SRI CAITANYA BHAGAVATA

Madhya Lila Chapter 12


All glory to Lord Visvambhara, the Lord and master of all the Vaisnavas. Please give us devotional service to You and make us Your surrendered devotees.

Lord Nityananda performed many wonderful pastimes with Lord Caitanya in Navadvipa. Lord Nityananda did innumerable extraordinary deeds engrossed in the ecstasy of love of Krsna. Like a little boy, He went about His work with simple enthusiasm.

He always spoke very sweetly to all the devotees He met. He danced, laughed and sang to Himself in bliss. Sometimes moved to outbursts of ecstasy, He roared loudly, astonishing one and all.

He sometimes jumped in, and swam fearlessly and carefree in the crocodile infested swelling, hissing monsoon waters of the Ganga. Everyone gasped with concern, but Lord Nityananda swam about in the waters, laughing and splashing. He swam about in the mood of Lord Ananta Sesa, feeling completely at home in the waters of the Ganga. Meanwhile, the spectator devotees held their breath in anxiety.

At times, Lord Nityananda became so surcharged with ecstasy in love of Krsna that He went into an unconscious trance for three or four days. These are some of the inconceivable pastimes of the Lord. They are endless and eternal; I am incapable of describing them all.

One day, Lord Caitanya was sitting alone when Lord Nityananda came to Him completely naked chuckling like a child. His eyes and pure face were twinkling, and tears of limitless joy cascaded down His cheeks. He went about repeating like loud peals of thunder this sentence, "My Lord and master is Nimai Pandita of Nadia."

Lord Caitanya smiled, amused at the sight of Lord Nityananda's large, brilliant, beautifully formed, and completely bare frame. Hastily, Lord Caitanya removed the cloth from His own head, and wrapped it around Nitai, but continued to chuckle as if nothing had happened.

Lord Caitanya then smeared perfume on Nitai's body, decorated Him with a flower garland, and began to glorify Him: "Your name is Nityananda, and so Your form and demeanor is always eternally blissful. You are Nityananda now, as You were Balarama before. No one can interrupt the ecstatic unlimited joy You experience, as Your name suggests, in everything You do; whether walking, eating or otherwise. Ordinary men cannot appreciate Your transcendental potencies. You are always to be found where Lord Krsna is present. Krsna is eternal and is the Absolute Truth; and so are You, since You are His eternal associate."

Lord Nityananda is perpetually relishing the nectar of loving devotion to Lord Caitanya. All His words and deeds are fulfilling Lord Caitanya's innermost(?) desire. Lord Caitanya said to Him, "For so long, I have had one unfulfilled desire: I would like to have Your karpin loin cloth dress". Saying this, He went and brought Nitai's karpin, then tore it into many long strips.

The Lord then distributed these strips, one by one, to the assembled Vaisnavas. The Lord told them, "Place it on your heads. These are most precious worshipable objects even to Lord Siva, the king of the Yogis; what to speak about others. One attains the exalted position of becoming a pure devotee of the Supreme Lord only by Nityananda's grace. All of you should know that He is the embodiment of Lord Krsna's full transcendental potencies.

"Lord Nityananda is identical to, and is the immediate expansion of Lord Krsna. He is an eternal associate, friend and brother to Krsna. He expands Himself as Krsna's bed, ornaments and other such paraphernalia(?). His character and pastimes are a mystery even in the Vedic literatures, although He is everyone's maintainer, protector and friend. All His activities are full of devotional nectar to Lord Krsna. It is easy to attain the highest perfection of love of Krsna by serving Him. So all of you, place these strips from His karpin on Your heads, and go home and worship it with care and regard."

The Vaisnavas wrapped the karpin strips lovingly around their heads, following Lord Caitanya's instruction. Again Lord Caitanya spoke, "Listen, all you devotees! Now drink the water that has washed the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda. This will immediately imbibe(?) your unfaltering faith in Lord Krsna's devotional service. Of this there is no doubt.

Having received Lord Caitanya's instructions, the devotees washed Lord Nityananda's lotus feet, and drank the water. They drank as much as possible, five times, ten times and more. Lord Nityananda, who was throughout the entire episode engrossed within Himself, remained smiling benignly.

Lord Caitanya sat down and began to distribute this water (padodaka) with utmost pleasure. The devotees drank and became intoxicated, chanting, "Hari, Hari." The devotees each expressed their joy. Someone said, "Today was the fulfillment of my life." Yet another said, "All the bonds of my material entanglement were servered today." Another commented, "Today I feel I have become a servant of Lord Krsna." Still another voice said, "This water is so relishable; its sweet taste still lingers in my mouth".

This water was so unique that immediately upon drinking everyone became spiritually excited. Some danced. Some began to sing. Others started rolling on the ground; while still others could not stop roaring out loud in joy.

Just then, a jubilant kirtana started up; some devotees sang Krsna songs and others began to dance. In a moment, Lord Caitanya rose up and, letting out a thunderous cry, joined in the dance. Meanwhile, Nityananda Prabhu also stood up and started dancing. Unable to contain their joy, the devotees encircled both their Lordships, and continued their ecstatic dancing and jostling.

They were intoxicated with joy. Falling on each other, they played little games, touching each others' feet and smearing their heads with the dust. Some hung on to the others' neck, sobbing happily. They all mingled happily. Forgetting the mood of reverence, the Lord and His servants all danced together. Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda embraced each other ever so often, and danced with blissful gestures. Mother earth trembled under the rhythmic dancing of Lord Nityananda, and the whole world resounded with, "Hari Hari".

Drowned in the nectarine ocean of love of Godhead, Gaura and Nitai, the Lords of Vaikuntha, danced in ecstasy with Their servitors. All these pastimes are endless. They simply became manifest at a certain time and place, and then again became non-manifest. This is clearly explained in the Vedas.

After dancing the whole day, Lord Caitanya finally sat down with all His devotees. He clapped thrice loudly and then spoke benignly, "Whoever worships Lord Nityananda in loving devotion, loves Me also. His lotus feet are worshiped by Lord Siva and Lord Balarama; hence always offer your love and devotion to Him.

"If anyone is critical of Him or dislikes Him, then even if they are a devotee, they are rejected by Me. Whoever has even so much as received a slight touch of Lord Nityananda, Lord Krsna will never forsake him." Lord Caitanya's words brought resounding applause from all the devotees.

Whosoever hears these transcendental narrations, with faith and devotion, becomes protected and maintained by Lord Caitanya. Such activities of Lord Nityananda Prabhu are fully understood by only those who are His confidential associates and the eternal associates of Lord Caitanya.

Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya and Lord Nityananda Prabhu are my life and soul.

I, Vrndavana Dasa, offer this song at Their lotus feet.

Next Chapter