Srila Prabhupada - "This is the injunction in the śāstra, that this form of the Lord, who is accompanied by His associate... Sāṅgopāṅgāstra-pārṣadam.
So Caitanya Mahāprabhu is always associated with Śrī Advaita Prabhu, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, Śrī Gadādhara Prabhu, Śrī Śrīvāsa Prabhu.
Therefore the process of worship is śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda. That is perfect process. Not to cut short. No. As it is indicated.
This is indication in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tvisakṛṣṇaṁ sangopangastra... (SB 11.5.32). So when we have to worship Lord Caitanya, we worship with His associates.
Śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda. No cut-short method. So that is sastric injunction.
So in order to get rid of the sinful activities of this age, it is already prescribed in the śāstras and confirmed by the greatest authority, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu." (The NOD, Vrndavana, Nov 5, 1972)
Srila Prabhupada - "So all these persons associated with Kṛṣṇa, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, Śrī Nityānanda, Śrī Advaita, and Gadādhara and Śrīvāsa, all of them, they are one.
One in this sense, they are all interested how to push on Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He's trying personally, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
And Nityānanda Prabhu, Advaita Prabhu, Śrīvāsa, Gadādhara, they are trying to help. So..., and to approach all these five supreme persons, you require the help of guru.
Therefore the guru is offered first the respectful prayers, vande gurūn. And gurūn, bahu-vacana, plural number, that many gurus. But they are not many; they are one, guru-tattva.
Just like Kṛṣṇa has many forms, but that does not mean Kṛṣṇa is different. No. Kṛṣṇa is one. Similarly, guru, there may be many gurus, it doesn't matter, but their philosophy must be one: to teach everyone that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
So there may be thousands of gurus, but the guru's business is to teach the disciple that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is the test of guru." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 1.1, Mayapur, March 25, 1975)
Pradyumna dasa - "I offer my respectful obeisances unto Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya and Lord Nityānanda, who are like the sun and moon.
They have arisen simultaneously on the horizon of Gauḍa to dissipate the darkness of ignorance and thus wonderfully bestow benediction upon all."
Srila Prabhupāda - "vande śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya-
nityāndandau sahoditau
gauḍodaye puṣpavantau
citrau śandau tamo-nudau
(CC Adi 1.2)
So yesterday we discussed the first verse,
(vande) gurūn īśa-bhaktān
īśam īśāvatārakān
tat-prakāśāṁś ca tac-chaktiḥ
kṛṣṇa-caitanya-saṁjñakam (CC Adi 1.1)
Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, He has got manyfold expansion. The first expansion is prakāśa, svayaṁ-prakāśa, Balarāma. And Nityānanda is Balarāma.
Vrajendra-nandana yei, śacī-sūta hoilo sei, balarāma hoilo nitāi. We have to understand from the mahājana, Narottama das Ṭhākura.
Sometimes some foolish people interpret Nityānanda as expansion of Rādhārāṇī, but that is not the fact. Nityānanda is Balarāma. We have to know from mahājana.
We cannot manufacture our own idea. That is blasphemy, sahajiyā. Yata mat tata pat. These things are not accepted by mahājana.
Mahājana means who follows the previous mahājana. This is the system. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu strictly followed this principle.
Kṛṣṇa also recommended evaṁ paramparā-prāptam (BG 4.2). We have to receive knowledge through the disciplic succession." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 1.2, Mayapur, March 26, 1975)
Srila Prabhupada - "So Nityānanda means prakāśa, svayaṁ-prakāśa, Balarāma. Balarāma is, I mean to say, presenting Kṛṣṇa.
Therefore Balarāma is guru-tattva. Guru is representative of Balarāma, of Nityānanda, Guru Nityānanda, because He is exhibiting Kṛṣṇa. He is presenting Kṛṣṇa, prakāśa.
Just like when there is sunshine you can see everything very correctly. That is called prakāśa. In the darkness everything is covered.
At night we cannot see, but during daytime, when there is prakāśa, illumination, then we can see everything. So Nityānanda Prabhu is Balarāma.
Balarāma is prakāśa-tattva. He's manifesting Kṛṣṇa. Balarāma hoila nitāi.
So vande śrī... Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya is the Supreme Absolute Personality of Godhead, and next, Nityānanda, or, yes, Nityānanda, is exhibiting Him.
When Nityānanda was preaching in Bengal, He first of all delivered the Jagāi and Mādhāi. That was his first business.
He showed how to serve Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya means Kṛṣṇa Himself.
Śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya rādha-kṛṣṇa nahe anya.
Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa combined together is Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya. And Nityānanda is exhibiting Kṛṣṇa Caitanyadeva." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 1.2, Mayapur, March 26, 1975)
Srila Prabhupada - "So how one can exhibit Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu, that is... By His personal example Nityānanda Prabhu has given us lesson.
When Caitanya Mahāprabhu was sending His devotees to preach and Nityānanda Prabhu was doing that, He used to go with Haridāsa Ṭhākura to preach on the street, home to home.
So when they saw there was a big crowd on the street, so Nityānanda Prabhu inquired from the people, "Why there is so many people assembled?"
He was informed that "There are two gundas, rogues. They are creating some trouble." The gundas, their business is to create trouble, that's all.
Every one of us we know, especially at the present moment in Bengal. Yes. This is due to lack of preaching of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Nityānanda Prabhu is not given the chance. Nityānanda Prabhu is very eager to preach, but He's not given chance.
Actually, those who are proud of becoming descendants of Nityānanda Prabhu... In Bengal there is a family, they say that they are descendants from Nityānanda Prabhu.
So apart from controversy, even accepting that they are descendants from Nityānanda Prabhu, their business is also to act like Nityānanda Prabhu.
So that business, what is that business? That is described by Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, mahājana, pāpī tāpī yata chilo, hari-nāme uddhārilo, ta'ra sākṣī jagāi-mādhāi.
This is the business of Nityānanda Prabhu along with Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Vrajendra-nandana yei, śacī-sūta hoilo sei, balarāma hoilo nitāi." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 1.2, Mayapur, March 26, 1975)
Srila Prabhupada - "So here Kṛṣṇa Caitanya and Nityānanda, Their identification is Lord Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma.
Now, in the Kṛṣṇa incarnation, these two brothers were engaged as cowherd boys and friends of the gopīs, sons of Mother Yaśodā and Nanda Mahārāja. That is actual life in Vṛndāvana.
Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, They are village cowherds boy. That is the early age history of Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma. And Their another business, when They went to Mathurā They killed Kaṁsa and the wrestlers, and then again, when They went to Dvārakā, They had to fight with so many demons.
But Their childhood life, up to sixteenth year, They were in Vṛndāvana, happy life, simply love. That is paritrāṇāya sādhūnām (BG, Ch 4 text 8).
Sādhus, devotees, they are always anxious to see Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma and Their associates. They are always very much aggrieved on account of separation.
To give them rejuvenation of life, Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma play Their childhood days in Vṛndāvana." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 1.2 , Mayapur, March 26, 1975)
Srila Prabhupada - "That is paritrāṇāya sādhūnām (BG 4.8). Sādhus, devotees, they are always anxious to see Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma and Their associates.
They are always very much aggrieved on account of separation. To give them rejuvenation of life, Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma play Their childhood days in Vṛndāvana. And out of Vṛndāvana, beginning from Mathurā up to Dvārakā and other places, the business was vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām: killing.
So, They have got two businesses, one for pacifying the devotees, and the other is to kill the demons. Of course, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, They are Absolute Truth.
There is no difference between killing and loving. They... Absolute. Those who were killed, you know, they were also delivered from this material bondage.
Now these same two brothers have again descended as Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya-Nityānanda."(Lecture CC Adi-lila 1.2, Mayapur, March 26, 1975)
Srila Prabhupada - "So, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya and Nityānanda, They came, descended again, being merciful, same Kṛṣṇa. Vrajendra-nandana yei, Śacī-sūta hoilo sei. Same Kṛṣṇa.
In a different way they canvassed the same principle. (aside:) You can sit down there. You are sleeping. Don't sleep. Don't show that sleeping. Go there. So this is the darkness. And Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu appeared to drive away this darkness—same Kṛṣṇa, the same Kṛṣṇa.
There is no difference between Kṛṣṇa's preaching and Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu's preaching. There is no difference.
The difference is that Kṛṣṇa, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He is demanding that "You rascal, you surrender unto Me. You are suffering so much.
You are rascal. I am your father. I want to see you happy; therefore I have come. Surrender unto Me. I shall give you all protection!" (Lecture CC Adi-lila 1.2, Mayapur, March 26, 1975)
Srila Prabhupada - "He does not know that he's suffering. Māyā has given his body to suffer, but even in the pig's body, he's thinking that is enjoying life. This is called māyā. Mohitaṁ nābhijānāti mām ebhyaḥ param avyayam (BG 7.13).
This is called illusion. Illusion. Everyone in this material world, they are suffering in different grades. Just like in the prison house there are different grades of prisoner: first class, second class, third class.
But if the first-class prisoner thinks they are enjoying life, that is ignorance. He should know that he's in the prison house. In the prison house where is there enjoyment? It is all suffering. Maybe first-class suffering, (laughter) but it is suffering.
So they are all in the darkness, and Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda Prabhu appeared to dissipate, tamo-nudau, to dissipate this darkness of the whole human society. That is Their kindness." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 1.2, Mayapur, March 26, 1975)
Srila Prabhupada - "So Nityānanda Prabhu, being prakāśā, He is manifesting Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He's canvassing the same thing. Caitanya Mahāprabhu is canvassing to accept Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and to accept Kṛṣṇa consciousness through the mercy of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Nityānanda Prabhu and Their other assistants is easier, easier.
Therefore we see practically, we have taught our disciples to chant first of all the Pañca-tattva, śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya (devotees chant) prabhu-nityānanda, śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda. Thank you."
So through the mercy of this Pañca-tattva, easily you can approach Kṛṣṇa, easily. Otherwise how it is possible?
These Europeans, Americans, they did not know what was Kṛṣṇa. Four or five years ago they were unknown. How they have become so devotee of Kṛṣṇa that ten thousand miles, crossing over the sea, they have come here at Māyāpur, unless they have got developed love for this?
Their coming is not so easy from neighboring villages, but it costs. They have spent lakhs of dollars—one dollar equal to eight rupees—and they have come here. Why? Through the mercy of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu." (end) (Lecture CC Adi-lila 1.2, Mayapur, March 26, 1975)
Srila Prabhupāda - "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda Prabhu, both of Them have come to deliver these fallen souls of this material world who are in the darkness of conception.
So, They are fighting all over the world this darkness. Just now somebody told me that the king of the Arabia is killed. He is killed now by his nephew or somebody else. This is going on.
Even in family affairs it is going on. Why? This darkness. Ahaṁ mameti (SB 5.5.8). Janasya moho 'yam ahaṁ mameti (SB 5.5.8).
So Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu along with His associates, Nityānanda Prabhu, Advaita Prabhu, Gadādhara Prabhu and Śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda, they are trying to dissipate the darkness of this false identification.
Kṛṣṇa simply instructed Arjuna about his darkness of identity, and He punished him, aśocyān anvaśocas tvaṁ prajñā-vādāṁś ca bhāṣase: (BG, Ch 2 text 11)
"You are talking very big, big words, but you are lamenting on a subject matter on which no learned person laments."
Gatāsūn agatāsūṁś ca nānuśocanti paṇḍitāḥ.
That means "You are fool number one." Paṇḍitāḥ. "No paṇḍita makes like that. Now try to understand what is the position." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 1.3, Mayapur, March 27, 1975)
Nitāi dasa - "May Śrī Nityānanda Rāma be the object of my constant remembrance. Saṅkarṣaṇa, Śeṣa Nāga and the Viṣṇus who lie on the Kāraṇa Ocean, Garbha Ocean and ocean of milk are His plenary portions and the portions of His plenary portions."
Srila Prabhupāda - "saṅkarṣaṇaḥ kāraṇa-toya-śāyī
garbhoda-śāyī ca payobdhi-śāyī,
śeṣaś ca yasyāṁśa-kalāḥ sa nityā-
nandākhya-rāmaḥ śaraṇaṁ mamāstu
(CC Adi 1.7)
So, Kavirāja Gosvāmī, after offering his respectful obeisances to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and describing the purpose of His incarnation, He is now trying to describe Nityānanda. Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Prabhu Nityānanda.
Pañca-tattva, one after another... First of all Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, then Nityānanda Prabhu, then Advaita Prabhu, then Gadādhara, and then Śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda.
He is summarizing the obeisances to the Pañca-tattva. Now, what is the identification of Nityānandākhya-Rāma? Rāma, Balarāma, and Baladeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa—there are so many names of Śrī Baladeva.
In the Upaniṣad it is said, nāyam ātmā bala-hīnena labhyo: "Self-realization is not possible without being strengthened by the mercy of Balarāma."
Sometimes they take it foolishly, that "Without being very strong bodily, nobody can realize self." But that is not the fact. Nāyam ātmā pravacanena labhyo na medhayā na bahunā śrutena.
This is the Vedic injunction. That bala-hīnena means without being favored by Nityānanda Prabhu, Balarāma." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 1.7, Mayapur, March 31, 1975)
Srila Prabhupāda - "Balarāma is Nityānanda. That we know by following the footprints of mahājanas. Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says,
vrajendra-nandana yei, śacī-suta hoila sei, balarāma hoila nitāi:
"Balarāma has appeared now as Nityānanda."
So bala means strength, spiritual strength, and rāma means enjoyer. Iti rāma padenāsau param brahma ity abhidhīyate. Rāma means Para-brahman.
Satyānande cid-ātmani. Ramante yoginaḥ anante (CC Madhya 9.29). Yogi, they are also interested in enjoying life.
There are different kinds of yogis. Of all the yogis, the bhakti-yogi, that is the best. That is said by Kṛṣṇa:
yoginām api sarveṣāṁ
mad-gatenāntarātmanā
śraddhāvān bhajate yo māṁ
sa me yuktatamo mataḥ
(BG 6.47)
Yogis, there are many yogis, but the bhakti-yogi is the best because by bhakta-yoga only, you can approach the Supreme Personality of... There is no other way.
Jñāna, karma, and haṭha-yoga, they can help little, but they are not competent to approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gītā, bhaktyā mām abhijānātievaṁ (BG 18.55). If you want to know Kṛṣṇa, then karma, yoga, jñāna, these, although they can elevate you to some extent, but you cannot approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead by karma, jñāna, yoga.
If you want to know Kṛṣṇa as He is, then you have to accept the path of bhakti-yoga.
Kṛṣṇa says personally, bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaś cāsmi tattvataḥevaṁ prasanna-manaso. And in order to attain this perfection of bhakti-yoga, you require strength from Balarāma, Saṅkarṣaṇa."(Lecture CC Adi-lila 1.7, Mayapur, March 31, 1975)
Srila Prabhupāda - "So this word rāma is explained in the śāstra that one who is expert in enjoying eternal happiness, he is perfect yogi.
Not flickering happiness. Flickering happiness, the yogis are not interested in flickering happiness or material happiness.
Material happiness is always flickering, temporary. That is not happiness, but we take it. Real happiness is when we enjoy life with Kṛṣṇa, rāma. That is real happiness. Ramante yoginaḥ anante satyānande. That is ananta.
Ananta means unlimited. So our... we are seeking after ānanda. Ānandamayo 'bhyāsāt (Vedānta-sūtra 1.1.12).
By our nature we want to be very blissful, always happy. That is our nature. And we can possess, revive our nature of eternal happiness, provided we try to get it in this human form of life.
There is no difficulty if we follow the path enunciated by great authorities. Mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ (CC Madhya 17.186).
So Nityānanda Prabhu, Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and Their disciples, they are all mahājanas, great personalities.
If we follow their principles, then it is very easy. There is no difficulty. But difficulty is that we do not follow." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 1.7, Mayapur, March 31, 1975)
Srila Prabhupāda - "This is the process. You'll find this later on. So payobdhi-śāyī and śeṣaś ca, Sesa, that is also incarnation of Viṣṇu.
He is sustaining the body of Viṣṇu in different oceans, and He is serving the Lord Viṣṇu in so many ways. Śayyā, āsana, sitting place, bed, and upavīta, and clothes, garments—so many ways He is serving.
Now, all these different incarnation of Viṣṇu is summarized here by Kavirāja Gosvāmī that "All of them are partial expansion of Nityānanda," to understand what is Nityānanda Prabhu.
The prakāśa-vigraha... Kṛṣṇa first. Then His prakāśa-vigraha, manifested form, a little difference in bodily feature, but the same powerful, that is Balarāma.
And then, from Balarāma, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, in this way, quadruple expansion...
Then Nārāyaṇa, then another quadruple expansion, then from that quadruple, second manifestation of Saṅkarṣaṇa, all these different Viṣṇus, Kāraṇa-toyāśāyī, Garbhodakaśayī, Kṣīrodhi-śāyī—in this way, expanding.
Dīpārcir eva hi daśāntaram abhyupetya (Bs. 5.46). Just like you take one candle, then you lit up another candle, another candle, another candle.
All these candles are equally powerful, but still, the calculation is, Kṛṣṇa is the first candle, Balarāma is the second candle. In this way, viṣṇutayā vibhāti—the expansion of Viṣṇu, innumerable." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 1.7, Mayapur, March 31, 1975)
Srila Prabhupāda - "We have to follow the śāstra; otherwise there is no other alternative to understand the exalted position of Kṛṣṇa, how He expands in different forms, as Viṣṇu, as Nārāyaṇa.
Sometimes they argue that Kṛṣṇa is incarnation of Viṣṇu. That is also truth. You'll find in Caitanya... Truth in this way, that when any incarnation comes, He comes through the Kṣīrobdhi-śāyī Viṣṇu. But Kṣīrobdhi-śāyī is partial expansion of Kṛṣṇa.
The subject matter is very intricate, but if we follow the śāstra and accept it, then some clear conception we can have.
So Nityānanda Rāma... So yasyāṁśa sa nityānanda-rāmaḥ. Nityānanda is Balarāma.
Therefore He is said, nityānandākhya-rāmaḥ. Just like Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu... Kṛṣṇāya-kṛṣṇa-caitanya nāmne: "I offer my respectful obeisances to Kṛṣṇa now appeared as Kṛṣṇa Caitanya."
He's Kṛṣṇa. Similarly, Nityānanda is Balarāma. So balarāma hoilo nitāi. Therefore it is said here, nityānandākhya-rāmaḥ:
"He's Rāma, Balarāma, but at the present moment He has appeared by the name Nityānanda."(Lecture CC Adi-lila 1.7, Mayapur, March 31, 1975)
Nitāi dasa - "I surrender unto the lotus feet of Śrī Nityānanda Rāma, who is known as Saṅkarṣaṇa in the midst of the catur-vyūha consisting of Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha.
He possesses full opulences and resides in Vaikuṇṭhaloka, far beyond the material creation." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 1.8, Mayapur, April 1, 1975)
Srila Prabhupāda - "māyātīte vyāpi-vaikuṇṭha-loke
pūrṇaiśvarye śrī-catur-vyūha-madhye
rūpaṁ yasya udbhāti saṅkarṣaṇākhyaṁ
taṁ śrī-nityānanda-rāmaṁ prapadye
(CC Adi 1.8)
So identification of Nityānanda Prabhu. So He is the second Saṅkarṣaṇa also. The first Saṅkarṣaṇa...From Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, four, quadruple expansions of Balarāma...
Then, from Saṅkarṣaṇa, first Saṅkarsana, the Nārāyaṇa, four-handed Nārāyaṇa, that is the next expansion, and again, from Nārāyaṇa, there is another quadruple expansion, second Saṅkarṣaṇa, Vāsudeva, Pradyumna.
So the second Saṅkarṣaṇa also is expansion of Nityānanda Rāma, Balarāma.
So where is this Vaikuṇṭhaloka?
It is rather imprudent to inquire because we cannot calculate even this material world, what is the length and breadth of this universe.
This is only one universe.
This is called māyika brahmānanda. Māyika means shadow. Shadow... Shadow is existing on account of the real." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 1.9, Mayapur, April 2, 1975)
Nitāi dasa - "I offer my full obeisances unto the feet of Śrī Nityānanda Rāma, whose partial representation called Kāraṇodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, lying on the Kāraṇa Ocean, is the original puruṣa, the master of the illusory energy, and the shelter of all the universes." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 1.9, Mayapur, April 2, 1975)
Srila Prabhupāda -
"māyā-bhartājāṇḍa-saṅghāśrayāṅgaḥ
śete sākṣāt kāraṇāmbhodhi-madhye
yasyaikāṁśaḥ śrī-pumān ādi-devas
taṁ śrī nityānanda-rāmaṁ prapadye
(CC Adi 1.9)
Yesterday we discussed about pūrṇāiśvarya, saṅkarṣaṇākhyam, nityānanda-rāmam, the Deity, the superintending Deity of the spiritual world. Here also, anywhere, the master is Kṛṣṇa in His different forms.
So, just like for management we expand some secretaries, or personal representatives, similarly there is good management also in Kṛṣṇa's affairs.
The original person is Kṛṣṇa, and His expansions, they are also as good as Kṛṣṇa, but departmental." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 1.10, Mayapur, April 3, 1975)
Nitāi dasa - "I offer my full obeisances unto the feet of Śrī Nityānanda Rāma, a partial part of whom is Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu.
From the navel of Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu sprouts the lotus that is the birthplace of Brahmā, the engineer of the universe.
The stem of that lotus is the resting place of the multitude of planets." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 1.10, Mayapur, April 3, 1975)
Srila Prabhupāda -
"yasyāṁśāṁśaḥ śrīla-garbhoda-śāyī
yan-nābhy-abjaṁ loka-saṅghāta-nālam
loka-sraṣṭuḥ sūtikā-dhāma dhātuḥ
taṁ śrī-nityānanda-rāmaṁ prapadye
(CC Adi 1.10)
We have already discussed Kāraṇodakaśāyī, who is the plenary portion of Saṅkarṣaṇa. Now, from Kāraṇodakaśāyī is Garbhodakaśāyī.
Garbhodakaśāyī means this, within the womb or bottom of this universe, there is a ocean, big ocean, and in that ocean the plenary portion of Kāraṇodakaśāyī Viṣṇu enters.
This is explained in the Bhagavad-gītā, viṣṭabhya aham idaṁ kṛtsnam ekāṁśena sthito jagat (BG, Ch 10 text 42).
By one portion, the Garbho..., er, Kāraṇodakaśāyī Viṣṇu enters each universe, and within that universe He creates a ocean by His perspiration. Now, there are so many questions:
"How these oceans are created?"
The scientist says that it is a combination of hydrogen and oxygen gas. So wherefrom this gas came?
The answer is here. Of course, from the gas, water comes out. If you cover one boiling pot, the gas, the vapor coming... And you will find spots of water. So from the gas, the water comes, and from the water, gas comes."
Nitāi dasa - "I offer my respectful obeisances unto the feet of Śrī Nityānanda Rāma, whose secondary part is the Viṣṇu lying in the ocean of milk. That Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu is the Supersoul of all living entities and the maintainer of all the universes. Śeṣa Nāga is His further subpart."
Srila Prabhupāda -
"yasyāṁśāṁśāṁśaḥ parātmākhilānāṁ
poṣṭā viṣṇur bhāti dugdhābdhi-śāyī
kṣauṇī-bhartā yat-kalā so 'py anantas
taṁ śrī-nityānanda-rāmaṁ prapadye
(CC Adi 1.11)
So, all these Viṣṇu descriptions beginning from Kāraṇodakaśāyī, Mahā-Viṣṇu, who is producing universes... Then next Viṣṇu is Garbhodakaśāyī, means the same Mahā-Viṣṇu entering in each and every universe.
Then again, the same Viṣṇu, for maintenance of this material world, is lying on the kṣīrabdhi, ocean of milk.
And the same Viṣṇu, Kṣīrabdhiśāyī Viṣṇu, is maintaining not only these universal affair, but also He is entering in each and every living being's heart, even within the atom." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 1.11, Mayapur, April 4, 1975)
Srila Prabhupāda - "So this is our position. We do not know who is the actual architect behind all this nice material creation. That is Mahā-Viṣṇu, and His incarnation is Advaita Prabhu.
Caitanya Mahāprabhu is directly Kṛṣṇa, or Kṛṣṇa's incarnation. Nityānanda Prabhu is directly incarnation of Baladeva, and similarly, Śrī Advaita Prabhu is incarnation of Mahā-Viṣṇu.
So all of Them are on the equal footing. Śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda, śrī-advaita.
They are on the same equal level. And then śakti-tattva, Śrī-Gadādhara and Śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda. 5
Gadādhara is the internal energy, and Śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda, they are marginal energy.
So Īśvara-tattva and śakti-tattva. So within this group, there is no this material energy because in the spiritual world there is no action of material energy, only spiritual energy.
In the material world there is action of material energy. In the spiritual world there is no material energy.
Therefore, in this Pañca-tattva, there is no mention of material energy because in the spiritual world there is no material energy. Māyā-gandha-hīna." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 1.12, Mayapur, April 5, 1975)
Srila Prabhupāda - "So we have to go through like that. As Caitanya caritāmṛta Kar is explaining, we have to follow this principle.
Then if you are really inquisitive to learn the Absolute Truth, they will explain, as here it is explained that here Advaita Ācārya is īśvara, He's incarnation of Mahā-Viṣṇu.
Sometimes Advaita Ācārya is called Sadāśiva avatāra. The Sadāśiva is also expansion of Mahā-Viṣṇu. So either way you say, incarnation of Sadāśiva or Mahā-Viṣṇu, it doesn't matter. But Advaita Ācārya is īśvara-tattva.
He's not śakti-tattva. He's īśvara-tattva. And we are all śakti-tattva; therefore there is difference. Śakti-śaktimān.
Although there is no difference abhinna, but still, śakti-tattva is superior, er, śaktimān tattva is superior than śakti-tattva.
So, in this way try to understand Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Nityānanda Prabhu, Advaita Prabhu, and Gadādhara and Śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda.
But they are so kind because they have come to deliver the fallen souls. If you sincerely chant their name, śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda..."(Lecture CC Adi-lila 1.12, Mayapur, April 5, 1975)
Srila Prabhupāda - "So gradually the author is offering respect, śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda śrī-advaita. He has already offered respect to Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityānanda.
Now it is the turn for Śrī Advaitācārya. So advaitam, nondifferent, expansion of Mahā-Viṣṇu.
Therefore He is Viṣṇu-tattva; He is not jīva-tattva (jiva-soul). Therefore He is advaita. Advaitam acyutam anādim ananta-rūpam (Bs. 5.33).
Kṛṣṇa has got unlimited number of expansions: expansion, expansion of the expansion, then expansion of the expansion, in this way.
So, Advaitācārya is expansion of Kṛṣṇa, it is already explained, therefore He is called advaitam, and ācāryaṁ bhakti-śaṁsanāt." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 1.13, Mayapur, April 6, 1975)
Srila Prabhupāda - "So Advaita Ācārya is the typical example how to become ācārya. All are our ācāryas, śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda, śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda.
All of them are ācāryas because they are following the ācārya, supreme ācārya, Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Therefore they are ācārya.
Evaṁ paramparā-prāptam imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ (BG, Ch 4 text 2).
So, we have to follow the ācārya. Then, when we are completely, cent per cent follower of ācārya, then you can also act as ācārya. This is the process. Don't become premature ācārya.
First of all follow the orders of ācārya, and you become mature. Then it is better to become ācārya. Because we are interested in preparing ācārya, but the etiquette is, at least for the period the guru is present, one should not become ācārya.
Even if he is complete he should not, because the etiquette is, if somebody comes for becoming initiated, it is the duty of such person to bring that prospective candidate to his ācārya. Not that "Now people are coming to me, so I can become ācārya." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 1.13, Mayapur, April 6, 1975)
Srila Prabhupāda - "That will be falldown. Just like during the lifetime of our Guru Mahārāja, all our Godbrothers now who are acting as ācārya, they did not do so. That is not etiquette. Ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyāt na avaman...
That is insult, so if you insult your ācārya, then you are finished.
Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo yasya aprasādāt na gatiḥ kuto 'pi - finished.
If you displease your ācārya, then you are finished. Therefore it is said, Caitanya Mahāprabhu says to all the ācāryas, Nityānanda Prabhu, Advaita Prabhu and Śrīvāsādi gaura bhakta vṛnda, they are all carriers of orders of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
So try to follow the path of ācārya process. Then life will be successful.
And to become ācārya is not very difficult.
First of all, to become very faithful servant of your ācārya, follow strictly what he says. Try to please him and spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That's all. It is not at all difficult.
Try to follow the instruction of your Guru Mahārāja and spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is the order of Lord Caitanya." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 1.13, Mayapur, April 6, 1975)
Srila Prabhupāda - "So to achieve strength, Kṛṣṇa is prepared to help us in so many ways. That He is pañca-tattvātmakam, He is coming as Lord Kṛṣṇa, and ordering, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja (BG, Ch 18 text 66).
Still we are making mistake; we don't accept Kṛṣṇa's word. Therefore Kṛṣṇa is coming as Caitanya Mahāprabhu, along with His associates Nityānanda Prabhu, Advaita Prabhu, Gadādhara Prabhu, just to teach us the same process -
How to surrender to Kṛṣṇa. So our real business is that, how to surrender to Kṛṣṇa. And if we take shelter of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu, along with His associates, then the task becomes very easy. Yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ (SB, Canto 11 Ch 5 text 32).
Very easy; not at all difficult. Caitanya Mahāprabhu's method for approaching Kṛṣṇa is very, very easy. Now we have got this center, Māyāpur center. We have got hundreds of centers, but this is Caitanya Mahāprabhu's birthplace."(Lecture CC Adi-lila 1.14, Mayapur, April 7, 1975)
Srila Prabhupāda - "So our only request is that take shelter of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, chant always
śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda, and Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. (devotees chant also)
Thank you. So it is not very difficult task. Anyone, just like the children, the boys, two years, three years old, they are also doing the same thing. Where is the difficulty?
Young man can perform the same thing; old man can also perform; everyone can perform, it is so nice. So do not forget this principle,
pañca-tattvātmakaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ
bhakta-rūpa-svarūpakam
bhaktāvatāraṁ bhaktākhyaṁ
namāmi bhakta-śaktikam.
Bhakta-śakti, everything requires strength, so we can derive strength by chanting Caitanya Mahāprabhu's name, and chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. You don't require very high education, neither you require to take your birth in very high family. Ahaitukī." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 1.14, Mayapur, April 7, 1975)
Srila Prabhupāda - "Kevala ānanda-kanda, parama-karuṇa - here are many incarnation, but no better incarnation, no magnanimous incarnation, like Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Nityānanda Prabhu."
Nityānanda Prabhu is always... Vrajenda-nandana yei, śaci-suta haila sei, balarāma haila nitāi.
Nitāi-Gaura means—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who was formerly Kṛṣṇa... He's Kṛṣṇa still. Just for our understanding...
As we think that "I had my former life"—actually I had—but that former life is finished; I am now a new life.
But in case of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it is not like that. It is simultaneously existing. Kṛṣṇa is also existing, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu also existing.
The example is given in this connection, just like the sun. Now it is not visible in India, the sun. But other part, in America, it is visible. So sun is there, but it is not visible at the present moment in India.
Similarly, Kṛṣṇa is there, Caitanya Mahāprabhu is there. Their pastimes are there, it is going on, but it is now not visible in this part of the universe.
There are innumerable universes, so by rotation Kṛṣṇa or Caitanya Mahāprabhu comes to a particular universe at a certain period.
Just like the sun will rise again, tomorrow morning, at six p.m., at six a.m., similarly, Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Kṛṣṇa and all His incarnation, they are rotating regularly." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 7.1, Mayapur, March 1, 1974)
Srila Prabhupāda - "So, Kavirāja Gosvāmī the author of Caitanya-caritāmṛta, he first offered his obeisances to Lord Caitanya in the first verse, agaty-eka-gatiṁ natvā (CC Adi 7.1).
After offering obeisances to the Supreme Lord, who is the only hope for the hopeless, now he's again offering, jaya jaya mahāprabhu śrī kṛṣṇa caitanya.
Prabhu and Mahāprabhu. Nityānanda Prabhu, Advaita Prabhu.
Any Vaiṣṇava is addressed as prabhu, but Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Mahāprabhu, the topmost prabhu, the master prabhu.
All others are servant prabhu. Just like, it is very easy to understand:
if you are working in an office, your immediate boss, you consider him as your master, but he's not the master.
The master of the office is the managing director, manager or the proprietor. But still those who are working under him, sub-prabhus, they are also called prabhu.
So all Vaiṣṇava should be addressed as prabhu; that is the etiquette. But Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Mahāprabhu. As soon as you utter the name of Śrī Caitanya, the Mahāprabhu... Because He's the greatest master." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 7.2, Mayapur, March 2, 1974)
Srila Prabhupāda - "So it is the business of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu... He's so magnanimous that He is distributing Kṛṣṇa. So take shelter of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
You have come from distant place, you have spent much money, thousands of money to come here.
Poll pTake advantage of this journey and chant śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda.
Then you'll get Kṛṣṇa. Then you'll get, surely. This land, Caitanya Mahāprabhu's birthsite. So anyone who takes shelter of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he is dhanya, he is glorified." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 7.2, Mayapur, March 2, 1974)
Srila Prabhupāda - "Acāryāṁ māṁ vijānīyān (SB 11.17.27). So, that guru-tattva has been explained by the author, Kavirāja Gosvāmī in five chapters, six chapters, and the seventh chapter he's describing the five tattvas.
Īśa-prakāśa. Nityānanda Prabhu is the direct manifestation of the Śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya rādhā-kṛṣṇa nahe anya.
When you speak of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, we should understand immediately that He's Kṛṣṇa in Rādhā's attitude, Rādhā-bhāva.
Kṛṣṇa, Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, They are one; They are not different.
Rādhā kṛṣṇa praṇayab vikṛtir hlādinī śaktir asmād (CC Adi 1.5).
Rādhārāṇī is expansion of Kṛṣṇa's pleasure potency. So Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Kṛṣṇa Himself, but the pleasure potency of Kṛṣṇa is prominent in His activities.
Because Kṛṣṇa, in order to understand Himself, He took the position of Rādhārāṇī to understand Himself.
Personally He could not understand His potencies, but when He appeared as Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu in the attitude of Rādhārāṇī's love for Kṛṣṇa, kṛṣṇa-prema, then He could fully understand Him.
These are very intricate subject matter to understand, but this is the fact." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 7.3, Mayapur, March 3, 1974)
Srila Prabhupāda - "So Nityānanda Prabhu is the immediate expansion of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu appeared here at Māyāpur, this very place where you are now sitting, with all these five features:
Nityānanda Prabhu, Śrī Advaita Prabhu, and Gadādhara Prabhu, Śrīnivāsa Prabhu.
So He Himself, Kṛṣṇa, and Nityānanda Prabhu is immediate expansion of His personal self.
Advaita Prabhu is incarnation of Kṛṣṇa, Viṣṇu, Mahāviṣṇu, the three of them.
And Gadādhara Prabhu is the expansion of spiritual energy (internal energy headed by Radharani); and Śrīnivāsa Prabhu is the expansion of His marginal potency, marginal energy, jīva-tattya (jiva-soul).
Jīva-tattva, śakti-tattva, prakāśa-tattva, and avatāra-tattva, and He Himself.
This Pañca-tattva will be explained in this chapter.
That is the proposal of the author. Guru-tattva kahiyāchi ebe pāñcera vicāra. Consideration of the five.
So although the Absolute Truth is one, He expands in His various features. That has been divided in Caitanya Mahāprabhu's practical exposition of tattva-vicāra, in six: five personal, and the guru is also representative.
Sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair. Guru is also expansion of Hari for the benefit of the conditioned soul. For the benefit of the conditioned soul, He is within everyone's heart." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 7.3, Mayapur, March 3, 1974)
Srila Prabhupāda - "Therefore, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu is practically teaching us with His five associates: Advaita, Nityānanda, Gadādhara and Śrīvāsādi gaura-bhakta-vṛnda.
Therefore if we want to approach the Absolute Truth, it is our duty to offer our respect to these five features of the Lord.
śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda
śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda.
(I offer my obeisances to Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, Prabhu Nityānanda, Śrī Advaita, Gadādhara, Śrīvāsa and all others in the line of devotion.)
Therefore, in our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, we first of all worship the Pañca-tattva: śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda śrī-advaita gadādhara—then we chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. Then it will be successful.
Without going through the Pañca-tattva, with the mercy, nobody can understand Kṛṣṇa. It will remain a myth." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 7.3, Mayapur, March 3, 1974)
Srila Prabhupada - "So here Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has appeared with Pañca-tattva.
Kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣā-kṛṣṇaṁ sāṅgopāṅgāstra-pārṣadam, yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana (SB 11.5.32).
He has appeared, these five tattvas. In our exhibition ground we have first placed these five tattvas: Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Nityānanda Prabhu, Gadādhara Prabhu, Advaita Prabhu, and Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura.
Nityānanda Prabhu is the immediate expansion of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Baladeva-tattva.
Baladeva means who gives strength for spiritual advancement. Nāyam ātmā pravacanena labhyo nāyam ātmā balahinena labhyaḥ.
These are the Vedic injunctions. So without Baladeva's or Nityānanda's grace, one cannot make advancement.
āra kabe nitāi-cānda karuṇā ha-ibe
saṁsāra vāsanā mora kabe tuccha ha'be.
This is the grace of Nityānanda Prabhu. Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura explains, āra kabe nitāi-cānda, karuṇā ha-ibe. Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura is aspiring for the day when Nityānanda Prabhu will be pleased upon him.
Just like Jagāi-Mādhāi was delivered by the mercy of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, so we have to pray Nityānanda Prabhu. He's very merciful. He's so kind, Baladeva, He gives spiritual strength. Then we can approach the Supreme Lord.
Therefore we chant "Nitāi-Gaura," this is the process, we cannot change this policy. Pañca-tattva must be worshiped; otherwise wherefrom we shall get our life?
The spiritual master... Nityānanda Prabhu is the spiritual master. Or spiritual master is the replica, representation, of Nityānanda Prabhu.
So when Nityānanda Prabhu is pleased, then we become detached from this material attraction." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 7.4, Mayapur, March 4, 1974)
Srila Prabhupada - "So in this way, if we try to understand that Pañca-tattva, śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda, śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda...
This is Pañca-tattva-
Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, Śrī Nityānanda, Śrī Advaita, Śrī Gadādhara, and Śrīvāsādi. Śrīvāsādi means jīva-tattva (jiva-soul).
The jīva-tattva, śakti-tattva, viṣṇu-tattva, these are all tattvas. So Pañca-tattva. Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya is the supreme tattva, Kṛṣṇa. Śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya, rādhā-kṛṣṇa nahe anya.
We are worshiping Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. So Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya is Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa combined.
Śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya, rādhā-kṛṣṇa nahe anya." (Lecture CC Adi-lila 7.5, Mayapur, March 7, 1974)
