<Prev |  Next>

After the Narasimha Ãvesha (manifestation of Lord Narasimha in Mahaprabhu), many other incarnations (of Lord Vishnu) began to manifest in Nimayi’s body and at those times, Nimayi would possess the respective attributes of those incarnations.

Once when Murari Gupta, an upasaka of Varaha (the Boar incarnation of Lord Vishnu) was performing his puja, Prabhu heard his hymn on Varaha. Immediately Varaha manifested (‘ãvesha’) in him. He started calling out “Sookaram! Sookaram!” (Boar! Boar!) loudly and placing his palms on the ground, walked like a Boar and entered Murari Gupta's Puja room. He rolled a huge water pot with his chin as he walked about. He said, “Murari! Praise Me with hymns!”

With folded hands, Murari Gupta said, “Prabhu! While even the Vedas and Shastras struggle to describe Your glory entirely, an ordinary mortal that I am, how am I to praise You?” Immediately Mahaprabhu said, “Murari! Perform Nãma Sankirtan fearlessly. I shall destroy anyone who obstructs it. I shall uplift this world through Nãma Sankirtan” and fell down in a swoon. As the Ãvesha slowly subsided, he regained consciousness and went home as though nothing had happened. Thus, with many such Bhãvãs, he thrilled his devotees with joy and spent his days in Krishna Kirtan.

Once, in the midst of Hari Nãma Sankirtan, he suddenly exclaimed, “Soon, a Mahapurusha (a great Avatar) is going to come to Nadiya, through whom Hari Nãma Kirtan would spread to every nook and corner of Nadiya. The devotees felt elated at this because whatever Mahaprabhu said forcefully in the midst of Nãma Sankirtan always came to be true. Following this, in the midst of Nãma Sankirtan after four or five days, Prabhu again declared, “The Mahapurusha, who is my elder brother, my best friend, the one closely related to me and everything to me, indeed, has arrived in Nadiya as an Avadhoota (a wandering unclad Saint). Search for him and bring him here”. Soon everyone went in search of the ‘Avadhoota”. This Mahapurusha was in fact the famous Nityananda, also called Nitayi, who was known as the elder brother of Nimayi.

Nityananda was born as the eldest son of the couple Hatayi Oja and Padmavati. While he was in his mother’s womb she had a divine dream in which a great saint told her, “This son born to you will become a great saint and will spread Krishna Kirtan in this world!”

Even as a child, Nityananda was very brilliant and spent his time in enacting the lilas (divine plays) of Rama and Krishna. Once when he was enacting Lakshmana’s role he really fell unconscious hit by the arrow of the boy playing the role of Indrajit. He did not rise and all efforts to wake him up were in vain. Soon, the clever boy who acted as Rama called the one acting as Hanuman and asked him to bring a big stone, which would resemble the Sanjeevani mountain and held it close to Nityananda’s nose to smell it. Only after this did Nityananda wake up!

Once, a Sanyasi who had come to Hatayi Pundit’s home and had accepted his hospitality, asked for Nityananda to be sent along with him for Theerthayatra (pilgrimage). After taking a long time to decide, Hatayi gave away his son, who was as dear as his life, to the Sanyasi fearing his wrath. Nityananda started along with the sanyasi without any reservation. He never returned to his family.

Nityananda went around the whole of India on pilgrimage along with the ascetic. During this period, he also met Sri Madhavendrapuri and by his grace, developed devotion to Krishna. Later, they reached the land of Vraja. There are no further details about this Sanyasi. During his stay at Vraja, Nityananda, having heard about the advent of Sri Krishna Chandra (Krishna, the moon - as delightful as the moon), Mahaprabhu, in Navadweep, came all the way to Navadweep. Knowing this by his omniscience, Mahaprabhu sent his devotees in search of Nityananda. Even after a long and serious search, Srivas Pundit and Haridas were unable to locate the Avadhoota Mahapurusha. They reported to Mahaprabhu, “We have not left even a single corner of Navadweep unsearched. We have also searched the houses of people known to us. The Mahapurusha that you referred to is not to be found!”

With a smile, Mahaprabhu said, “I had a dream yesterday that he has already come here. Come! Let us search together once more”, and Prabhu himself started walking swiftly straight into the house of Pundit Nandanacharya. There they found a very radiant and handsome person seated in Padmasana (the Lotus posture). Mahaprabhu prostrated before him along with devotees and sat in a corner of the house in silence. That Mahapurusha, none other than Nityananda, gazed at Mahaprabhu without winking his eyes. Mahaprabhu, too, decided to show the greatness of Nityananda, to his devotees. He instructed Srivas Pundit to recite any hymn in praise of the Lord. Srivas Pundit began reciting Mahaprabhu’s favourite verse “Barhapeetam natavaravapuh” from the Bhagavatam, with great devotion.

What great devotional fervour this sloka would have caused to Nityananda, which had drowned even the greatest of Avadhootas, Sri Sukadeva, in ecstacy! Immdiately on hearing this verse Nityananda swooned. Prabhu wanted this sloka to be repeated again. This time, Nityananda made a loud cry (‘hunkãram’ - Hum! Sound). The hairs stood stiff on his body while tears flowed profusely from his eyes; the whole body got drenched in sweat. He began dancing like a madman. Immediaely, Prabhu embraced Nityananda and both the Mahapurushas cried aloud, “Ha! Krishna! Ha! Krishna!” with tears in their eyes. Nitayi fell unconscious over Nimayi. After a short while, Nimayi whispered softly, “Sripada! (A reverential address to a great personality) We are all blessed by your darshan today. It is your grace, indeed, that we have seen you!”

Nityananda said, “I journeyed from one place to another desiring the vision of Krishna. I went to all the sacred rivers, holy places and great temples and found the Peetams (throne) of the deities in those temples empty. People called me a fool when I enquired where the deity was. Some were silent while others were surprised. I went round searching for a long time. A certain devotee said that Lord Krishna had manifested himself in Navadweep and is spreading Nãma Sankirtan. I reached Navadweep on learning this. Sri Krishna has gracefully given me his darshan. He has to accept me at his Holy Feet!” and fell at the feet of Mahaprabhu like a rootless tree.

Mahaprabhu lifted him and embracing him said, “In fact, You are the form of the Lord yourself! Why are you praising me? I am an ordinary person.” The devotees stood frozen witnessing all these. Murari Gupta and Srivas Pundit said to each other, “It is not known who is the greater of the two!” It became impossible to describe the silent language spoken by the eyes of the two great holy men. Mahaprabhu acknowledged Nityananda’s self-surrender and accepted him as his elder brother.

Later, everyone went to Srivas Pundit’s house and began Nãma Sankirtan. With great enthusiasm they cried aloud “Haribol! Haribol!” as a sign of celebration of Nityananda’s arrival. Gauranga and Nityananda danced to the tune of the Lord Hari’s Nãma Sankirtan, being oblivious to everything around including their bodies. This scene was beyond description. The devotees lost their awareness of the world and the playing of the instruments stopped. Moreover, the instruments slipped from their hands. Everybody stood rooted to the ground steeped in devotion as they saw Nimayi and Nitayi dance around.

Mahaprabhu took Nityananda to his house and said to Sachi mata, “Mother! Look! Your Viswaroopa has come back!” The mother, too, looked upon him as her own elder son Viswaroopa.

Nityananda stayed in Srivas Pundit’s house, as a son to him and his wife, giving them the joy of being his parents. He was very mischievous by nature and behaved like a child. Srivas Pundit and his wife Malini Devi fondled him, as they would do their own child. Nityananda considered Mahaprabhu as his everything. Prabhu, too, looked upon Nitayi as his elder brother and showered his love on him.

<Prev |  Next>

Home • e-MM • Contact

Radhe Krishna