February 5th, 2012

This year we are fortunate that Srila Janardan Maharaj was here to lead our celebration honoring the Divine Appearance of Lord Nityananda. The program started at 11:30 am with arati of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharvika Giridhari and continued with seated kirtan. Maharaj led many songs including: Gaurangera Duti Pada, Nitai Gunamani, Nitai Pada Kamala, Emona Durmati, and others. After the kirtan Srila Janardan Maharaj read from the fifth chapter of Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita by Srila Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami. This chapter explains the ontological position of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, who is non-different from Sri Baladev in Krishna’s lila. Lord Vishnu, Lord Narayan, Sankarshan, the Chatur-vyuha, and all other expansions of the Personality of Godhead are coming from Lord Nityananda’s Divine Personality. Srila Janardan Maharaj emphasized that Lord Nityananda is the “Supreme Personality of Servitor Godhead”. He is the first expansion from Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and is wholesale dedicated to His divine service.

After the class Maharaj led a standing kirtan and everyone honored a prasadam feast.

(photos by Madhumati Didi)

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All glories to Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharvika Giridhari

All glories to Lord Nityananda!

All glories to Srila Janardan Maharaj!

Bilwamangal Prabhu's father came to town for the festival

Ratan Krishna Prabhu and Bilwamangal Prabhu

Little Jahnava, Kumari Devaki, and Saki Prabhu

Madhav and Jahnava

Sureshwari, Krishna Kanti, and Rasangi Devis making samosas

Dikshavati and Divyashakti Devis taking a turn with the samosas

Dikshavati is quite a goofy person

Vrinda Devi preaching to Harindu Prabhu...

who seems quite interested

Rajani Devi and Dikshavati Devi

Bhagavat and Hasyapriya Prabhus with Narayani Devi catch up outside

Young Gopal and Jananivas Prabhus

Krishna Priya meets with the kids to plan the Gaura Purnima play

Nabh and his father Jai Ram Prabhu...

very happily honor prasadam together

Sangita Devi, who is going to teach the children an Indian dance

Ajita Krishna and Naveen Prabhus

Vaidehi Devi and Bilwamangal Prabhu

nitai-pada-kamala,     koti-chandra-sushitala,
ye chayaya jagata judaya
hena nitai bine bhai,     radha-krishna paite nai,
dridha kari dhara nitaira paya
                                                          (Prarthana: 37.1)

“The lotus feet of Nitai are cool­ing like ten mil­lion moons. Their shade soothes the world. O broth­ers! Without Nitai, one can­not reach Radha-Krishna. Firmly clasp the feet of Nitai!”

Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj speaks about Nityananda Prabhu

Without the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu no one will get Krsna-prem, without the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu one will not pro­ceed even one inch in their spir­itual life.

We are very for­tu­nate souls because we heard the divine Name of Nityananda Prabhu and we are fol­low­ing, as pos­sible by us, Nityananda Prabhu’s line. That is most clean and clear for the con­di­tioned souls. We will get everything by the grace of Nityananda Prabhu and His asso­ci­ates. I must say to every­one: take shel­ter of the lotus feet of Nityananda Prabhu and you will have no fear from any­where. We are all fallen souls and our only hope is the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu.

This quote is from GaudiyaDarshan.com.

The following is a short and informal video clip (3 minutes) of Maharaj telling the pastime of Nityananda Prabhu breaking Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s sannyas staff: