The Fifth Jewel of Gaudiya Kanthahara, entitled Nityananda-tattva, in honor of the observance of Sri Nityananda Trayodasi, the Appearance day of Lord Nityananda, February 16th.

5.1

advaita acarya, nityananda, dui anga
dui-jana lana prabhura yata kichu ranga

Nityananda Prabhu and Advaitacarya are the two expansions of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu who assist His transcendental pastimes. (Cc. Adi 5.146)

5.2

sankarsanah karana-toya-sayi
garbhoda-sayi ca payobdhi-sayi
sesas ca yasyamsa-kalah sa nitya-
nandakhya-ramah saranam mamastu

May Sri Nityananda Prabhu be the object of my constant remembrance. Sankarsana, Mahavisnu, Garbhodaksayi Visnu, and Ksirodaksayi Visnu, as well as Sesa are His expansions and the expansions of His expansions. That same Nityananda Prabhu, is none other than Balarama. (Cc. Adi 1.7)

5.3

mayatite vyapi-vaikuntha-loke
purnaisvarye sri-catur-vyuha-madhye
rupam yasyodbhati sankarsanakhyam
tam sri-nityananda-ramam prapadye

I surrender unto the lotus feet of Sri Nityananda Rama, who is known as Sankarsana in the midst of the catur-vyuha. He has full opulences and resides in Vaikunthaloka far beyond the material creation. (Cc. Adi 1.8)

5.4

maya-bhartajanda-sanghasrayangah
sete saksat karanambhodhi-madhye
yasyaikamsah sri-puman adi-devas
tam sri-nityananda-ramam prapadye

I offer my full obeisances unto the feet of Sri Nityananda Rama, whose partial representation called Karanodakasayi Visnu, lying on the Karana ocean, is the original Purusa, the master of the illusory energy and the shelter of all the universes. (Cc. Adi 1.9)

5.5

yasyamsamsah srila-garbhoda-sayi
yan-nabhy-abjam loka-sanghata-nalam
loka-srastuh sutika-dhama dhatus
tam sri-nityananda-ramam prapadye

I offer my full obeisances unto the feet of Sri Nityananda Rama, a partial part of whom is Garbhodaksayi Visnu. From the navel of Garbhodaksayi Visnu sprouts the lotus stem that is the birthplace of Brahma, the engineer of the Universe. The stem of that lotus is the resting place of the multitude of planets. (Cc. Adi 1.10)

5.6

yasyamsamsamsah paratmakhilanam
posta visnur bhati dugdhabdhi-sayi
ksauni-bharta yat-kala so 'py anantas
tam sri-nityananda-ramam prapadye

I offer my full obeisances unto the feet of Sri Nityananda Rama, whose secondary part is the Visnu lying in the ocean of milk. That Ksirodakasayi Visnu is the Supersoul of all living entities and the maintainer of all the universe. Sesa Naga is His further sub-part. (Cc. Adi 1.11)

Baladeva is the Original Sankarsana

5.7

sri-balarama gosani mula-sankarsana
panca-rupa dhari' karena krsnera sevana
apane karena krsna-lilara sahaya
srsti-lila-karya kare dhari' cari kaya

Lord Balarama is the original Sankarsana. He assumes five other forms to serve Lord Krsna. He helps in the pastimes of Lord Krsna, and He does the work of creation in four other forms. (Cc. Adi 5.8,9)

Balarama and Nityananda are non Different

5.8

prema-pracarana ara pasanda-dalana
dui-karye avadhuta karena bhramana

For two purposes to spread the cult of bhakti and to defeat and sub- due the atheists Lord Nityananda, the most dedicated devotee of the Lord, moved throughout the country. (Cc. Antya 3.149)

The Glories of Nityananda Prabhu

5.9

jagat mataya nitai premera malasate
palaya durdanta kali padiya vibhrate
ki sukhe bhasila jiva gauracandera nate
dekhiya suniya pasandira buk phate

[All glories to Nityananda Prabhu!] Maddened by ecstatic love of Godhead, he overwhelmed the universe with ecstasy. He slapped his hands together like a warrior who is about to attack, and upon seeing this, the wicked Kali fled in terror, fearing for his life. All souls were drowned in happiness because of the dancing of Sri Gauranga [and Nityananda]. Seeing such dancing, or even hearing of it, melts the hearts even of great atheists. (Gitavali, Nagara-kirtana, 8)

5.10

jaya jaya nityananda, nityananda-rama
yanhara krpate painu vrndavana-dhama
jaya jaya nityananda, jaya krpa-maya
yanha haite painu rupa-sanatanasraya
yanha haite painu raghunatha-mahasaya
yanha haite painu sri-svarupa-asraya
sanatana-krpaya painu bhaktira siddhanta
sri-rupa-krpaya painu bhakti-rasa-pranta
jaya jaya nityananda-caranaravinda
yanha haite painu sri-radha-govinda

All glory, all glory to Lord Nityananda Balarama, by whose mercy I have attained shelter in the transcendental abode of Vrndavana. All glory, all glory to the merciful Lord Nityananda, by whose mercy I have attained shelter of Sri Rupa and Sanatana. By His mercy, I have attained the shelter of the great Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, and by His mercy I have found the refuge of Sri Svarupa Damodara. By the mercy of Sanatana Gosvami I have learned the final conclusions of devotional service, and by the grace of Sri Rupa Gosvami I have tasted the highest nectar of devotional service. All glory, all glory to the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda, by whose mercy I have attained Sri Radha-Govinda. (Cc. Adi. 5.200-204)

Nityananda is the Savior of the Most Fallen

5.11

jagai madhai haite muni se papistha
purisera kita haite muni se laghistha
mora nama sune yei tara punya ksaya
mora nama laya yei tara papa haya
emana nirghrna more keba krpa kare
eka nityananda vinu jagat bhitare
preme matta nityananda krpa-avatara
uttama, adhama, kichu na kare vicara
ye age padaye, tare karaye nistara
ataeva nistarila mo-hena duracara

I am more sinful than Jagai and Madhai and even lower than the worms in stool. Anyone who hears my name loses the results of his pious activities. Whoever utters my name becomes sinful. Who in this world but Nityananda could show His mercy to such an abominable person as me? Because He is intoxicated by ecstatic love and is an incarnation of mercy, He does not dis- tinguish between the good and the bad. He delivers all those who fall down before Him. Therefore He has delivered such a sinful and fallen person as me. (Cc. Adi 5.205-209)

Freedom from Anarthas and the Desire for Bhakti
is Strengthened by the Mercy of Nitai

5.12

samsarera para hai' bhaktira sagare
ye dubibe se bhajuk nitai-candere

One who would cross over the ocean of material existence and swim in the bhakti ocean should worship the lotus feet of Nityananda. (Cb. Adi 1.77)

Nityananda is the Foremost Preacher

5.13

caitanyera adi-bhakta nityananda-raya
caitanyera yaso vaise yanhara jihvaya
aharnisa caitanyera katha prabhu kaya
tan're bhajile se caitanye bhakti haya

Lord Caitanya's first and foremost devotee is Nityananda Raya. The glories of Lord Caitanya are always on his tongue. Day and night Lord Nityananda speaks only of Lord Caitanya. Whoever worships Him is a real devotee of Sri Caitanya. (C.Bhag. Adi 9.217-218)

Nityananda mad About Serving Sri Caitanya

5.14

nityananda avadhuta sabate agala
caitanyera dasya-preme ha-ila pagala

Nityananda, the wandering mendicant, is the foremost of all the ser- vants of Lord Caitanya. He is like the gateway through which all service to Lord Caitanya must pass. He became mad in the ecstasy of service to Lord Caitanya. (Cc. Adi 6.48)

Those who Have no Faith that Gaura and Nitai
are Inseparable are Offenders and Atheists

5.15

dui bhai eka-tanu samana-prakasa
nityananda na mana, tomara habe sarva-nasa
ekete visvasa, anye na kara sammana
"ardha-kukkuti-nyaya" tomara pramana

These two brothers (Gaura and Nitai) are like one body; they are iden- tical manifestations. If you do not believe in Lord Nityananda, you will down. If you have faith in one, but disrespect the other, your logic is like the logic of accepting half a hen. (Cc. Adi 5.175,176)

Faith in Gaura Without Nitai, or Nitai Without Gaura,
is Flickering Faith and in Opposition to Pure Devotional Service

5.16

kimva, dooha na manina hao ta' pasanda
eke mani' are na mani, ei-mata bhanda

It would be better to be an atheist by slighting both brothers than a hypocrite by believing in one and slighting the other. (Cc. Adi 5.177)

Thus ends the Fifth Jewel of Gaudiya Kanthahara, entitled Nityananda-tattva.