, the most merciful name in the whole creation, then I, Krishna das, remain the most ill-fated soul.”
When we sing Nityananda Nam along with Harinam, we are ready for death at anytime, as we are assured to go to Nityananda due to our singing. We will never know what is transcendental pleasure if we don’t sing Nityananda Nam, and thus be unable to give up our harmful thoughts and deeds.
The highest probability for melting our hearts with pure love in this very life is by Nityananda Nam. We should first try to enter the lila from the door which is always open for us, not from the door which is securely locked. And that is the door of the liberal Nityananda Nam.
● 15. Nityananda Nam Enchants Souls With Love
darshan matra sarva
jiva mugdha haya
nam-tattva dui –
nityananda rasa maya
(Caitanya Bhagavata, Antya Khanda 5.357)
“Simply by singing or seeing Nityananda Nam or Nityananda Rupa, each and every soul is enchanted with love instantly, because both Nityananda Nam and Nityananda are full of eternally blissful mellows.”
“Sarva jiva” signifies that all living beings in this creation will surely become attracted to the all-loving and all-merciful Nityananda Nam. And that too simply by singing or hearing it once. “Mugdha” means that singing Nityananda Nam drowns every soul in infinite bliss, love, and peace; the very things we live for. Thus, there is no greater welfare work in this creation than to give the supreme gift of Nityananda Nam to every soul, and request everyone to share it too.
“Matra” indicates that the full bliss of Nityananda Nam is instantly accessible to all souls, right at the first time they start singing it. They can see Nityananda through the sound of His name. Existing offenses can’t obstruct Nityananda Nam in awarding love to the lost souls.
● 16. Gaura Sings Nityananda Nam Before Harinam
“nityananda” bali prabhu
kandite lagila
murchita haila prabhu
tritiya prahar gela
madhura svare harinam
svarupa sunaila
(Prema Vilasa, Chapter 1, Verses 51-52)
“Gaura repeatedly chanted Nityananda Nam and cried profusely. Then he fell unconscious in a divine trance for 9 hours. During that time, Svarupa Damodara sang Harinam for Him.”
Here Gaura is teaching us by His own example that the way to approach Harinam is by Nityananda Nam. Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada states in CC that one should come or stay in Vrindavan only after regularly singing Nityananda Nam, because the Dham is Nityananda Himself. He and his Gurudev also wrote in their CC purports to 1.8.31 that neophyte devotees should not artificially indulge in the chanting of Harinam, without sufficiently taking shelter of singing Nityananda Nam and Gauranga Nam first.
Gaura is displaying exactly this same principle in the above verse. Nityananda Nam is instantly making even the Lord, who is an infinite ocean of ananda, cry and faint in bliss. So imagine how much prema singing Nityananda Nam can award us?
● 17. Even Brahma Aspires To Sing Nityananda Nam Which Destroys Ignorance
anādi-avidyā-dhvansa
haya jāra nāme ।
ki mahattva tāra
vāti āne kāka sthāne ।।
(Caitanya Bhagavata 2.11.49)
“Ignorance from time immemorial is destroyed by Nityananda’s Name. So why is it so great if a crow brings back the ghee pot on His order?”
Avidya is the ultimate root cause of the soul’s fall down into this material world as soon as the soul desires to enjoy separately in the Brahmajyoti, as explained in Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu. False ego, embodiment in the 8.4 million species, and trans-migration are only the results of Avidya. And this very deepest Avidya is uprooted forever simply by Nityananda’s Name.
brahmadi nam gocharah
(Nityananda’s 108 Names, Verse 8, Name 32, By Srila Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya)
“Nityananda Nam is fully relished by the greatest personalities in the universe like Brahma.”
Some are averse to saying Nityananda Nam. They don’t have the same faith in Nityananda like they have in Gaura Krishna. It is like accepting one brother and rejecting the other. Hence, they may never attain Krishna. On the other hand, Nityananda Nam is accepted and relished by Brahma, Shiva, Ananta, Narada, Yama, Shuka, and all the demigods; as described in the heavenly sankirtana pastimes after Jagai and Madhai’s deliverance.
“Gocharah” means that the greatest personalities in the universe like Brahma have realized the extreme mercy present in Nityananda Nam. Since Krishna and Gaura constantly enact Their pastimes in Nityananda’s heart and body, Nityananda Nam is non-different from both Harinam and Gauranam. Those who consider it inferior due to envy are victims of Kali and lose their only chance to get love.
● 18. Nityananda Nam and Pancha Tattva Mantra
Q. I chant the Pancha Tattva mantra. So why do I need Nityananda Nam?
1) Pancha Tattva mantra is recommended to be chanted only once or 3 times before Harinam, as it is not found in any scriptures as a mantra like Nityananda Nam is. It is just a hymn.
2) Chanting the Pancha Tattva mantra only once or thrice daily may not be sufficient to destroy our ten offenses in Harinam. More adequate shelter of Nityananda Nam is needed daily. Srila Prabhupada uses the words “very regularly” in regards to singing Nityananda Nam and Gauranga Nam.
3) Just like the Pancha Tattva mantra can’t replace Harinam, similarly it can’t replace Nityananda Nam, because singing Nityananda Nam is directly recommended by our Acharyas for Harinam Siddhi.
4) Nityananda is the most merciful Lord among the Pancha Tattva, similarly Nityananda Nam is the most merciful name. After Gauranga retired to relish Radha’s love in Puri Gambhira; and Advaita Acharya, Gadadhara Pandita, and Shrivasa also retired to Shantipur, Tota Gopinath, and Kumarhatta resp., Nityananda was the only Lord who still went door to door to the drunkards, prostitutes, etc. in Bengal, to award love to those who don’t even want it.
● 19. Does Nityananda Want Us to Take Only Harinam?
1) If Nityananda does not want us to sing His name, why would Gaura Himself sing Nityananda Nam and instruct every soul to do the same, as described in these above verses?
2) So many Acaryas have sung Nityananda Nam and ordered us to sing it, as proved in above verses. Why would they do it if Nityananda did not want it? We follow their Vani, not imitate them.
3) By nature, Nityananda is humility personified. So He told others to chant Harinam and Gauranam. But so many Acaryas, like Narottam das, revealed the secret that without Nityananda Nam, we will surely fall into Maya: “nityananda” na bolilo mukhe, majilo sansar sukhe.
4) Nityananda is the Mula-Mahajan and the Mula-Bhandari of Shuddha Harinam, as stated in Godruma Kalpatavi. Even the six Goswamis received it from Nityananda. Nityananda distributed pure Harinam to one and all by opening the marketplace in Godruma. But at that time, the souls received pure Harinam from Him directly. Now Nityananda is not present on the manifest plane to award it to us directly. So we need to receive pure Harinam from Nityananda Nam Prabhu, who is non-different from Nityananda, and Who is still there to make us qualified for Shuddha Harinam.
● 20. My Guru Did Not Tell About Nityananda Nam?
Q. My Guru did not mention about taking Nityananda Nam for Harinam Siddhi. So how can I do it?
1) Its not possible for any Guru to stress on or to tell all the instructions in the shastras. That does not mean that the untold scriptural instructions should not be followed or are not bona-fide.
2) No Guru can possibly be against or be displeased by the singing of Nityananda Nam in addition to Harinam, because it is the direct order of Lord Gauranga Himself, Vrindavan das, Krishna das, Lochan das, Bhaktivinoda Thakur, and many Acharyas, as shown in the above verses.
3) Caitanya Bhagavata states that a Guru falls into the illusory energy if he can’t stop his or her disciples from criticizing bhaktas. But if these disciples take Nityananda Nam too, they save their Gurus and themselves from ninda, which is the common cause of losing taste in Harinam.
4) “Nityananda” is a bona-fide name of the Lord given by our Acharyas. So no Guru or devotees should discourage anyone to sing it in addition to Harinam. Nityananda is the origin of all Vishnu Tattva and all Gurus, who are Jiva Tattvas. So Nityananda Nam is equal to the names of all our Acharyas combined. Hence they encourage all devotees to take shelter of Nityananda Nam and Nityananda Lila for Harinam-Siddhi.
● 21. My Guru Is More Important Than Nityananda?
Q. Following the teachings of my Gurudev is the only way in which I will approach Nityananda.
A.
upasatam va
guru-varya-kotir
adhiyatam va
shruti-shastra-kotih
chaitanya-karunya-
kataksha-bhajam
sadyah param syad
dhi rahasya-labhah
(Chaitanya Chandramrita, Verse 25)
“Even if we strictly follow millions of exalted gurus, or study millions of advanced scriptures, we will never attain the deepest secret of bhakti till we receive mercy of a great personality like Nityananda, who is the recepient of the direct sidelong glance of Gauranga.”
sadhu paoya kashta
bada jivera janiya
sadhu-bhakta-rupe
krishna aila nadiya
(Prema Vivarta by Srila Jagadananda, 7.8)
“Knowing that finding a truly pure guru and sadhu in Kaliyuga is almost next to impossible, Krishna appeared as the true sadhus and gurus: Nityananda Gauranga, in Navadvipa.”
The above two verses make it very clear that we can’t just brush aside Nityananda Nam by saying that I will approach Nityananda only through my Guru and Radha. No Guru is independent. Every Guru wants us to sing Nityananda Nam too: “nityananda” na bolilo mukhe, majilo sansar sukhe.
Those who don’t have a Guru yet, can’t they serve Nityananda? In fact, it is the very opposite! One has to worship Nityananda even to find a bonafide Guru in the first place. So how can we give up the direct worship of Nityananda after finding Guru?
And what about if the Guru is not fully self-realized, which is a big possibility in Kaliyuga, since there have been so many falldowns recently and there were so many cases like this even during Nityananda Gauranga’s time as explained in Narahari Sarkar Thakura’s Krishna Bhajanamrita?
Besides how can the mercy of a infinitesimal Jiva (Guru), even if he is empowered and shaktyavesha be equal to the source of all mercy, the infinite Nityananda? So Guru Bhakti is for the purpose of increasing our Nityananda Bhakti, not for making our beloved Gurudeva more prominent in our lives than even our Lord Nityananda Himself.
And what is the instruction of a bona-fide Guru like Srila Prabhupada: “Become a dog of Nityananda and accept Him as your Master.” So we shouldn’t follow this instruction too?
● 22. Why Nityananda Nam First Before Gaura Nam? Part 1
Q. We always have Nityananda Gauranga or the Pancha Tattva together. So why to sing Nityananda Nam separately first before Gaura Nam?
A. Gauranga is Radha Krishna, so He is sometimes very strict just like Them. All Three of Them reciprocate to the extent of our purity. Gaura Nam may forgive all our offenses, but Nityananda Nam does not even notice them. So to chant pure Gaura Radha Krishna Nam, we need Nityananda Nam. Gaura Nam is also Yugal Nam. So it is on the same level as Radha Krsna Nam. Nityananda Nam falls into a unique category of total causeless mercy, as it never considers even our worst and planned offenses.
Gaura punished even His own intimate associates like Chota Haridasa, Kala Krishna dasa, Mukunda, Damodar Pandita, King Prataprudra, Jagai Madhai, Devananda, etc. etc., including even His own mother, for virtually no mistake of theirs, in order to set the highest possible standard. He banished vaishnava-aparadhis like Gopal Chapal etc. forever. So Gaura Nam also is immediately not for everyone as it is needs some qualification.
All the above devotees were saved only by Nityananda in the end. Thus, it is ONLY Nityananda Nam and Nityananda Lila which protect the souls (like us) who are punished and rejected by Gaura, as told by Srila Jiva Goswami in Navadvipa dhama Mahatmya 4.35: Gaura danda kare jadi, tumi (nityananda) raksha kara… “You are the only ONE who protects when Gaura punishes.”
● 23. Why Nityananda Nam Before Gaura Nam? Part 2
A. Gaura Himself states in Caitanya Bhagavata that He accepts the bhakti of only those who chant 100,000 names daily, and that too, purely. And Gaura Nam is non-different from Gaura Himself. But singing Nityananda Nam and Nityananda Lila forces Gaura Radha Krishna to accept our Bhakti with even our 16 rounds of Harinam.
Some verses which prove that we need lots of mercy from Nityananda Nam and Nityananda first before we can approach Gauranam and Harinam are:
tomar karuna vina
gaura nahi paya
shata janma bhaje
yadi gauranga hiyaya
(Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya 4.34)
“Without Nityananda’s mercy, one cannot attain Gaura, even if he or she worships Gaura intimately in the heart for a 100 lives.”
nityananda-prasade
se gaurcandra jani
(Caitanya Bhagavata 2.22.135)
“One can approach Gaura only by Nityananda’s mercy.”
amara prabhura prabhu
shri gaurasundar
e bada bharasa chitte
dhari nirantar
(Caitanya Bhagavata 1.17.153)
sarva-bhave swami jena
haya nityananda
tanra haiya bhaji
jena prabhu gauracandra
(Caitanya Bhagavata 1.9.231)
“I will never approach Gaura directly but only through Nityananda. Gaura is the Master of my Master, not my direct Master. I will first become and remain Nityananda’s and then with that mood I will worship Gauranga.” The same is valid for approaching Gauranam and Harinam.
● 24. Millions Of Lives By Only Harinam, Part 1
Devotees chant Harinam. So they don’t want to hear that Harinam alone is not enough. But it is a fact, even if we keep on ignoring it. Harinam considers offenses, which will never let us attain Krishna-prema. This secret, which Maya desperately wants to hide from the devotees, is finally exposed in Caitanya Caritamrita, Adi Lila, Chapter 8:
bahu janma kare (16)
yadi shravan kirtana
tabu ta’ na paya
krishna-pade premdhana
“Even if you hear and chant Harinam for many lives, still you may never attain pure love for Krishna.”
‘krsna-nam’ kare
aparadhera vichar
krsna balile aparadhira
na haya vikar (24)
“Krishna’s name considers our offenses. So no one feels pure ecstasy even after chanting it repeatedly for many lives.”
hena krsna-nam yadi
laya bahu-bar
tabu yadi prema nahe
nahe asrudhar (29)
tabe jani, aparadha
tahate prachur
krsna-nam-bija tahe
na kare ankur (30)
“You will not get love or tears even if you chant Harinam many times for many lives. You should now learn to accept that due to your endless offenses, the seed of Harinam is not sprouting in your heart.”
chaitanya nityanande
nahi esaba vichar
nam laite prema dena
vahe ashrudhar (31)
“But in the names of Nityananda and Gauranga, there are no such considerations. Sing Them to instantly get love and tears of pure bliss!”
● 25. Millions Of Lives By Only Harinam, Part 2
This secret, which Maya desperately wants to hide from the devotees, is also exposed in Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura:
koti koti varshe kari
shri krishna bhajana
tathapi namete rati
na paya durjana (10.33)
“Even if one chants Harinam for millions upon millions of lives, still an offensive soul never gets spontaneous attraction for Harinam.”
krishna-nam krishna-dham
mahatmya apar
shastrera dvaraya jane
sakala samsar (1.42)
“So many people in this world know the endless glories of Krishna’s name and abode from the scriptures.”
tabu krishna-prema
sadharane nahi paya
ihara karana kiba
chintaha hiyaya (1.43)
“Even then, no devotee is getting pure love of Krishna. Every single devotee should deliberate on the reason for this great calamity in Kaliyuga.”
ihate achaye ta eka
gudha-tattva sar
maya-mugdha jiva taha
na kare vichar (1.44)
“The secret of all secrets is hidden in this question. But the souls bewildered by Maya never discuss this question.”
So what is the solution?
nityananda chaitanya bali
jei jiva dake
suvimala krishna-prema
anveshaye take (1.48)
“Purest love of Krishna instantly starts searching for the soul who calls out Nityananda Nam and Gauranga Nam by singing Them.”
● 26. Vaisnava Ninda Ends Only By Nityananda Nam
nityananda-prasade se
vaishnavere chini
nityananda-prasade se
ninda haya kshaya
(Caitanya Bhagavata, Madhya 22.135-136)
“One understands the devotees only by Nityananda’s mercy. And thus only by His mercy, we can become free of Vaishnava Aparadha and Vaishnava Ninda forever.”
The very first offense of criticizing devotees is our main obstacle. It is the very reason why we don’t feel pure love on chanting or hearing Harinam japa, kirtan, or katha. There is no atonement for it, except to go and ask forgiveness from every single devotee whom we have verbally or mentally offended, in our past and present lives. This is impossible to do. So is there any hope for us?
Yes! According to the above verse, Nityananda’s mercy; attained through Nityananda Nam, Nityananda Lila, Nityananda Dham, and Nityananda Bhaktas; is the only means to totally eradicate all traces of this Aparadha, including our inherent propensity to criticize devotees.
Chanting Harinam constantly in multiples of 64 rounds in the Dham for years can mitigate this offense to some extent, but only if we chant offenselessly. If we would be chanting purely, then we would not offend anyone in the first place. So Nityananda Nam, Nityananda Lila, and Nityananda Dham are the only ways to quickly become free of Vaishnava Ninda.
● 27. Why do I need Nityananda Nam For Radha-Dasyam?
A. Heno Nityananda Bine Bhai
Radha Krishna Paite Nai
“Without Nityananda, NO ONE can ever attain Radha Krishna.” (And Nityananda is non-different from Nityananda Nam.)
Nityanandera Karuna Habe
Vraje Radha Krsna Pabe
“One can attain Radha Krishna in Vraja ONLY by the mercy of Nityananda.” (Narottam dasa Thakura)
je bhakti gopika ganera
kahe bhagavate
nityananda haite taha
paila jagate
(Caitanya Bhagavata 3.5.303)
“The pure devotional love and mood of the Gopis glorified in Srimad Bhagavatam was indiscriminately awarded to all the people of this world ONLY by Nityananda.”
gopi gane vyakta
je sakala anuraga
ingite se saba bhava
nityananda raya
dilena sakala priya
ganere kripaya
(Caitanya Bhagavata 3.5.419)
“All the loving moods of the Gopis for Lord Krishna were freely granted to everyone with the consideration of qualification ONLY by Lord Nityananda.”
apani ye gopibhave
karena krandana
nadi vahe hena saba
dekhe shishu-gana
(Caitanya Bhagavata 1.9.36)
“All his childhood boyfriends watched as Nityananda wept bitterly in Gopibhava.”
radhika-mantra-do
(Sarvabhauma in Nityananda’s 108 Names)
“Nityananda is the Giver of Radha’s Mantra and Radha Nam.”
All the Radha-palya-dasi Manjaris in the form of the Goswamis attained Love, Gaura, Vraja, and Radha Krishna due to Nityananda, as we see in their pastimes.
mora deha haite
nityananda-deha bada
satya satya sabare
kahinu ei dadha
(Caitanya Bhagavata 3.2.258)
Gaura said, “Nityananda is greater than Me in all ways. This is the truth, this is truth. I am emphasizing it.”
● 30. See Nityananda by Sharing Nityananda Nam Once
bhaike bhartsinu mui
lana ei guna
sei ratre prabhu more
dila darshana
(Caitanya Caritamrita, Adi Lila 5.180)
“Accepting my only one meager attempt to convince my brother about Him, Nityananda appeared before me with all His associates on that same night.”
This is Kripa-Siddhi. Sharing Nityananda Nam and Nityananda Lila with others can instantly reveal Nityananda before us along with His associates, as seen above. It may take millions of lives to directly see Krishna face to face, but when we see Nityananda by sharing Nityananda, then Krishna has to appear. Krishna wants us to share His glories with His devotees (Gita 18.68: mad-bhaktesv abhidhasyati). Nityananda, being even more merciful, wants us to take risks like He did, and share it with new souls (vimudhan bhakti-rahitan), to give them love.
One may practice intense sadhana in the Dham and progress in remembrance, but to actually enter into the nitya-lila, one requires this Kripa-Siddhi, which comes only by reaching out to totally lost souls with Nityananda’s love. Nityananda is the most forgiving and liberal Lord in creation. So only Nityananda Nam, Nityananda Lila, Nityananda Prachar, Nityananda Dham, and Nityananda Bhaktas can quickly give us Kripa-siddhi in Shuddha Harinam and Radha Dasyam in this otherwise hopeless Kaliyuga.