Prayers of Praise for
⎯ NITÄI ⎯
⎯ Presented by Çrématé Däsé and team
ISKCON, Çré Våndävana Dhäma
tomära kåpä vinä keha ’caitanya’ nä päya
tumi kåpä kaile täìre adhameha päya
O Nityänanda Räma! No one can attain the shelter of Çré Caitanya
Mahäprabhu without Your mercy, but if You are merciful, even the
lowest of men can attain shelter at His lotus feet.
⎯ Çréla Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé, CC Antya 6.131
CONTENTS
1. Gauracandra Glorifies His Nitäi-------------------------------------------------1
2. Çréla Prabhupäda Glorifies All-Merciful Nitäi--------------------------------7
3. Çré Nityänandäñöaka----------------------------------------------------------------9
4. Çré Nityänanda-Mälä-añöaka------------------------------------------------------11
5. Oh Çré Nityänanda Räma, Please Teach Me to Dance as You Do---------12
Gauracandra Glorifies His Nitäi
(Excerpts from Çréla Våndävana däsa Öhäkura’s Çré Caitanya-bhägavata)
Çré Nityänanda Räma Arrives in Nadia
When Gauracandra’s servants finally recognized Him as their eternal master, their
hearts became filled with bliss. Then they no longer feared the atheists, and they
freely and loudly chanted the names of Kåñëa at all public places. In the company of
their Lord, all the devotees happily engaged day and night in chanting the Holy
Name. All His devotees were now together in Nadia — all except Nityänanda.
Viçvambhara constantly remembered Nityänanda and was unhappy because of His
brother’s absence. And Nityänanda, who is nondifferent from Ananta, could
understand this.
Nityänanda also understood that the Lord had now manifested His true identity. He
had been waiting in Våndävana for this moment. And now that it had come, He
immediately went to Navadvépa, where He stayed at the house of Nandana Äcärya.
Nandana Äcärya was a mahä-bhägavata. He saw that the bodily effulgence of
Nityänanda was equal to that of the sun. Nityänanda appeared as a great avadhüta
with a very large body. He was always grave and most sober and He chanted the
names of Kåñëa day and night. He was the abode of Lord Caitanya, incomparable
within the three worlds. Sometimes He roared loudly in His own ecstasy and
sometimes He appeared greatly intoxicated, just like an incarnation of Balaräma.
His attractive face defeated the beauty of millions of moons, and His enchanting
smile was the life and soul of the universe. The effulgence of His teeth defeated that
of pearls, and His two broad reddish eyes increased the beauty of His face. His hands
stretched down to His knees, and His chest was high. His two soft lotus feet were
graceful and expert in movement. He always spoke to everyone with great
compassion. Merely by hearing the words from His lotus mouth everyone’s material
bondage was destroyed.
When this Lord Nityänanda arrived in Nadia, inexplicable joy was felt all over the
world.
— Madhya-khanda 3.55-59, 122-132
1
Viçvambhara Dreams of Nitäi’s Arrival
When Viçvambhara understood that Nityänanda had arrived, He became
unlimitedly joyful at heart.
The Lord told everyone, “Today I have seen something wonderful in a dream. A
chariot adorned by a flag marked with a palm tree arrived at My doorstep. This
transcendental chariot itself is expert in bestowing the essential goal of life upon
everyone. Within this chariot I saw someone with a huge body. He held a rod over
His shoulder and His movements were unsteady.
In His left hand He carried a waterpot wrapped with cane. He was dressed in blue
garments and His head was decorated with a blue turban. His left ear was decorated
with a charming earring. By His characteristics I could understand that He was none
other than Haladhara. He repeatedly inquired, maybe ten or twenty times, ‘Is this
the house of Nimäi Paëòita?’
“He was dressed like an avadhüta and appeared to be most powerful. Never before
have I seen such a personality. I was filled with respect upon seeing Him and asked,
‘Oh great personality, who are You?’
“He smiled and said, ‘I am Your brother. Tomorrow We will meet.’
“I became most pleased by hearing His words, and I considered Myself to be one at
heart with Him.
“Oh my dear devotees! It appears to Me that some great personality has arrived in
Nadia. I previously informed you that we would soon meet a very great personality.
“O Haridäsa! O Çréväsa! Go immediately and find out who has come.”
Accepting the order of their Lord, these two mahä-bhägavatas happily searched
throughout Navadvépa.
— Madhya-khanda 3.137, 141-150, 158-161
2
Haridäsa and Çréväsa Search for Nitäi but Only
Gauracandra Can Find Him
On the order of their Lord, the two mahä-bhägavatas happily searched throughout
Navadvépa. While searching in this way, they confided to each other, “Maybe Lord
Saìkarñaëa has come.”
Overwhelmed in ecstasy, the two looked all over Nadia for nine hours without
finding anyone who matched Gauracandra’s description. They then returned to their
Lord and said, “We haven’t found anyone new, or anyone with such special external
features. We have searched all over Navadvépa for nine hours — at the residences
of Vaiñëavas, sannyäsés, and gåhasthas — we even went to the houses of atheists
who are envious of the Vaiñëavas. We have searched everywhere except the villages
outside of Navadvépa.”
Gauracandra smiled as He heard their report. By this pastime He revealed that
Nityänanda is most confidential. One can see Him only when Lord Caitanya reveals
Him. Devotees like Çréväsa certainly know the truth regarding Nityänanda, but for
some curious reason they still could not find Him.
After a while the Lord smiled and said, “Everyone come with Me to see Him.” And
all the devotees happily followed their Lord while repeatedly chanting, “Jaya Kåñëa,
Jaya Kåñëa!”
Çré Gaurasundara led all the devotees directly to the house of Nandana Äcärya.
Sitting there was a great jewel-like personality. Everyone saw that His effulgence
was like that of millions of suns. No one could understand His internal mood, but
He was obviously absorbed in happiness from His meditation and He continually
smiled. Understanding His pure devotional mood, Viçvambhara and the devotees
offered Him obeisances. Everyone then simply stood there looking at Him in awe
and reverence without speaking a word. After some time, Viçvambhara stepped
directly in front of Nityänanda, who immediately recognized the Lord of His life.
— Madhya-khanda 3.161-168, 171, 173-181
3
Nitäi Recognizes His Eternal Lord
The form of Viçvambhara was as attractive as that of Cupid. He was decorated with
divine sandalwood pulp, flower garlands, and beautiful garments. As He stood in
front of Nityänanda, Nityänanda recognized His worshipable Lord. He became
stunned in ecstasy as He stared at the beautiful form of Viçvambhara. He appeared
to be licking that exquisite form with His tongue, drinking it with His eyes,
embracing it with His arms, and smelling it with His nose. In this way, Nityänanda
became stunned — He neither spoke, nor did anything. Everyone there was
astonished and didn’t know what to do. And so Lord Gauräìga, the life and soul of
all, devised a clever means to reveal the identity of Nityänanda.
The Lord indicated to Çréväsa that he should recite a verse from Çrémad
Bhägavatam. Understanding the Lord’s gesture, Çréväsa Paëòita immediately
recited a verse in glorification of Kåñëa’s characteristics. “Wearing a peacock
feather ornament upon His head, blue karëikära flowers on His ears, a yellow
garment as brilliant as gold, and the Vaijayanté garland, Lord Kåñëa exhibited His
transcendental form as the greatest of dancers as He entered the forest of
Våndävana, beautifying it with the marks of His footprints. He filled the holes of His
flute with the nectar of His lips, and the cowherd boys sang His glories.”
As soon as Nityänanda heard this verse, He fell to the ground unconscious. When
He lost consciousness in ecstasy, Gauräìga instructed Çréväsa to continue reciting.
Hearing such verses for quite some time, Nityänanda finally regained His
consciousness and began to cry. His transcendental madness increased as He heard
the continual recitation of verses and He roared so loudly that the sound pierced the
universe. He suddenly jumped into the air and fell forcefully to the ground. Everyone
there thought that His bones were smashed. What to speak of others, even the
Vaiñëavas were frightened. They fervently prayed, “O Kåñëa, please protect Him!”
As Nityänanda rolled on the ground, His entire body became wet with tears of love.
He sighed deeply while looking at the face of Viçvambhara. His heart was full of
ecstasy, and He repeatedly laughed loudly. One moment He danced, one moment He
bowed down, one moment He clapped His hands, and one moment He jumped
wonderfully high with His feet together.
Seeing His amazing ecstatic madness in love of Kåñëa, Gauracandra and all the
Vaiñëavas began to cry in ecstasy. Nityänanda’s ecstasy knew no limits and when
all the Vaiñëavas failed to hold Him still, Viçvambhara personally took Him in His
arms. As soon as Nityänanda was taken onto Viçvambhara’s lap, He surrendered
His life to His beloved Lord and became motionless. He surrendered His life to whom
it belonged and remained inert in His lap, although floating in the waters of
Caitanya’s love. Just as Lakñmaëa remained in the lap of Rämacandra after being
4
hit by the çakti-çela arrow, Nityänanda lost consciousness due to being hit by the
arrow of ecstatic love. Holding Nityänanda on His lap, Gauracandra began to cry
uncontrollably.
— Madhya-khanda 3.182, 4.1-24
5
Gauracandra Glorifies His Nitäi
As Nityänanda and Gauracandra gazed at each other, They did not speak a word.
Tears flowed freely from Their eyes and flooded the earth. They were simply
absorbed in the happiness of seeing each other.
Viçvambhara said, “Today is an aupicious day for Me, for I have personally seen
pure devotional service, which is the essence of the four Vedas. I understand that
You are the full potency of Godhead. Only by worshiping You can a living entity
attain devotional service to Kåñëa. You are able to purify the fourteen worlds. Your
confidential characteristics are inconceivable and unfathomable. Who is qualified to
recognize You, for You are the personified wealth of kåñëa-prema. If a person
associates with You for even a moment, he will be delivered even if he has committed
millions of sinful activities. I have now understood that Kåñëa will deliver Me,
because He has given Me Your association. By some great good fortune I have seen
Your lotus feet. Just by worshiping You I will achieve the wealth of love for Kåñëa.”
Lord Gauräìga was fully absorbed as He incessantly offered such heartfelt
prayers to Nityänanda.
The greatly overwhelmed Nityänanda then reciprocated with His Lord by displaying
the mentality of a child. He spoke with the restlessness of a young boy. He
understood that Gauracandra was His eternal master, and so He folded His hands
and humbly spoke. He was very embarrassed hearing the Lord glorify Him, and so
He very tactfully countered the Lord’s statements.
Nityänanda said, “I have visited many holy places and seen various sites connected
with Lord Kåñëa. But I could only see the place, I could not see Kåñëa. Then I
inquired from some responsible people why all the altars in the temples were empty.
I asked them, ‘O brothers, where has Kåñëa gone?’
“They said, ‘Kåñëa has gone to Gauòa-deça. He returned just a few days ago from
His visit to Gayä.’
“I heard that in Nadia there is extensive congregational chanting of Lord Hari’s
glories. Someone said, ‘Lord Näräyaëa has taken birth there.’ I have also heard that
even very sinful people are delivered in Navadvépa, therefore I, being most sinful,
have come here to receive Your mercy.”
In reply Gaurasundara gently said with a smile, “We are all very fortunate to have
a great devotee like You among us. We consider that today our lives have become
successful for we have seen Your flowing tears of prema.”
— Madhya-khanda 4.32-34, 37-43, 46-56
6
Çréla Prabhupäda Glorifies
All-Merciful Nitäi
(Excerpts from Çréla Prabhupäda’s life-giving commentary on
Çréla Narottama Däsa Öhäkura’s famous nitäi-pada kamala bhajana)
Please Take Shelter of Lord Nityänanda
Çréla Narottama Däsa Öhäkura advises that nitäi-pada, the lotus feet of Lord
Nityänanda (kamala means "lotus," and pada means "feet"), are a shelter where one
will get the soothing moonlight not only of one, but of millions of moons. We can just
imagine the aggregate total value of the soothing shine of millions of moons. In this
material world (jagat), which is progressing toward hell, there is always a blazing fire,
and everyone is struggling hard without finding peace; therefore, if the world wants to
have real peace, it should take shelter under the lotus feet of Lord Nityänanda, which
are cooling like the shining of a million moons. Juräya means "relief." If one actually
wants relief from the struggle of existence and actually wants to extinguish the
blazing fire of material pangs, Narottama däsa Öhäkura advises, "Please take
shelter of Lord Nityänanda."
By His Mercy We Can Attain Çré Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa
What will be the result of accepting the shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Nityänanda?
Çréla Narottama Däsa Öhäkura says, heno nitäi bine bhäi: unless one takes shelter
under the shade of the lotus feet of Lord Nityänanda, rädhä-kåñëa päite näi ⎯ it
will be very difficult for him to approach Rädhä-Kåñëa. The aim of this Kåñëa
consciousness movement is to enable us to approach Rädhä-Kåñëa and associate with
the Supreme Lord in His sublime pleasure dance. Narottama däsa Öhäkura advises that
if one actually wants to enter into the dancing party of Rädhä-Kåñëa, he must accept
the shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Nityänanda.
Please Don’t Spoil This Precious Gift of Human Life
Then Çréla Narottama Däsa Öhäkura says, se sambandha nähi Sambandha means
"connection" or "contact." Anyone who has not contacted a relationship with
Nityänanda is understood to have spoiled his human birth. In another song also,
Narottama däsa says, hari hari bifale janama goìäinu: anyone who does not
approach Rädhä-Kåñëa through a relationship with Nityänanda has uselessly
spoiled his life. Båthä means "useless," janma means "life," tä'r means "his," and
sambandha means "relationship." Anyone who does not make a relationship with
Nityänanda is simply spoiling the boon of his human form of life. Why is he spoiling
7
it? Sei paçu boro duräcär. Sei means "that," paçu means "animal," and duräcär means
"misbehaved" or "the most misbehaved." Without elevation to Kåñëa consciousness
through the mercy of Lord Caitanya and Nityänanda, life is simply spoiled in the
animal propensities of sense gratification.
Nothing Temporary Can Give Permanent Shelter
So what are they doing? Nitäi nä bolilo mukhe. Since they do not know who
Nityänanda is, they never say the names of Lord Nityänanda and Lord Caitanya.
Majilo saàsära-sukhe. Majilo means "becomes absorbed." They become absorbed in
so-called material enjoyment. They don't care who Lord Caitanya and Nityänanda are,
and therefore they go deep down into material existence. Vidyä-kule ki koribe tär: if
one has no connection with Nityänanda, and if he does not come to Kåñëa consciousness,
his vidyä, or his so-called academic education, and kula, birth in a high family or great
nation, will not protect him. Regardless of whether one is born in a very big family
or nation or has a very advanced academic education, at the time of death nature's
law will act, his work will be finished, and he will get another body according to that
work.
But Nitäi’s Lotus Feet Offer Eternal Shelter
⎯ Please Take Shelter of Nitäi!⎯
One should not misunderstand and think that as he has caught hold of mäyä, similarly
the lotus feet of Nityänanda may also be something like that mäyä, or illusion.
Therefore Narottama däsa confirms, nitäi-caraëa satya: the lotus feet of Nityänanda
are not illusion; they are a fact. Tähära sevaka nitya: and one who engages in the
transcendental loving service of Nityänanda is also transcendental. If one engages in
the transcendental loving service of Nityänanda in Kåñëa consciousness, he
immediately achieves his transcendental position on the spiritual platform, which is
eternal and blissful. Therefore he advises, nitäi-pada sadä koro äça: always try to catch
(hold of) the lotus feet of Lord Nityänanda.
8
ÇRÉ NITYÄNANDÄÑÖAKA
Çréla Våndävana däsa Öhäkura
sarac-candra-bhräntià sphurad-amala-käntià gaja-gatià
hari-premonmattaà dhåta-parama-sattvaà smita-mukham
sadäghürëan-netraà kara-kalita-vetraà kali-bhidaà
bhaje nityänandaà bhajana-taru-kandaà niravadhi
I perpetually worship Çré Nityänanda Prabhu, the root of the kåñëa-bhakti tree, whose bright
face mocks the full autumn moon, whose pure complexion glistens, whose gait is like that
of a maddened elephant, who is always intoxicated in kåñëa-prema, who embodies pure
spiritual energy, whose face holds a gentle smile, whose eyes are always rolling due to His
absorption in kåñëa-prema, whose lotus hand holds a glowing staff, and who, by the
performance of näma-saëkirtana, pierces the influence of Kali-yuga.
rasänäm ägäraà svajana-gaëa-sarvasvam atulaà
tadéyaika-präëa-pramita-vasudhä-jähnava-patim
sadä-premonmädaà param aviditaà manda-manasäm
bhaje nityänandaà bhajana-taru-kandaà niravadhi
I perpetually worship Çré Nityänanda Prabhu, the root of the kåñëa-bhakti tree, who is the
mainstay of all the rasas, who is everything to His devotees, who is beyond compare, who is
the master of both Vasudhä and Jähnavä-devi, who consider Him more dear than their own
lives, who is always maddened by kåñëa-prema, and who is unknown to those of meagre
intelligence.
çacé-sünu-preñöhaà nikhila-jagad-iñöaà sukha-mayaà
kalau majjaj-jivoddharaëa-karaëoddäma-karuëam
harer äkhyänäd vä bhava-jaladhi-garvonnati-haraà
bhaje nityänandaà bhajana-taru-kandaà niravadhi
I perpetually worship Çré Nityänanda Prabhu, the root of the kåñëa-bhakti tree, who is very
dear to Çré Çacinandana, who is worshiped by the entire universe, who is the embodiment
of happiness, who possesses infinite mercy for delivering the souls who are drowning in the
age of Kali, and who, by the performance of çré-harinäma-saëkértana, destroys the false pride
of the ocean of repeated birth and death.
aye bhrätar néëäà kali-kaluñiëäà kià nu bhavitä
tathä präyaçcittaà racaya yad-anäyäsata ime
vrajanti tväm itthaà saha bhagavatä mantrayati yo
bhaje nityänandaà bhajana-taru-kandaà niravadhi
I perpetually worship Çré Nityänanda Prabhu, the root of the kåñëa-bhakti tree, who said to
Çré Kåñëa Caitanya, “Oh brother Gauräìga! What will be the destination of the sinful souls
of Kali-yuga and how will they be redeemed? Please devise a method by which they will
easily attain You.”
9
yatheñöhaà re bhrätaù kuru hari-hari-dhvänam aniçaà
tato vaù saàsärämbudhi-taraëa-däyo mayi laget
idaà bähu-sphoöair aöati raöayan yaù pratigåham
bhaje nityänandaà bhajana-taru-kandaà niravadhi
I perpetually worship Çré Nityänanda Prabhu, the root of the kåñëa-bhakti tree, who
wandered around Bengal and, approaching the door of each and every home, threw open
His arms and exclaimed, “O brothers! All of you should eternally perform çré-harinäma-
saìkértana together. By doing so, I will take the responsibility to deliver you all from the
ocean of material existence.”
balät saàsärämbhonidhi-harana-kumbhodbhavam aho
satäà çreyaù-sindhünnati-kumuda-bandhuà samuditaà
khala-çreëé-sphürjit-timira-hara-sürya-prabham ahaà
bhaje nityänandaà bhajana-taru-kandaà niravadhi
I eternally worship Çré Nityänanda Prabhu, the root of the kåñëa-bhakti tree, who is the
Agastya Muni who forcibly swallows the ocean of repeated birth and death, who is a rising
full moon which increases the ocean of the saintly persons’ welfare, and who is a sun which
dissipates the darkness of ignorance cast by the various classes of miscreants.
naöantaà gäyantaà harim anuvadantaà pathi pathi
vrajantaà paçyantaà svam api na dayantaà jana-gaëam
prakurvantaà santaà sa-karuëa-dåg-antaà prakalanäd
bhaje nityänandaà bhajana-taru-kandaà niravadhi
I eternally worship Çré Nityänanda Prabhu, the root of the tree of kåñëa-bhakti, who
wandered on every path in Bengal dancing, singing, and calling out “Hari bol! Hari bol!” and
who lovingly bestowed merciful sidelong glances upon those who were not even
compassionate to their own selves.
su-bibhräëaà bhrätuù kara-sarasijaà komalataraà
mitho vakträlokocchalita-paramänanda-hådayam
bhramantaà mädhuryair ahaha madayantaà pura-janän
bhaje nityänandaà bhajana-taru-kandaà niravadhi
I eternally worship Çré Nityänanda Prabhu, the root of the kåñëa-bhakti tree, who held the
supremely soft lotus-hand of His brother Çré Gauräìga Mahäprabhu, whose heart became
filled with the highest bliss when the two brothers gazed into each other’s eyes, and who
wandered here and there delighting the townspeople with His sweetness.
rasänäà ädhäraà rasika-vara-sad-vaiñëava-dhanaà
rasägäraà säraà patita-tati-täraà smaraëataù
paraà nityänandäñöakam idam apürvaà pathati yaù
tad-aìghri-dvandväbjaà sphuratu nitaräà tasya hådaye
May Çré Nityänanda Prabhu place His lotus feet in the heart of one who lovingly recites this
unprecedented nityänandäñöaka, which is the reservoir of rasa, the greatest treasure of the
most exalted of rasika Vaiñëavas, and the storehouse of the essence of bhakti-rasa.
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ÇRÉ-NÉTYÄNANDA-MÄLÄ-ÄÑÖAKA
A garland of eight prayers to Lord Nétyänanda
O my beloved Nétyänanda Räma! Please accept my most humble obeisances in the cintämaëi
dust of Your divine, soft lotus feet. All glories to You, the most merciful! All glories to You,
whose eyes are so blinded by prema that You cannot see the difference between the pious
and the sinner, the faithful and the offender. All glories to You whose mercy is causeless and
endless! All glories to You, the dearmost associate of the Lord of my heart.
O my beloved Nitäi! You are the source and the nourisher of the jéva. I am one of Your
fallen jévas. Please pick me up and place me safely in the dust of Your lotus feet. How happy
Your Gaura will be if You do this! At the end of the day when You give Your preaching
report, He will be so pleased to hear that You have rescued yet another Jagäi Mädhäi. For
His pleasure, and my benefit, please claim me as Yours!
O my beloved Nitäi! It is You who live within my heart as Supersoul. Please empower me
to know and love You, to realize that You are my master, friend, guru, guide – everything.
Please empower me to hear only Your voice, and to follow its dictates with pure love for
You and Your Lord.
O my beloved Nitäi! It is Your sandhiné çakti we call the holy dhäma. Please empower me to
live and serve within Your dhäma purely and offenselessly, for Your Gaura’s pleasure. Please
be kind upon me!
O my beloved Nitäi! You are the source of the spiritual and material worlds, as well as the
source of all jévas. The material elements are also Yours, and You are their controller. Please
empower me to factually realize what is spirit, what is matter, and who I am. Please free me
soon from the contaminated consciousness that has me convinced that this subtle and gross
body can influence and control me. Please free me from material consciousness by training
and shaping me as an eternal servant of Your beloved Gaura Hari. Please be kind upon me.
O my beloved Nitäi! It is You who manifest as the Holy Name. Please empower me so that
I can fully trust, taste, and serve Näma Prabhu, for Your Lord’s pleasure. You can give that
prema which follows in the footsteps of the gopés of Vraja headed by Çrématé Rädhäräëé. I am
so greedy for this treasure, but I don’t have enough wealth to purchase it. Please be kind and
give me this wonderful touchstone as a gift. It is Yours to give. Please give it to me, a beggar
at Your feet.
O my beloved Nitäi! You are ädi-guru; both the dékñä and çikñä gurus are manifestations of
Your mercy. Please be kind to me, Your blind fool. Please empower my desiring, thinking,
feeling, willing, speaking and doing to resonate in perfect harmony with the teachings of
Your beloved Mahäprabhu, and His beloved Prabhupäda. I am fully dependent on You. I
have no potency to call my own. Please be kind upon me.
O my beloved Nitäi! You are the Supreme Personality of Servitor Godhead. You know best
how to serve and please Mahäprabhu. Please accept me as Your student and teach me the
ways of Divine Love.
⎯ Çrématé Däsé
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Oh Çré Nityänanda Räma,
Please Teach Me to Dance as You Do
Dear Nityänanda Räma,
The Lord of Your heart is eternally present in four places:
At Çréväsa-aìgana during Näma-saìkértana.
Where Çacémätä is cooking.
Where Räghava Paëòita’s sister, Damayanté is cooking for Him.
and where You are dancing.
Why is Gauracandra so attracted to Your dancing?
Is it because You are exquisitely beautiful?
Is it because You are a master dancer, and perfected in the 64 arts?
Is it because You are His big brother, and He loves You so much?
Or is it because You are Mahä-Saìkarñaëa, the shelter of the spiritual energy and all
jévas, the cause of all causes, and the abode of all opulences?
Perhaps it’s because in Your form of Lord Çeña You sing the glories of His Çyäma with
Your thousands of mouths and ingeniously choose to serve Him by manifesting as His
umbrella, slippers, bedding, pillow, garments, resting chair, residence, sacred thread
and throne.
Maybe it’s because You personify His compassionate nature by appearing as the çikñä,
dékñä and caitya guru for all those sincerely aspiring to love and serve Him.
Hmm! What’s the heart of the matter? What is it that really attracts Gauracandra to Your
dancing?
My heart tells me that what really attracts Gaura is that Your heart pulsates not only with
a limitless desire to serve and please Him, but with an overwhelming desire to fulfil His
every desire. You know and want nothing but service to Him. You live and breathe only
for Him. You are indeed the very source of sevä-bhäva — despite Your inconceivable
potencies and opulences.
Oh, Çré Nityänanda Räma, I am also dancing. But I’m a dancing dog, always eager to serve
my senses — not Gaura’s. I dance like a puppet — mindless and heartless — and the
three modes are the strings that direct my dance performance.
For so long I have consoled myself with the thought that at least I’m trying to be Çréla
Prabhupäda’s dancing dog. But deep, deep in my heart, I also want to dance for the
pleasure of Your Gauracandra.
Oh, Çré Nityänanda Räma, please accept me as Your sold-out servant and teach me the
ways of Divine Love. Let me also live and breathe only for Your Gaura’s pleasure ⎯
And for the pleasure of Your beloved Çréla Prabhupäda.
Oh, Çré Nityänanda Räma, please teach me to dance as You do!
⎯ Çrématé Däsé
12
mora mäthe pada dhari’ karaha prasäda
nirvighne caitanya päìa—kara äçérväda
O Nityänanda Räma! Placing Your feet on my head, give me the
benediction that I may achieve the shelter of Çré Caitanya
Mahäprabhu without difficulty. I pray for this benediction.
⎯ Çréla Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé, CC Antya 6.133
