Nityananda: Encyclopedia - Nityananda

Nityananda

Nityananda (Bangla: শ্রী নিত্যানন্দ) (b 1474 CE) was a Vaishnavite saint. His importance in Vaishnavism, and especialy Gaudiya Vaishnavism in Bengal, is central. Nityananda was Chaitanya's friend, disciple and spiritual mate. They are often mentioned together as Gaura-Nitai (Gaura, "golden one", referreing to Chaitanya) or Nimai-Nitai (Nimai referring to Chaitanya). Followers often refer to Nityananda as Sri Nityananda, Prabhu Nityananda or Nityananda Rama.

Nityananda - Life

Nityananda was born in Ekacakra, a small village in present West Bengal, around the year 1474. He was born to a religious Brahmin family. His devotion and great talent for singing Vaishnavite hymns were apparent at an early age.

At 13, Nityananda is said to have left home with a travelling sannyasi Lakshmipati Tirtha, apparently at Tirtha's request. This started Nityananda's long physical and spiritual journey through India which would get him in contact with important Gurus of the Vaishnava tradition. 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. Ishvara Puri was the spiritual master of Chaitanya and that was another link that brought them together.

Nityananda met Chaitanya in 1506, when He was 32 years old and Chaitanya 20. Vaishnava tradition has it that their meeting was tearful and filled with ecstasy of meeting soulmates after a long time. They would later be revered as brothers, Chaitanya an incarnation of Krishna and Nityananda of Balarama.

Nityananda - 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 this a traditional Vaishnavite version in a nutshell: Once while chanting the name of Krishna in the streets, Nityananda was attacked by Jagai and Madhai, two irreverent drunk brothers. 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. Nityananda begged him to pardon them and they became Chaitanya's disciples, converted by Nityananda's compassion.

Nityananda - Legacy

The exploits of Chaitanya and Nityanada 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. 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.

Interestingly, there is evidence that Nityanada influenced the Baul movement, which is a religious movement not part of, though related to Vaishnavism (which considers it an apasampradaya, a false tradition). Baul tradition has it that Nityananda sent his son Virabhadra to be the disciple of Madhad Bibi, a muslim. Under the tutelage of Madhad Bibi and Aul Chand, another muslim, Virabhadra is said to have establshed the Baul movement.

The following segment from Baul literature describes Nityananda asking his son to go to be a disciple of Madhab Bibi:

Shighoro kori jao tumi Madina Shohore
Tothay giya shikkha lou Madhab Bibi'r Shone
Tahar shorire Prabhu achhe bortomane

Translation:
Go posthaste to the City of Madina
There do study with Madhab Bibi
The Lord himself lives in him

Categories: Vaishnavism | Bengali people | Gaudiya religious figures

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Nityananda", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki