Celebrating the Divine Blessings of Nityananda Prabhu
Celebrating the Divine Blessings of Nityananda ✨
Today marks the auspicious Nityananda Trayodashi, the appearance day of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. His very name encapsulates his divine essence: “Nitya” means ‘eternal’ and “Ananda” signifying ‘bliss’.
Nityananda Prabhu is compared to the moon at its most radiant, that is overflowing with sweetness and mercy. Just as the moon brings peace and tranquility to the night, Nityananda Prabhu’s grace is said to offer an even deeper peace, melts even the toughest hearts, drawing them towards the warmth of devotion. He embodies the softer, more accessible side of divine love.
He appeared in this age just to shower us with his infinite compassion and mercy, it is very beautifully explained in the song “Doya Koro More Nitai”
prema dāne jagajanera mana kaila sukhi
Sri Nityananda Prabhu gives divine love to one and all and makes the whole world happy.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is accepted as the most magnanimous incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but it can be observed that Nityananda prabhu is even more merciful than Chaitanya Mahaprabhu by the story of Jagai and Madhai.
I know, I know, you all have heard that pastime a million time but no matter how many times we hear it, it never fails to touch our hearts and reignite our faith in the transformative power of divine love.
One day Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu instructed Nityananda Prabhu and Haridasa Thakur to go to every one’s house in Nadiya and request them to chant Krishna’s name. The two great devotees eagerly set forth and began to knock on each and every door with the request, “Please chant Krishna’s name, worship Krishna and teach others about Krishna.” They were happily received by the pious people, while the envious would blaspheme them. Completely unconcerned by favorable or unfavorable reactions they proceeded around the town.
In Nadiya there lived two very sinful brothers called Jagai and Madhai. Though they born in pious Brahman families, by bad association they had become meat eaters, drunkards, thieves and arsonists. There was no crime that they had not committed, including the most abominable sin of killing cows and Brahmans. The entire town was terrified of these two persons who seemed to be the very personification of all sinful activities.
On the day Nityananda Prabhu and Haridasa Thakur were moving in the town, these two brothers, completely intoxicated were alternatively fighting and embracing each other. After observing them for some time Nityananda Prabhu compassionately decided to deliver them.
Despite the warnings of the town people Lord Nityananda, approached the two drunkards instructing them to chant the holy name of the Lord. Hearing these words the two sinners looked up and seeing the two saintly figures roared in anger. Madhai became so furious that he struck Nityananda Prabhu with a broken earthen pot. Despite the fact that He was bleeding, Nityananda Prabhu patiently stood, looking at the brothers with compassion, tolerating the pain and humiliation, and still requesting them to chant the names of the Lord. People ran to tell Chaitanya Mahaprabhu about the incident.
Hearing that Nityananda Prabhu had been hurt by the brothers, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ran towards them with the intention to kill them. He summoned His chakra which looked like death personified to the two terrified brothers. However Nityananda Prabhu quickly intervened and begged Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to stop. He reminded Him of His mission to kill the sinners by saturating them with love of Godhead. Thus appeased the Lord took back His chakra.
Nityananda Prabhu told Chaitanya Mahaprabhu that it was Jagai who had saved Him from further harm at Madhai’s hand. Hearing this Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said to Jagai, “You saved Nityananda, from today on you will have pure love and devotion for Krishna” Hearing this Jagai fell at the feet of the two Lords and grasping the feet of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu wept.
Seeing the wonderful transformation in his brother, a remorseful Madhai begged for the mercy of the Lord. However, since he had committed the worst of all offenses, that of attacking a Vaishnava, the Lord did not even consider all his pitiful pleas for mercy. Only after Madhai grasped the feet of Nityananda Prabhu and received His mercy that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu agree to deliver Madhai also.
Nityananda Prabhu ki Jai!
The story of Jagai and Madai’s exemplify Nityananda’s limitless love. It affirms transformation possibility of even the fallen souls and the healing power of divine love’s embrace.
On this occasion, let us all pray to Nityananda Prabhu that may He shower His mercy upon us and we stay under the shelter of his divine guidance, and finds the light that leads us closer to Krishna because without His mercy, we cannot approach the Lord.
At last, If we truly wants to honor Nityananda, we have to accept His teachings, he always used to sing,
bhaja gaurāńga kaha gaurāńga laha gaurāńgera nāma re
Worship Lord Gauranga! Chant Gauranga! Speak about Lord Gauranga only!
Hare Krishna Prabhu ji,
Dandvat Pranam,
Beautifully written and narrated in a very impressive way. Loved to watch the 14 years old drama played in Bengali language of the deliverance of Jagai and Madhai by the most merciful lord Nityananda Prabhu.
The humility, tolerance and supreme compassion for the humanity is what to be learnt from him.
Thank you Prabhu ji for such fantastic article..
Hare Krishna Prabhuji,
Dandawat Pranam
Thanks for the wonderful narration!