HH HARIVILAS MAHARAJ’S MORNING CLASS ON NITHYANANDA MAHAPRABHU’S APPEARANCE DAY – ABOUT NITHYANANDA MAHAPRABHU
• Although Nityānanda Prabhu is none other than Balarāma Himself, He always thinks of Himself as the eternal servant of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
• Nityānanda Prabhu requested everyone to serve Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, chant His glories and utter His name.
• Nityānanda Prabhu claimed that person to be His life and soul who rendered devotional service unto Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
• Śrīla Nityānanda Prabhu introduced the cult of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to everyone without discrimination. By this process, he delivered many fallen souls and blasphemers.
• Preaching Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s cult throughout the world is more important than staying in Vṛndāvana or Jagannātha Purī for one’s own personal satisfaction.
• This order comes down through the paramparā system, and the spiritual master presents these orders to the disciple to spread the message of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to every village and town.
• It is the duty of every disciple to carry out this order and spread Lord Caitanya’s message all over the world.
• The Lord actually wants to see His servants work more gloriously than Himself.
• Nityānanda Prabhu was so kind that He not only saved JAGAI and Madai from death but elevated them to the transcendental position. Thus what was not possible for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was carried out by Nityānanda Prabhu.
• If one is true to Gaura-Nitāi’s service in the disciplic succession, by the grace of Nithyananda Prabhu, one can deliver many thousands of Jagāis and Mādhāis.
• If we simply follow in the footsteps of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement can advance, and even more difficult tasks can be performed by the preachers.
• Nithyananda Prabhu is the Body and Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the Life
• a pure devotee of the Lord gives everyone a chance to become free from all sinful reactions and to become a devotee of the Lord.
• Through the inconceivable energy of the Lord, a pure devotee can perform tasks that are supposed to be very, very difficult. He can perform tasks not even previously performed by the Lord Himself.
• Nityānanda Prabhu told Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu “I do not know by what regulative principle I am carrying out this wonderful work, but I know for certain that I will do whatever You desire.”
• The Lord wants to give all credit to His servant, but the servant does not take any credit, for he knows that everything is carried out by the Lord.
• Chanting, Dancing, Feasting are transcendental activities. The Lord himself along with His associates comes to see the devotees chanting, dancing & feasting.
• The dancing of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, like the dancing of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, cannot be compared to anything within these three worlds.
• No one can properly describe the sweetness of Lord Nityānanda’s dancing. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally comes to see it.
• Lord Nityānanda Prabhu sat down for supper at Raghava Pandit’s request with His personal associates and made a sitting place on His right side for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The Lord comes and sits next to Him.
• The food prepared and offered to the Deity by Rāghava Paṇḍita was like the essence of nectar. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came there again and again to eat such prasādam. Sometimes, He would give Rāghava Paṇḍita the opportunity to see Him.
• It was a fact that the supreme mother, Rādhārāṇī, personally cooked in the house of Rāghava Paṇḍita. Srīmatī Rādhārāṇī received from Durvāsā Muni the benediction that whatever She cooked would be sweeter than nectar.
• The Supreme Personality of Godhead always resides either in the heart or in the home of a devotee. This fact is sometimes hidden and sometimes manifest, for the Supreme Personality of Godhead is fully independent.
• Raghunatha Dasa Says to Nithyananda Maha Prabhu – “No one can attain the shelter of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu without Your mercy, but if You are merciful, even the lowest of men can attain shelter at His lotus feet.”
• Raghunātha dāsa’s standard of material happiness is equal to that of Indra, the King of heaven. “Because of the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Raghunātha dāsa, although situated in such material happiness, does not like it at all
• “One who experiences the fragrance of the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa does not value even the standard of happiness available in Brahmaloka, the topmost planet. And what to speak of heavenly happiness?
(CC MADHYA1.24 – CC MADHYA 1.31) NITYĀNANDA PRABHU INTRODUCED THE CULT OF ŚRĪ CAITANYA MAHĀPRABHU TO EVERYONE WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION.
Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sent Nityānanda Prabhu from Jagannātha Purī to Bengal, which is known as Gauḍa-deśa, and Lord Nityānanda Prabhu overflooded that country with the transcendental loving service of the Lord. Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu is by nature very much inspired in rendering transcendental loving service to Lord Kṛṣṇa. Now, being ordered by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He distributed this loving service anywhere and everywhere. I offer innumerable obeisances unto the lotus feet of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, who is so kind that He spread the service of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu all over the world.
Caitanya Mahāprabhu used to address Nityānanda Prabhu as His elder brother, whereas Nityānanda Prabhu addressed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as His Lord. Although Nityānanda Prabhu is none other than Balarāma Himself, He nonetheless always thinks of Himself as the eternal servant of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Nityānanda Prabhu requested everyone to serve Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, chant His glories and utter His name. Nityānanda Prabhu claimed that person to be His life and soul who rendered devotional service unto Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. In this way, Śrīla Nityānanda Prabhu introduced the cult of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to everyone without discrimination. Even though the people were fallen souls and blasphemers, they were delivered by this process.
(CC MADHYA 16.64) PREACHING CAITANYA MAHĀPRABHU’S CULT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN STAYING IN VṚNDĀVANA OR JAGANNĀTHA PURĪ FOR ONE’S OWN PERSONAL SATISFACTION.
Spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness is Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s mission; therefore His sincere devotees must carry out His desire.
pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi grāma
sarvatra pracāra haibe mora nāma
The devotees of Lord Caitanya must preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness in every village and town in the world. That will satisfy the Lord. It is not that one should act whimsically for his own personal satisfaction. This order comes down through the paramparā system, and the spiritual master presents these orders to the disciple so that he can spread the message of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. It is the duty of every disciple to carry out the order of the bona fide spiritual master and spread Lord Caitanya’s message all over the world.
(BG 18.68) LORD KRSNA PROMISES THAT FOR WHOEVER PREACHES, PURE DEVOTIONAL SERVICE IS GUARANTEED
For one who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, pure devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me.
(CC M 16.65) WHAT WAS NOT POSSIBLE FOR ŚRĪ CAITANYA MAHĀPRABHU WAS CARRIED OUT BY NITYĀNANDA PRABHU.
Lord Caitanya’s mission is to deliver the fallen souls of this age. In this Age of Kali, practically cent percent of the population is fallen. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu certainly delivered many fallen souls, but His disciples mainly came from the upper classes. It was Śrīla Nityānanda Prabhu, however, who delivered persons like Jagāi and Mādhāi. Therefore, Lord Caitanya says, āmāra ‘duṣkara’ karma, tomā haite haye. Jagāi and Mādhāi were delivered solely by Nityānanda Prabhu’s mercy. Nityānanda Prabhu was so kind that He not only saved them from death but elevated them to the transcendental position. Thus what was not possible for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was carried out by Nityānanda Prabhu.
(CC M 16.65) IF ONE IS TRUE TO THE PROCESS OF DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION, ONE CAN EVEN EXCEL NITYANANDA PRABHU’S SERVICE.
If one is true to Gaura-Nitāi’s service in the disciplic succession, he can even excel Nityānanda Prabhu’s service. This is the process of disciplic succession. Nityānanda Prabhu delivered Jagāi and Mādhāi, but a servant of Nityānanda Prabhu, by His grace, can deliver many thousands of Jagāis and Mādhāis. That is the special benediction of the disciplic succession.
(CC M 16.65) THE LORD ACTUALLY WANTS TO SEE HIS SERVANTS WORK MORE GLORIOUSLY THAN HIMSELF.
By the grace of Viṣṇu, a Vaiṣṇava can render better service than Viṣṇu; that is the special prerogative of a Vaiṣṇava. If we simply follow Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s instructions and follow in the footsteps of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement can advance, and even more difficult tasks can be performed by the preachers remaining faithful to the service of the Lord.
(CC M 16.66) NITHYANANDA PRABHU IS THE BODY AND CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU IS THE LIFE
Nityānanda Prabhu replied, “O Lord, You are the life, and I am the body. There is no difference between the body and life itself, but life is more important than the body.
(BG 18.71) A PURE DEVOTEE OF THE LORD GIVES EVERYONE A CHANCE TO BECOME FREE FROM ALL SINFUL REACTIONS AND TO BECOME A DEVOTEE OF THE LORD.
Lord explicitly forbade the Gītā’s being spoken to those who are envious of the Lord. In other words, Bhagavad-gītā is for the devotees only. But it so happens that sometimes a devotee of the Lord will hold open class, and in that class not all the students are expected to be devotees. Why do such persons hold open class? It is explained here that although not everyone is a devotee, still there are many men who are not envious of Kṛṣṇa. They have faith in Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If such persons hear from a bona fide devotee about the Lord, the result is that they become at once free from all sinful reactions and after that attain to the planetary system where all righteous persons are situated. Therefore simply by hearing Bhagavad-gītā, even a person who does not try to be a pure devotee attains the result of righteous activities. Thus a pure devotee of the Lord gives everyone a chance to become free from all sinful reactions and to become a devotee of the Lord.
(CC M 16.67) A PURE DEVOTEE CAN PERFORM TASKS NOT EVEN PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED BY THE LORD HIMSELF
“By Your inconceivable energy, You can do whatever You like, and whatever You make Me do, I do without restriction.”
Everything is possible for a pure devotee because he acts under the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Through His inconceivable energy, a pure devotee can perform tasks that are supposed to be very, very difficult. He can perform tasks not even previously performed by the Lord Himself. Therefore Nityānanda Prabhu told Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, ye karāha, sei kari, nāhika niyama: “I do not know by what regulative principle I am carrying out this wonderful work, but I know for certain that I will do whatever You desire.”
(CC M 16.67) THE LORD WANTS TO GIVE ALL CREDIT TO HIS SERVANT, BUT THE SERVANT DOES NOT TAKE ANY CREDIT, FOR HE KNOWS THAT EVERYTHING IS CARRIED OUT BY THE LORD.
Although the Lord wants to give all credit to His devotee, the devotee himself never takes credit, for he acts only under the Lord’s direction. Consequently, all credit goes to the Lord. This is the nature of the relationship between the Lord and His devotee. The Lord wants to give all credit to His servant, but the servant does not take any credit, for he knows that everything is carried out by the Lord.
(CC ANTYA 101 – 114) THE DANCING OF ŚRĪ CAITANYA MAHĀPRABHU & NITYANANDA MAHAPRABHU, CANNOT BE COMPARED TO ANYTHING WITHIN THESE THREE WORLDS.
Lord Nityānanda Prabhu first influenced all the devotees to dance, and finally He Himself began dancing, thus inundating the entire world in ecstatic love. Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was observing the dancing of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu. Nityānanda Prabhu could see this, but the others could not. The dancing of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, like the dancing of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, cannot be compared to anything within these three worlds. No one can properly describe the sweetness of Lord Nityānanda’s dancing. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally comes to see it.
(CC ANTYA 107 -114) ŚRĪ CAITANYA MAHĀPRABHU WOULD EAT AT THE HOUSE OF RĀGHAVA PAṆḌITA.
Lord Nityānanda Prabhu sat down for supper with His personal associates and made a sitting place on His right side for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came there and sat down at His place. Seeing this, Rāghava Paṇḍita felt increasing happiness. Rāghava Paṇḍita brought the prasādam before the two brothers and thereafter distributed prasādam to all the other Vaiṣṇavas. There were varieties of cakes, sweet rice, and fine cooked rice that surpassed the taste of nectar. There were also varieties of vegetables. The food prepared and offered to the Deity by Rāghava Paṇḍita was like the essence of nectar. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came there again and again to eat such prasādam. When Rāghava Paṇḍita offered the food to the Deity after cooking, he would make a separate offering for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Every day, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would eat at the house of Rāghava Paṇḍita. Sometimes He would give Rāghava Paṇḍita the opportunity to see Him.
Chanting, Dancing & Feasting – Don’t take these things ordinarily. It is a transcendental experience. We should all dance when there is kirtan. If someone is not dancing that means they have no life in them.
Maharaj saw Srila Prabhupada dancing three times jumping up and down in ecstasy. Devotees were so ecstatic.
When you go to the Calcutta temple you will see Radha Krsna and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu next to them.
Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Srila Prabhupada comes, Narada muni comes when we are doing class, kirtan and having prasadam. when devotees are eating prasadam they would take one morsel of rice and chant mahamantra for each morsel.
Welcome committee – children book, cookbook, show you the temple…if you treat them like family, later on they want to learn more. You can invite them to your house,
Prasadam has to be first-class – rice, dal, ghee, Spice bar, pickles, condiments…
The culture of opulence. Devotees can see the culture of opulence when they see the deities and they should see it everywhere. Warmth, opulence, welcoming,
It is not to get them to take DYS course or buy a book. Give free children’s books, calendars, cookbooks for mothers, even some mahaprasadam, goodness cookie on the table. A nice bag which has a Vedic cultural center name on it. The more we give the more we receive. We should be givers and not takers.
In Rath yatra I used to cook feast and stay up two nights. One time mayor came… prabhupada was there on the altar. He saw SP and did not blink his eye looking at Srila Prabhupada. He said he never saw someone like that in my life. He thought Srila Prabhupada was really there. When he spoke he said – today I am going to make a confession. All my life I have been a taker. You Hare Krsna’s are givers. PEOPLE SHOULD SEE US AS GIVERS. Why should we be giving because Krishna is the richest and when we are giving it is a sign of love – Dadati prati grhnati…
(CC ANTYA 115 – 124) RĀDHĀRĀṆĪ, PERSONALLY COOKED IN THE HOUSE OF RĀGHAVA PAṆḌITA.
He brought so many presentations that no one could know them perfectly. Indeed, it was a fact that the supreme mother, Rādhārāṇī, personally cooked in the house of Rāghava Paṇḍita.
Srīmatī Rādhārāṇī received from Durvāsā Muni the benediction that whatever She cooked would be sweeter than nectar. That is the special feature of Her cooking.
Aromatic and pleasing to see, the food was the essence of all sweetness. Thus the two brothers, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, ate it with great satisfaction.
All the devotees present requested Raghunātha dāsa to sit down and take prasādam, but Rāghava Paṇḍita told them, “He will take prasādam later.” All the devotees took prasādam, filling themselves to the brim. Thereafter, chanting the holy name of Hari, they stood up and washed their hands and mouths. After eating, the two brothers washed Their hands and mouths. Then Rāghava Paṇḍita brought flower garlands and sandalwood pulp and decorated Them. Rāghava Paṇḍita offered Them betel nuts and worshiped Their lotus feet. He also distributed betel nuts, flower garlands, and sandalwood pulp to the devotees.
(CC ANTYA 122 – 124) RAGHAVA PANDITA OFFERS MAHAPRABHU’S REMNANTS TO RAGHUNATHA DASA
Rāghava Paṇḍita, being very merciful toward Raghunātha dāsa, offered him the dishes with the remnants of food left by the two brothers. He said, “Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has eaten this food. If you take His remnants, you will be released from the bondage of your family.”
The Supreme Personality of Godhead always resides either in the heart or in the home of a devotee. This fact is sometimes hidden and sometimes manifest, for the Supreme Personality of Godhead is fully independent.
(CC ANTYA 6.127 – 6.133) RAGHUNATHA DASA PRAYS FOR NITHYANANDA MAHA PRABHU’S MERCY TO GET THE SHELTER AT THE LOTUS FEET OF LORD CHAITANYA
Raghunātha dāsa went there and worshiped Lord Nityānanda’s lotus feet. Through Rāghava Paṇḍita, he submitted his desire. “I am the lowest of men, the most sinful, fallen and condemned. Nevertheless, I desire to attain shelter at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. “Like a dwarf who wants to catch the moon, I have tried my best many times, but I have never been successful.“Every time I tried to go away and give up my home relationships, my father and mother, unfortunately, kept me bound.“No one can attain the shelter of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu without Your mercy, but if You are merciful, even the lowest of men can attain shelter at His lotus feet. “Although I am unfit and greatly afraid to submit this plea, I nevertheless request You, Sir, to be especially merciful toward me by granting me shelter at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. “Placing Your feet on my head, give me the benediction that I may achieve the shelter of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu without difficulty. I pray for this benediction.”
(CC ANTYA 6.133 – 6.133) Because of the mercy bestowed upon him by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Raghunātha dāsa, although situated in such material happiness, does not like it at all.
After hearing this appeal by Raghunātha dāsa, Lord Nityānanda Prabhu smiled and told all the devotees, “Raghunātha dāsa’s standard of material happiness is equal to that of Indra, the King of heaven. “Because of the mercy bestowed upon him by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Raghunātha dāsa, although situated in such material happiness, does not like it at all. Therefore let every one of you be merciful toward him and give him the benediction that he may very soon attain shelter at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. “One who experiences the fragrance of the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa does not value even the standard of happiness available in Brahmaloka, the topmost planet. And what to speak of heavenly happiness? ‘Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is offered sublime, poetic prayers by those trying to attain His favor. Thus He is known as Uttamaśloka. Being very eager to gain the association of Lord Kṛṣṇa, King Bharata, although in the prime of youth, gave up his very attractive wife, affectionate children, most beloved friends and opulent kingdom, exactly as one gives up stool after excreting it.’ ”Then Lord Nityānanda Prabhu called Raghunātha dāsa near Him, placed His lotus feet upon Raghunātha dāsa’s head and began to speak. “My dear Raghunātha dāsa,” He said, “since you arranged the feast on the bank of the Ganges, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came here just to show you His mercy.
(CC ANTYA 6.145 – 6.156) RAGHUNATHA DASA ONE HUNDRED GOLD COINS AND ABOUT SEVEN TOLĀS OF GOLD INTO THE HAND OF NITYĀNANDA PRABHU’S TREASURER.
After taking leave of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu and then all the other Vaiṣṇavas, Śrī Raghunātha dāsa consulted secretly with Rāghava Paṇḍita. After consulting with Rāghava Paṇḍita, he secretly delivered one hundred gold coins and about seven tolās of gold into the hand of Nityānanda Prabhu’s treasurer. Raghunātha dāsa admonished the treasurer, “Do not speak about this to Lord Nityānanda Prabhu now, but when He returns home, kindly inform Him about this presentation. With great humility, Raghunātha dāsa placed one hundred gold coins and about two tolās of gold before Rāghava Paṇḍita for all the other devotees. After taking dust from the feet of Rāghava Paṇḍita, Raghunātha dāsa returned to his home, feeling greatly obligated to Lord Nityānanda Prabhu because of having received His merciful benediction. From that day on, he did not go into the interior section of the house. Instead, he would sleep on the Durgā-maṇḍapa [the place where mother Durgā was worshiped]. There, however, the watchmen alertly kept guard. Raghunātha dāsa was thinking of various means by which to escape their vigilance.