Nityananda-Rama at Panihati

Nityananda (Bangla: শ্রী নিত্যানন্দ) (b 1474 CE), a Vaishnava saint, is famous as a primary religious figure within the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition of Bengal. Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or its associated avatars principally as Rama and Gaudiya Vaishnavism (also known as Chaitanya Vaishnavism) is a Vaishnava religious movement founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1534 in India Etymology and ethnology The exact origin of the word Bangla or Bengal is unknown though it is believed to be derived from the Dravidian-speaking tribe Bang ^[1] Nityananda was Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's friend & disciple. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (also transliterated Caitanya, IAST caitanya mahāprabhu) ( Bengali চৈতন্য মহাপ্রভূ (1486 - They are often mentioned together as Gaura-Nitai (Gaura, "golden one", referring to Chaitanya, Nitai being a shortened form of Nityananda) or Nimai-Nitai (Nimai being another name of Chaitanya). ^[2] Followers often refer to Nityananda as 'Sri Nityananda', 'Prabhu Nityananda' or 'Nityananda Rama'. Rama ( IAST: rāma Devanāgarī: राम Khmer: Phreah Ream Thai: Phra Ram Lao: Phra Lam Tagalog:

According to Gaudiya-Vaishnava tradition Nityananda is an incarnation of Balarama, with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu being his eternal brother and friend, Krishna^[3]. Balarama (बलराम Balarāma) also named Baladeva, Baldau, Balabhadra and Halayudha, is the elder brother of the divine Krishna (कृष्ण in Devanagari kṛṣṇa in IAST, ˈkr̩ʂɳə in classical Sanskrit is a deity worshiped across many traditions of Hinduism He is considered the 'most merciful' incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This article is about a Hindu philosophical concept the original or absolute manifestation of God ^[4]

Life

Nityananda Rama was born in Ekachakra^[5] (a small village in present West Bengal) around the year 1474, into a religious Brahmin family. Ekachakra ( Sanskrit:एकचक्र Bangla: একচক্র is a small village located 20 km away from the town of Rampurhat in the Birbhum West Bengal ( Bengali: পশ্চিমবঙ্গ Poshchim Bônggo poʃtʃim bɔŋgo is a state in eastern India. Brahmin ( Brāhmaṇa, sa ब्राह्मणः is the class of educators scholars and preachers in Brahminical Hinduism. His devotion and great talent for singing Vaishnava hymns (bhajan) were apparent from a very early age. A Bhajan is a type of Hindu Devotional Song, often simple lyrical and expressing love for the Divine. He became well known in his youth for his dramatic re-enactments of Lord Rama's pastimes, wherein he would generally play the part of Lakshman, Rama's younger brother along with the other boys of Ekachakra. Rama ( IAST: rāma Devanāgarī: राम Khmer: Phreah Ream Thai: Phra Ram Lao: Phra Lam Tagalog: Lakshmana ( Sanskrit: लक्ष्मण IAST Lakṣmaṇa Malay: Laksmana Thai / Lao: Phra Lak was the brother and close companion

At the age of thirteen, Nityananda left home with a travelling renunciate (sannyasi) known as Lakshmipati Tirtha. "Sanyasi" redirects here For the motion picture see Sanyasi (1975 film Sannyasa, ( Devanagari: संन्यास Lakshmipati Tirtha (1420 &ndash 1487 was a Gaudiya Vaishnava saint Nityananda's father, Hadai Pandit, had offered the travelling sannyasi anything he wished as a gift. To this Lakshmipati Tirtha replied that he was in need of someone to assist him in his travels to the holy places (he was about to begin a pilgrimage) and that Nityananda would be perfect for the job. As he had given his word Hadai Pandit reluctantly agreed and Nityananda joined him in his travels. This started Nityananda's long physical and spiritual journey through India which would get him in contact with important Guru's of the Vaishnava tradition. A guru (गुरु গুরু is a person who is regarded as having great knowledge wisdom and authority in a certain area and uses it to guide others Apart from Lakshmipati Tirtha, who at some point initiated him, he was also associated with Lakshmipati Tirtha's famous other disciples: Madhavendra Puri, Advaita Acharya, and Ishvara Puri, the spiritual master of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Madhavendra Puri ( Mādhavendra Purī in IAST) also known as Madhavendra Puri Goswami is a Vaishnava saint who appeared in the 14th century Advaita Acharya ( 1434 - 1539) He is also considered to be a guru of great saint Haridasa Thakur. Isvara Puri was a Monk of the renunciate order in the Tattvavāda tradition who gave initiation to the Vaishnava saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu A guru (गुरु গুরু is a person who is regarded as having great knowledge wisdom and authority in a certain area and uses it to guide others

The Jagai-Madhai episode

The episode of Jagai-Madhai is arguably the most well known of tales related to Chaitanya and Nityananda. There are a few versions of the story, but the basics outline of the traditional tale is as follows:

Once while chanting the name of Krishna in the streets, Nityananda was attacked by Jagai and Madhai, two irreverent drunk brothers. Krishna (कृष्ण in Devanagari kṛṣṇa in IAST, ˈkr̩ʂɳə in classical Sanskrit is a deity worshiped across many traditions of Hinduism Madhai threw an earthen pot which cut his forehead. At this point Nityananda is said to have uttered the now famous sentence, "Merechhish kolshir kana, tai bole ki prem debona" (Shall I stop giving you love because you have hit me with an earthen pot?). Chaitanya heard of the episode, flew to a rage, and wanted to kill the brothers with his divine Chakra. The chakram ( Devanāgarī: चक्रम is a throwing Weapon that was used by the ancient Indians it is a flat Metal disc with a sharp outer Nityananda begged him to pardon them and they became Chaitanya's disciples, converted by Nityananda's compassion.

Legacy

Paired deities of Nityananda (left) and Chaitanya (right), in a Radha-Krishna temple in Belgium. For Radha the mother of Karna from Mahabharata see Radha (Mahabharata Radha (Devanagari राधा IAST Rādhā is the principal Krishna (कृष्ण in Devanagari kṛṣṇa in IAST, ˈkr̩ʂɳə in classical Sanskrit is a deity worshiped across many traditions of Hinduism The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those

The exploits of Chaitanya and Nityananda have had deep religious and cultural implications in Bengal. They are credited with the revival of Hinduism in Eastern India, plagued mainly by the caste system, which they denounced. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Castes are Hereditary systems of occupation, Endogamy, social culture, Social class, and Political power. Much of Vaishnava literature, regarded as one the finest literary heritage of medieval Bengal, came from them or their disciples. Even in secular literature, their brotherly love towards each other has been celebrated.

Principal Names of Nityananda

• Nityananda -- He Who embodies eternal bliss
• Avadhutendu -- The Moon of divine madmen
• Vasudha-prana-vallabha -- The beloved of the life-breath of Vasudha
• Jahnavi-jivita-pati -- The eternal divine husband of Shrimati Jahnavi-devi and the maintainer and sustainer of Her life and soul
• Krsna-prema-prada -- He Who bestows ecstatic love for Krsna
• Prabhu -- The Lord and Master of the devotees
• Padmavati-suta -- The dear son of Padmavati
• Sriman -- He of spendrous transcendental majesty
• Saci-nandana-purvaja -- The older brother of mother Saci's son
• Bhavonmatta -- He Who is maddened in overwhelming ecstatic emotions
• Jagat-trata -- The savior of the universe
• Rakta-gaura-kalevara - He Whose complexion is golden tinged with red

from the writings of Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya.

See also

• Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
• Pancha Tattva (Vaishnavism)
• Gaudiya Vaishnava
• Mayapur

References

External links

• Life Story of Nityananda
• A Biography of Nityananda Prabhu
• Nityananda Trayodasi Festival
• Lecture on Nityananda & Chaitanya: 'The Darkness Dispellers'
• Nityananda Rama at Panihati
• Nityananda Janmasthan - Nitai's birthplace
• The Lotus Feet of Sri Nityananda Prabhu
• Nityananda's Name
• Descendents of Nityananda