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)
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.