Lord Nityananda's
Holy Name in the Vedas
Translated and Compiled By His Holiness
Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada

 

The glories of Lord Nityananda as the incarnation of Lord Balarama, the origin of both the spiritual and material world, are given in the revealed Vedic scriptures as follows:

 

Vayu Purana

 

(1) balaramo mamaivamsah, so 'pi mat-prstham esyati;

nityananda iti khyato nyasi-cudamanih ksitau

 

In the Vayu Purana, the Lord tells Brahma: "Lord Balarama, who is My first expansion and non-different from Me will also appear by My side as Lord Shri Nityananda. He will become the crest jewel of all renunciants on the earth."

 

(2) krtvavadhuta-vesam sa, dharman bhagavatan bahun;

grahayitva janan ittham grhinam asramam tatah.

 

"Assuming the dress of an avadhuta, He will freely distribute bhagavata dharma i.e. love of God. He will distribute this pure love through various means and deliver all the living entities. He will do so first as a brahmacari and later as a householder."

 

(3) jahnavy-adibhir atmanam, darsayisyati manavan.

 

"Accompanied by His eternal consort Shrimati Jahnavi-devi and many other intimate associates, He (Nityananda) will reveal His transcendental pastimes to the people."

 

Ananta-Samhita of Atharva Veda

 

nityanando maha-kayo, bhutva mat-kirtane ratah;

vimudhan bhakti-rahitan, mama bhaktan karisyasi.

 

In the Ananta-Samhita, the Lord states to Anantadeva: "When I appear in Navadvipa in Kali-yuga, You will become Nityananda. You will have a very tall, beautiful and large body, and You will be constantly absorbed in chanting My name and glories. In this way, by Your causeless mercy You will convert many bewildered fools who are devoid of devotion into My pure unalloyed devotees."

 

Shri Chaitanya-Charitamrita, Adi 1.7-11

 

sankarshanah karana-toya-sayi

garbhoda-sayi ca payobdhi-sayi

seshas ca yasyamsa-kalah sa nitya-

nandakhya-ramah saranam mamastu

 

 May Shri Nityananda Prabhu be the object of my constant remembrance. Sankarshana, Mahavishnu, Garbhodakshayi Vishnu, and Kshirodakshayi Vishnu, as well as Sesha are His expansions and the expansions of His expansions. That same Nityananda Prabhu, is none other than Balarama. (Cc. Adi 1.7)

 

mayatite vyapi-vaikuntha-loke

purnaisvarye shri-catur-vyuha-madhye

rupam yasyodbhati sankarshanakhyam

tam shri-nityananda-ramam prapadye

 

I surrender unto the lotus feet of Shri Nityananda Rama, who is known as Saokarshana in the midst of the catur-vyuha. He has full opulences and resides in Vaikunthaloka far beyond the material creation. (Cc. Adi 1.8)

 

maya-bhartajanda-sanghasrayangah

sete sakshat karanambhodhi-madhye

yasyaikamsah shri-puman adi-devas

tam shri-nityananda-ramam prapadye

 

I offer my full obeisances unto the feet of Shri Nityananda Rama, whose partial representation called Karanodakasayi Vishnu, lying on the Karana ocean, is the original Purusha, the master of the illusory energy and the shelter of all the universes. (Cc. Adi 1.9)

 

yasyamsamsah shrila-garbhoda-sayi

yan-nabhy-abjam loka-sanghata-nalam

loka-srashtuh sutika-dhama dhatus

tam shri-nityananda-ramam prapadye

 

 I offer my full obeisances unto the feet of Shri Nityananda Rama, a partial part of whom is Garbhodakshayi Vishnu. From the navel of Garbhodakshayi Vishnu sprouts the lotus stem that is the birthplace of Brahma, the engineer of the Universe. The stem of that lotus is the resting place of the multitude of planets. (Cc. Adi 1.10)

 

yasyamsamsamsah paratmakhilanam

poshta vishnur bhati dugdhabdhi-sayi

kshauni-bharta yat-kala so 'py anantas

tam shri-nityananda-ramam prapadye

 

I offer my full obeisances unto the feet of Shri Nityananda Rama, whose secondary part is the Vishnu lying in the ocean of milk. That Kshirodakashayi Vishnu is the Supersoul of all living entities and the maintainer of all the universe. Sesha Naga is His further sub-part. (Cc. Adi 1.11)

 

Lord Nityananda Baladeva is the Original Sankarshana

 

5.7

shri-balarama gosani mula-sankarshana

panca-rupa dhari' karena krishnera sevana

apane karena krishna-lilara sahaya

shrishti-lila-karya kare dhari' cari kaya

 

Lord Balarama is the original Sankarshana. He assumes five other forms to serve Lord Krishna. He helps in the pastimes of Lord Krishna, and He does the work of creation in four other forms. (Cc. Adi 5.8,9)

 

Balarama and Nityananda are non Different

 

5.8

prema-pracarana ara pashanda-dalana

dui-karye avadhuta karena bhramana

 

 For two purposes to spread the cult of bhakti and to defeat and subdue the atheists Lord Nityananda, the most dedicated devotee of the Lord, moved throughout the country. (Cc. Antya 3.149)

 

The Glories of Nityananda Prabhu

 

5.9

jagat mataya nitai premera malasate

palaya durdanta kali padiya vibhrate

ki sukhe bhasila jiva gauracandera nate

dekhiya suniya pashandira buk phate

 

 [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 Shri Gauranga [and Nityananda]. Seeing such dancing, or even hearing of it, melts the hearts even of great atheists. (Gitavali, Nagara-kirtana, 8)

 

5.10

jaya jaya nityananda, nityananda-rama

yaohara kripate painu vrindavana-dhama

jaya jaya nityananda, jaya kripa-maya

yaoha haite painu rupa-sanatanasraya

yaoha haite painu raghunatha-mahasaya

yaoha haite painu shri-svarupa-asraya

sanatana-kripaya painu bhaktira siddhanta

shri-rupa-kripaya painu bhakti-rasa-pranta

jaya jaya nityananda-caranaravinda

yaoha haite painu shri-radha-govinda

 

 All glory, all glory to Lord Nityananda Balarama, by whose mercy I have attained shelter in the transcendental abode of Vrindavana. All glory, all glory to the merciful Lord Nityananda, by whose mercy I have attained shelter of Shri Rupa and Sanatana. By His mercy, I have attained the shelter of the great Shri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, and by His mercy I have found the refuge of Shri Svarupa Damodara. By the mercy of Sanatana Gosvami I have learned the final conclusions of devotional service, and by the grace of Shri Rupa Gosvami I have tasted the highest nectar of devotional service. All glory, all glory to the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda, by whose mercy I have attained Shri Radha-Govinda. (Cc. Adi. 5.200-204)

 

Nityananda is the Savior of the Most Fallen

 

5.11

jagai madhai haite muni se papishtha

purishera kita haite muni se laghishtha

mora nama sune yei tara punya kshaya

mora nama laya yei tara papa haya

emana nirghrina more keba kripa kare

eka nityananda vinu jagat bhitare

preme matta nityananda kripa-avatara

uttama, adhama, kichu na kare vicara

ye age padaye, tare karaye nistara

ataeva nistarila mo-hena duracara

 

I am more sinful than Jagai and Madhai and even lower than the worms in stool. Anyone who hears my name loses the results of his pious activities. Whoever utters my name becomes sinful. Who in this world but Nityananda could show His mercy to such an abominable person as me? Because He is intoxicated by ecstatic love and is an incarnation of mercy, He does not distinguish between the good and the bad. He delivers all those who fall down before Him. Therefore He has delivered such a sinful and fallen person as me. (Cc. Adi 5.205-209)

 

Freedom from Anarthas and the Desire for Bhakti

is Strengthened by the Mercy of Nitai

 

5.12

samsarera para hai' bhaktira sagare

ye dubibe se bhajuk nitai-candere

 

 One who would cross over the ocean of material existence and swim in the bhakti ocean should worship the lotus feet of Nityananda. (Cb. Adi 1.77)

 

Nityananda is the Foremost Preacher

 

5.13

caitanyera adi-bhakta nityananda-raya

caitanyera yaso vaise yanhara jihvaya

aharnisa caitanyera katha prabhu kaya

tan're bhajile se caitanye bhakti haya

 

 Lord Chaitanya's first and foremost devotee is Nityananda Raya. The glories of Lord Chaitanya are always on his tongue. Day and night Lord Nityananda speaks only of Lord Chaitanya. Whoever worships Him is a real devotee of Shri Chaitanya. (Cb. Adi 9.217-218)

 

Nityananda mad About Serving Shri Chaitanya

 

5.14

nityananda avadhuta sabate agala

caitanyera dasya-preme ha-ila pagala

 

 Nityananda, the wandering mendicant, is the foremost of all the servants of Lord Chaitanya. He is like the gateway through which all service to Lord Chaitanya must pass. He became mad in the ecstasy of service to Lord Chaitanya. (Cc. Adi 6.48)

 

Those who Have no Faith that Gaura and Nitai

are Inseparable are Offenders and Atheists

 

5.15

dui bhai eka-tanu samana-prakasa

nityananda na mana, tomara habe sarva-nasa

ekete visvasa, anye na kara sammana

"ardha-kukkuti-nyaya" tomara pramana

 

 These two brothers (Gaura and Nitai) are like one body; 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. (Cc. Adi 5.175,176)

 

Faith in Gaura Without Nitai, or Nitai Without Gaura,

is Flickering Faith and in Opposition to Pure Devotional Service

 

5.16

kimva, dooha na manina hao ta' pashanda

eke mani' are na mani, ei-mata bhanda

 

 It would be better to be an atheist by slighting both brothers than a hypocrite by believing in one and slighting the other. (Cc. Adi 5.177)

 

Thus ends the Fifth Jewel of Gaudiya Kanthahara, entitled Nityananda-tattva compiled by Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada.