Dear Prabhus,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to Sri Nityananda Rama Prabhu!!
Every year on the glorious appearance day of Sri Nityananda Prabhu I offer this short story for the pleasure of the Vaishnavas.
vande çré-kåñëa-caitanya-
nityänandau sahoditau
gauòodaye puñpavantau
citrau çan-dau tamo-nudau
I offer my respectful obeisances unto Sri Krsna Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, who are like the sun and moon. They have arisen simultaneously on the horizon of Gauda to dissipate the darkness of ignorance and thus wonderfully bestow benediction upon all. (Çré Caitanya-caritämåta, Ädi 1.2)
The kirtana was uproarious as Prabhupada entered the airport with the devotees. He was leaving New York after their first, wonderful Ratha-yatra (July 1976). The kirtana grew more intense as he went through the security check. Hari Sauri, Guru dasa, and I followed behind. In the waiting lounge, Srila Prabhupada took a seat and kindly motioned for Guru dasa to sit next to him. A well-dressed man seated on Prabhupada’s other side, noticing that there were others with Srila Prabhupada, very politely moved to another seat. Prabhupada again very kindly offered us a seat, this time motioning toward me and Hari Sauri. I gently nudged Hari Sauri toward the seat. He graciously offered it back to me. After all, he was Prabhupada’s personal servant; I nudged him again. He very kindly again offered it back to me. I couldn’t resist. I sat down next to Srila Prabhupada. He looked very grave, almost sad. Perhaps he knew that this had been his last trip to America. His eyes were overflowing with tears of ecstatic love as he sat silently absorbed in his own transcendental thoughts.
Not wanting to disturb him I also sat silently, but finally I couldn’t resist the opportunity to ask Srila Prabhupada a question that had been on my mind for some time. Previously I had heard of some Bengali devotees chanting “sri krsna caitanya prabhu nityananda – prabhu nityananda prabhu nityananda – nityananda nityananda nityananda nityananda – sri krsna caitanya prabhu nityananda.” So occassionally I also chanted like that but was criticized by some devotees for not chanting the full Panca Tattva mantra. Of course, in one sense they were right as Srila Prabhupada instructs in the Caitanya-caritamrta to chant the full Panca Tattva mantra. However, on occassion we do chant “nitai gauranga nitai gauranga – jai sachinandana gaura hari.” So I finally got up the nerve and said, “Srila Prabhupada, sometimes the devotees chant ‘sri krsna caitanya prabhu nityananda – prabhu nityananda prabhu nityananda.’ Is that all right?” Srila Prabhupada turned to look at me and with his beautiful, deep transcendental voice said, “Yes.”
Vrindaban
24 October, 1976
My Dear Makhanlal,
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 10/7/76.
My blessings are always with you as you have requested. You are a very good devotee and servant of Krsna. So far your questions are concerned. Nityananda is the principle of the Guru. So, the Gurudeva is the incarnation of Nityananda. Anyone strictly following the instruction of the Guru is following Nityananda. The price one has to pay if he wants to become Krsna conscious is that he must dedicate himself to following the order of the spiritual master, mahat seva. If the Spiritual Master is pleased with disciple then the blessings of Guru will be there. That is the best way to become Krsna conscious, and Krsna is non-different from Nityananda. You may pray to Lord Nityananda to help you become dedicated in the service of your Guru. Krsna consciousness cannot be achieved artificially. You should approach Nityananda Prabhu through your Spiritual Master.
Hoping this will meet you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
caitanya-nityänande nähi e-saba vicära
näma laite prema dena, vahe açrudhära
If one chants the exalted holy name of the Lord again and again and yet his love for the Supreme Lord does not develop and tears do not appear in his eyes, it is evident that because of his offenses in chanting, the seed of the holy name of Krsna does not sprout. But if one chants, with only some slight faith, the holy names of Lord Caitanya and Nityananda, very quickly he is cleansed of all offenses. Thus as soon as he chants the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, he feels the ecstasy of love for God.
(Çré Caitanya-caritämåta, Ädi 8.29-31)
daso ‘smi – your humble servant,
Srutadeva das
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