Yesterday was the auspicious appearance day of Lord Nityananda. The celebration was relatively small in numbers compared to other festivals I have participated in here at the temple. However, the spirit was fierce and the women were pulling out dance moves only Lord Nityananda himself could have inspired.
Who is Lord Nityananda? With my neophyte understanding, I will give a brief bio. Lord Nityanada is an incarnation of Lord Balarama, who is the first expansion of Krsna and is the manifestation of Krsna's eternal energy. The spiritual master or Guru is also an incarnation of Lord Balarama along with any tool used in Krsna's service (ie. mrdanga (drum), conchshell, this computer?). It is said in the Vedas that one cannot approach Krsna without the mercy of Guru. The mercy of Guru and Krsna's devotees is actually greater than the mercy of Krsna, thus yesterday's celebration was an acknowledgment of the unlimited mercy and selflessness of Guru and Vaisnava, both transcendental tools used for Krsna's service.
The last part of this post is a song glorifying Lord Nityananda. Varsana Swami once said that Srila Prabhupada could barely contain his emotions when hearing the bhajans of Srila Narottama das Thakur. In efforts to distinguish absolute knowledge from sentimental rituals, Maharaja explains the rarity of Prabhupada's external, emotional outpourings. Thus, I have taken to learning the many bajans of Narottama Das Thakur.
The first song in this bajan compares the lotus feet of Lord Nityanada to the soothing of millions of moons. I request that everyone stand under the upcoming full moon and meditate on its beauty and personality. Multiply this feeling by ten, then one hundred, then one thousand, then one million! and only then might we conceive of the mercy Lord Nityanada has to offer us. Attachment to his lotus feet can deliver one from the ocean of material suffering, of repeated action and reaction, and, ultimately, of repeated birth and death.
I love the analogy of lotus feet. Feet play an incredible role in Krsna consciousness. Feet represent devotional service, the path of bhakti or liberation for all devotees. One shows respect for a senior Vaisnava by bowing at his feet or touching his feet and collecting the dust. This is kind of like the ol' analogy of walking a thousand miles in another's shoes. Senior devotees have so many years of experience along with miles and miles of transcendental adventures guided by pure devotional service. So if we aspire to have a similar understanding, we bow down at their lotus feet and beg for their association and mercy.
The lotus is also rich with symbology. The lotus flower is rooted in thick mud and swampy muck. Yet, its stem touches the surface, a bud pops and eventually manifests into a strikingly beautiful, thousand-petaled flower. Thus, through the process of service, one can be delivered from the most abominable situations and still perfect their lives, exhibiting unlimited qualities. Also, once the lotus flower has bloomed, any drop of mud that should happen to splash on her petals, immediatly glides off, as is the purity of one firmly situated in Krsna consciousness.
The last few days I have been helping out the all-pure madre Santendriya. She is making a diarama of the Panca Tattva, Lord Caitanya and his associates. She is using my filthy feet as the model. I find this hilarious. Talk about unqualified. I mean of all the exhalted devotees living in this community, she is using my stinkin' feet. Lord Nityanada, have mercy on us!
Teachings to the Mind by Srila Narottama das Thakur
(1)
nitai-pada-kamala, koti-candra-susitala
je chayay jagata juray
heno nitai bine bhai, radha-krsna paite nai
drdha kori' dharo nitair pay
The lotus feet of Lord Nityananda are a shelter where one will get the soothing moonlight not only of one, but of millions of moons. If the world wants to have real peace, it should take shelter of Lord Nityänanda. Unless one takes shelter under the shade of the lotus feet of Lord Nityänanda, it will be very difficult for him to approach Radha-Krsna. If one actually wants to enter into the dancing party of Radha-Krsna, he must firmly catch hold of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda.
(2)
se sambandha nahi ja'r, brtha janma gelo ta'r
sei pasu boro duracar
nitai na bolilo mukhe, majilo samsara-sukhe
vidya-kule ki koribe tar
Anyone who has not established his relationship with Nityananda Prabhu is understood to have spoiled his valuable human birth. Such a human being is actually an uncontrollable animal. Because he never uttered the holy name of Nityananda, he has become merged into so-called material happiness. What can his useless education and family tradition do to help him?
(3)
ahankare matta hoiya, nitai-pada pasariya
asatyere satya kori mani
nitaiyer koruna habe, braje radha-krsna pabe
dharo nitai-carana du'khani
Being maddened after false prestige and identification with the body, one is thinking, Oh, what is Nityananda? What can He do for me? I don't care. The result is that he is accepting something false to be truth. If you actually want to approach the association of Radha-Krsna, you must first achieve the mercy of Lord Nityananda. When He is merciful toward you, then you will be able to approach Radha-Krsna. Therefore you should firmly grasp the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda.
(4)
nitaiyer carana satya, tahara sevaka nitya
nitai-pada sada koro asa
narottama boro dukhi, nitai more koro sukhi
rakho ranga-caranera pasa
The lotus feet of Nityananda are not illusion; they are a fact. One who engages in the transcendental loving service of Nityananda is also transcendental. Always try to catch the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda. This Narottama däsa is very unhappy, therefore I am praying to Lord Nityananda to make me happy. My dear Lord, please keep me close to Your lotus feet.
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