Tomarrow is Nityananda Trayodasi. I'd like therefore share with you this poem written by Sridhara Maharaja "Sri-Sriman-Nityananda-dvadasakam" I hope that it will inspire you
Verse 1
yo 'nanto 'nanta-vaktrair niravadhi hari-samkirtanam samvidhatte
yo va dhatte dharitrim sirasi niravadhi ksudra-dhuli kaneva
yah sesas-chatra-sayasana-vasana-vidhaih sevate te yad-arthah
sri-nityananda-candram bhaja bhaja satatam gaura-krsna-pradam tam
Lord Nityananda's representation as Ananta Sesa possesses unlimited mouths which propagate and glorify Lord Hari's holy names and attributes. Ananta Sesa constantly holds the weight of the Earth planet upon His innumerable hoods as if it were an insignificant particle of dust. Ananta Sesa serves the Lord in various capacities, manifesting as the Lord's personal umbrella, resting place, and clothing. Let us eternally worship that great personality Sri Nityanandacandra, who freely grants the association of Sri Gaurangadeva, who is none other than Lord Krsna.
Verse 2
amsair yah ksirasayi sakala bhuvanapah sarva jivantarastho
yo va garbhodasayi dasa-sata-vadano veda-suktair vigitah
bramandasesa garbha prakrti-pati-patir jiva-sanghasrayangah
sri-nityananda-candram bhaja bhaja satatam gaura-krsna pradarh tam
Lord Nityananda's partial manifestation as Ksirodakasayi Visnu functions as the preservation principle of the entire universal creation, and is localized within every soul (Paramatma). Another eminent expansion of Lord Nityananda is Garbhodakasayi Visnu, that all-imposing figure whose thousands of heads are eulogized in the Vedic orations. Lord Nityananda's presence is further extended in His expansion as Karanodasayi Visnu, the supplying principle encompassing unlimited universes. Lord Nityananda is the master of the Lord of material nature, Karanodasayi Visnu, who is the shelter of all living entities. Let us eternally worship that great personality Sri Nityanandacandra, who freely grants the association of Sri Gaurangadeva, who is none other than Lord Krsna.
Verse 3
yasyamso vyuha-madhye vilasati parama vyomni samkarsanakhya
atanvan suddha-sattvam nikhila hari-sukham cetanam lilaya ca
jivahankara bhavaspada iti kathitah kutracij-jivavad yah
sri-nityananda-candram bhaja bhaja satatam gaura-krsna-pradam tam
Lord Nityananda's presence is further extended within the spiritual abode of Vaikuntha in His partial manifestation known as Sankarsana. In Vaikuntha, Lord Sankarsana performs spiritual pastimes which are fully transcendental, situated in pure goodness, and all-pleasing to Lord Hari. As mentioned in the revealed scriptures, Lord Nityananda is the individual temperament of ego existing within the living entity, and He sometimes appears just like an ordinary living entity. Let us eternally worship that great personality Sri Nityanandacandra, who freely grants the association of Sri Gaurangadeva, who is none other than Lord Krsna.
Verse 4
yascadi vyuha-madhye prabhavati sagano mula-sankarsanakhyo
dvaravatyam tad-urdhe madhupuri vasati prabhavakhyo vilasah
sarvamsirama-nama vrajapuri ramate sanujo yah svarupe
sri-nityananda-candram bhaja bhaja satatam gaura-krsna pradam tam
Lord Nityananda, who is the fountainhead of the primary Sankarsana, exists in full splendor separate from the original quadruple expansion and is known as mula Sankarsana. That all-attractive personality, Sri Sankarsana, performs His wonderful pastimes in the spiritual realm in the regions known as Mathura and Dvaraka. The transcendental city of Dvaraka is situated just below the city of Mathura. It is in these spiritual places that Lord Sankarsana and His associates Aniruddha and Pradyumna exhibit Their particular pastimes scripturally known as prabhava-vilasah. Nityananda Prabhu in the form of Lord Balarama is the ultimate source of all incarnations, and sportively plays in the charming village of Vrajapura with His younger brother Lord Krsna. Let us eternally worship that great personality Sri Nityanandacandra, who freely grants the association of Sri Gaurangadeva, who is none other than Lord Krsna.
Verse 5
sri-krsna prema namaparama sukha-mayah ko'pyacintyah padartho
yad gandhat sajjanaugha nigama bahumatam moksam apyaksipanti
kaivalyaisvarya seva pradagana iti yasyangatah premadatuh
sri-nityananda-candram bhaja bhaja satatam gaura-krsna pradam tam
Pure unalloyed love for Lord Krsna, which is inconceivable to all, embodies the most supreme and intense happiness. When the devotees of the Lord realize the joy of such love, they cast away the innumerable doctrines offered by the Vedas, including the soul's emancipation. Lord Nityananda openly bestows pure love, automatically including worship of the non-differentiated Brahman and service offered in Vaikuntha, which is dominated by opulence and grandeur. Let us eternally worship that great personality Sri Nityanandacandra, who freely grants the association of Sri Gaurangadeva, who is none other than Lord Krsna.
Verse 6
yo balye lilayaikah parama-mudhuraya caikacakra-nagaryam
mata pitror jananamatha nija-suhrdam hladayams citta-cakram
tirthan babhrama sarvan upahrta janako nyasina prarthitas ca
sri-nityananda-candram bhaja bhaja satatam gaura-krsna pradam tam
When Nityananda Prabhu was a small boy, He performed sweet and charming pastimes in the village of Ekacakra. His pastimes invoked the deepest heartfelt happiness in His mother, father, relatives, and close friends. Once a renunciate arrived at the house of Nityananda Prabhu and prayed to the boy's father for his son. Lord Nityananda was placed in the hands of the renunciate and left to visit the holy places of pilgrimage, wandering throughout the length and breadth of India. Let us eternally worship that great personality Sri Nityanandacandra, who freely grants the association of Sri Gaurangadeva, who is none other than Lord Krsna.
Verse 7
bhramam bhraman ca tirthan yati-mukuta-mani madhavendra prasangat
labdhollasah pratiksya prakatita caritam gaura dhamajagama
sri-gaurah srinivasadibhir api yamavapalaye nandanasya
sri-nityananda-candram bhaja bhaja satatam gaura-krsna pradam tam
Nityananda travelled from place to place with the crest jewel of the renounced order, Sri Madhavendra Puri. In the pure association of Madhavendra Puri, Lord Nityananda experienced the most joyful symptoms of ecstasy. After this, the Lord journeyed to Navadvipa, where He eagerly waited for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to reveal His benevolent nature to the world. Shortly following Nityananda's arrival, Lord Caitanyadeva Himself, in the company of Srinivasa Pandita and Haridasa Thakura, went to the house of Sri Nandanacarya and found Nitai there. Let us eternally worship that great personality Sri Nityanandacandra, who freely grants the association of Sri Gaurangadeva, who is none other than Lord Krsna.
Verse 8
praptajno gaura-candrad akhila jana ganoddhara nama pradane
yah prapya dvau surapau kali kalusa-hatau bhratarau brahma-daityau
gadha-prema prakasaih krta-nidhira-vapus capi tav-ujjahara
sri-nityananda-candram bhaja bhaja satatam gaura-krsna pradam tam
Nityananda Prabhu was ordered by that golden moon, Sriman Mahaprabhu, to deliver the masses by the wide distribution of Lord Krsna's holy names. One evening, Lord Nityananda encountered those two drunken and sinful brothers, Jagai and Madhai, who were previously brahma-daitya demons of the first order, acting under the devastating spell of Kali-yuga. Suddenly, Nitai was attacked by Madhai, whereupon His body became smeared with blood. In response, Lord Nitai exhibited deep affection for the welfare of the two brothers and rescued them from their abominable condition. Let us eternally worship that great personality Sri Nityanandacandra, who freely grants the association of Sri Gaurangadeva, who is none other than Lord Krsna.
Verse 9
saksad gauro gananam sirasi yad avadhutasya kaupiha-khandam
samdhartun cadidesasava yavana vadhu sprsta-drsto 'pi vandyah
brahmadyanam apiti prabhu-panhrtakanam api svesta-pithah
sri-nityananda-candram bhaja bhaja satatam gaura-krsna pradam tam
Lord Gauranga instructed His family members and followers to wear pieces of Lord Nityananda's kaupina respectfully on their bodies. So pure and impeccable is the character of Nitai that even if He is seen holding the hand of a Muslim's wife and carrying a bottle of wine, nonetheless He remains supremely worshippable by the great demigods such as Lord Brahma. Lord Nityananda is also the desirable object of those exalted devotees who can steal away the heart of the Lord. Let us eternally worship that great personality Sri Nityanandacandra, who freely grants the association of Sri Gaurangadeva, who is none other than Lord Krsna.
Verse 10
uddhartumjnana-karmady-apahata-cantan gaura-candro yadasau
nyasam krtva tu maya mrgam anusrtavan grahayan krsna-nama
tac-chayevanvadhavat sthala-jala-gahane yo 'pi tasyesta-cestah
sri-nityananda-candram bhaja bhaja satatam gaura-krsna pradam tam
Accepting the renounced order of life and distributing the Lord's holy names, Lord Gauranga chased after those souls who had been spoiled by the doctrines of dry argumentative logic and motivated fruitive activity. Like Lord Gauranga's own shadow, Nitai Prabhu accompanied the Lord over land and through rivers, waterways, and jungles. In addition, Lord Nityananda is the desired goal of all Gaurangadeva's endeavors. Let us eternally worship that grand personality Sri Nityanandacandra, who can freely grant the association of that golden Lord Sri Gaurangadeva, who is none other than Lord Krsna.
Verse 11
sri-radha prema-lubdho divasa-nisitadasvada-mattaika lilo
gauro yan-cadidesa svaparikaravrtam krsna nama-pradatum
gaude 'vadham dadau yah subhaga-gana-dhanam gaura-nama-prakamam
sri-nityananda-candram bhaja bhaja satatam gaura-krsna pradam tam
Day and night Lord Caitanya was intoxicated with the intense desire to taste the sweetness of Sri Radhika's divine love for Sri Krsna. Sriman Mahaprabhu instructed Lord Nityananda and His associates to go out and profusely distribute the holy names of Lord Krsna. However, Lord Nityananda instead plentifully distributed Lord Gauranga's name, the most precious fortune available to the living entities, with no impediment at all. Let us eternally worship that great personality Sri Nityanandacandra, who freely grants the association of Sri Gaurangadeva, who is none other than Lord Krsna.
Verse 12
sri-radha krsna-lila rasa-madhura-sudhasvada-suddhaika-murtau
gaure sraddham drdham bho prabhu-parikara-samrat prayacchadhame 'smin
ullanghyanghrim hi yasyakhila-bhajana-katha svapnavac caiva mithya
sri-nityananda-candram patita saranadam gauradam tam bhaje 'ham
0 Nityananda Prabhu, emperor amidst the personal associates of Sriman Mahaprabhu! Kindly grant this fallen soul deep and resolute faith in that pure and divine figure of Sri Gauranga. Lord Gauranga's personality exclusively embodies the sweet nectar relished deep within the devotional mellows of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna's pastimes. But if Your lotus feet are overlooked, then all so-called devotional orations and prayers meant for the highest worship become false, like a dream. I worship You, that great personality Nityanandacandra, who openly bestows shelter to the most fallen souls, freely granting the association of Sri Gaurangadeva.
This stotram of Pujyapada Sridhara Maharaja is very nice. It appears that he wrote twelve verses in glorification of Nityananda Prabhu in consideration of the fact that Nitai had twelve principal associates (dvadasa gopla), all of whom are cowherds in the Vraja lila.
This concluding verse of the stotram reminds me of Srila Prabhupada, another cowherd who received a special empowerment from Nityananda Prabhu to do the work of his Gurudeva.
Verse 12
sri-radha krsna-lila rasa-madhura-sudhasvada-suddhaika-murtau
gaure sraddham drdham bho prabhu-parikara-samrat prayacchadhame 'smin
ullanghyanghrim hi yasyakhila-bhajana-katha svapnavac caiva mithya
sri-nityananda-candram patita saranadam gauradam tam bhaje 'ham
0 Nityananda Prabhu, emperor amidst the personal associates of Sriman Mahaprabhu! Kindly grant this fallen soul deep and resolute faith in that pure and divine figure of Sri Gauranga. Lord Gauranga's personality exclusively embodies the sweet nectar relished deep within the devotional mellows of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna's pastimes. But if Your lotus feet are overlooked, then all so-called devotional orations and prayers meant for the highest worship become false, like a dream. I worship You, that great personality Nityanandacandra, who openly bestows shelter to the most fallen souls, freely granting the association of Sri Gaurangadeva.
The fact is that if someone from the West in particular overlooks Srila Abhaya Carana Bhaktivednata Swami Prabhupada, their so called devotion is like a dream. Actually in Sridhara Maharaja's consideration Prabhupada spread Krsna conscious East and West, hare krsneti mantrena pascatya pracya tarine, and this work required Nityanandavesa, saktyavesa svarupine.
The fact is that if someone from the West in particular overlooks Srila Abhaya Carana Bhaktivednata Swami Prabhupada, their so called devotion is like a dream. Actually in Sridhara Maharaja's consideration Prabhupada spread Krsna conscious East and West, hare krsneti mantrena pascatya pracya tarine, and this work required Nityanandavesa, saktyavesa svarupine.
Thank you Guru Maharaja for such a nice statement. How could any one of of us not recognize Your great preceptor as the seed giving master to us all. For without His mercy none of us would have come to know the great Nityananda Prabhu and the mercy He has given all us Judhi and Mudhi westerners.
I for one know, for sure, that I have been granted a life for my ways were definitely well within the realm of Judhi and Mudhi if not worse in some regards. A true hedonist has been converted.
May Your mercy continue to be bestowed upon this converted debauchee and allow me to continue toward my true self with Your wounderful guidance.
I have very much enjoyed Your newest addition.
Thank You very much Guru Maharaja for Your wonderful commentary. I've never thought about these prayers in this way. Your commentary makes me think more about this, more deeply, thank You.