Lord Nityananda’s Appearance Day, also known as Nityananda Triyodasi, is celebrated all over the world by Gaudiya Vaisnavas. Lord Nityanada is the most magnanimous expansion of Lord Sri Krishna, and Who is none different from Lord Balaram. Lord Nityananda is the adi guru, the first guru, and He is worshiped as the most merciful incarnation of Godhead.
New Vrindaban devotees celebrated this most auspicious appearance day of Lord Nityananda on February 20th, 2016. Around 120 devotees from the community and the surrounding areas gathered to glorify Lord Nityananda and to seek His mercy.
The celebration began with an ecstatic morning program where devotees enthusiastically participated in chanting and dancing as if Lord Nityananda was personally present. The program continued with Guru Puja and Deity greetings followed by a wonderful Caitanaya Caritamrta class given by Sankirtan Prabhu on various pastimes of Lord Nityananda. In his class, Sankirtan Prabhu explained how Lord Nityananda showers His mercy to everyone without even considering their qualifications.
Madri devi dasi, who always relishes the Vaisnava songs, organized the community devotees to come sing bhajans for the pleasure of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. One of the many songs sung was Boro Sukher Khabor Gai by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur. In this song Bhaktivinode Thakur writes, “Lord Nityananda is greatly merciful. Taking only one's faith, He gives the highest ecstasy, except for the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda, there is no other shelter".
H.G. Gaur Gopal Prabhu, one of the senior disciples of His Holiness Radhanath Swami, visited New Vrindaban Dham from ISKCON Chowpatty, India, for the first time. He gave three excellent seminars in glorification of Lord Nityananda with themes “Service: The Heart of Vaisnavism”, “The Mercy Department,” and “the Original Spiritual Master”. In his seminars, Gaur Gopal Prabhu described Lord Nityananda as an extremist, Lord Balaram as a separatist, and Lakshman as a loyalist. The reason Lord Nityananda is described as an extremist is because Lord Nityananda gives His mercy to everyone even Jagai and Madhai, who are considered to be the most sinful. Everyone appreciated Gaur Gopal Prabhu’s seminars.
Every devotee had the opportunity to bath Their Lordships Sri Sri Gaur Nitai with honey, water, fruit juice and flowers during the abhiseka.
Lakshman Isvara Prabhu led electrifying kirtan during the Gaura Aarti. Everyone ecstatically jumped, danced and chanted Nitai, Nitai, Nitai Gauranga!
The program ended with a grand feast cooked by Brhat Kirtan Prabhu and Sivaraj Prabhu, the feast included rice, dhal, subjis, dahi vara, kachori, tamarind chutney, puri, and cake baked by Lakshman Isvari Prabhu.
Jaya Nitai, Jay Nitai, Jaya Nitai!
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