Nityananda Prabhu: the highest distributer of Gaura-prema!
Both Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu were born in brahman families. Mahaprabhu maintained the rules and regulations of sannyas life and preached Krishna consciousness. He distributed the Hare Krishna mahamantra to everyone and revealed Radha-Krishna-prema in this world. Mahaprabhu always wanted to give Krishna-prema to the fallen souls who were not offensive. But Nityananda Prabhu’s preaching was different. He did not care for external formality.
preme matta nityānanda kṛpā-avatāra
uttama, adhama, kichhu nā kare vichāra
Nityananda Prabhu was always intoxicated with Gaura-prema, intoxicated with the Name of Sriman Mahaprabhu. He knew only Mahaprabhu, and He distributed Mahaprabhu in an intoxicated mood of devotion. If anyone would take shelter of Nityananda Prabhu, He would be very merciful to him. Nityananda Prabhu would not look at who was a good man or who was a bad man. If anyone wanted to take shelter in the shade of His lotus feet, He would immediately shelter them and send them to Gauranga Mahaprabhu. He would engage them in the service of Mahaprabhu. If anyone would once chant «Jay Sachi Nandan! Jay Gaurahari!», Nityananda Prabhu would think, «I am his slave. I will give him everything.» Who was fallen, who was not fallen, who was bad, who was good — He made no consideration. Many times Mahaprabhu gave many conditions, but Nityananda Prabhu had no conditions. He only begged, «Surrender to Chaitanyadev, surrender to Gaurangadev, surrender to Nimai Visvambhar, and you will be rescued!»
Nityananda Prabhu looked at a person’s faith. Anywhere He saw the light of faith within someone He would bestow His mercy. Faith is the very foundation and gist of spiritual life. There was only difficulty for faithless persons, but Nityananda Prabhu is so merciful that when He found persons without faith, He would supply faith to them. He would give them true spiritual property. In this way Nityananda Prabhu’s mercy truly goes everywhere! Even where sunlight does not go, there also Nityananda Prabhu’s mercy goes. In this way He gave something even more than Mahaprabhu! That is Nityananda Prabhu’s divine character and supreme gift.
Nityananda Prabhu’s preaching was actually Gaura consciousness. His preaching was the glorification of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Nityananda Prabhu distributed Mahaprabhu Himself. Nityananda Prabhu’s mantram and preaching style was:
bhaja gaurāṅga kaha gaurāṅga laha gaurāṅgera nāma
ye jana gaurāṅga bhaje sei haya āmāra prāṇa
«Chant the Divine Name of Gauranga Mahaprabhu! Whoever worships Lord Gauranga is My life and soul. Whoever practises Krishna consciousness under the guidance of Gauranga Mahaprabhu is My life and soul.»
In this way Nityananda Prabhu preached, and His preaching was so successful. Nityananda Prabhu was very merciful to whoever took shelter of Mahaprabhu — He would give them all the wealth of Gaura-prema. This was the character of Nityananda Prabhu. Thousands and thousands of people came to the lotus feet of Nityananda, and He made them all the devotees of Gauranga Mahaprabhu. All over the world people are chanting Mahaprabhu’s Name and Krishna’s Name. It is only by the blessings of Nityananda Prabhu that this has happened. Without His mercy it would not be possible.