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31st January 2026 Saturday
Who is Nityananda Prabhu?
Krishna Das Kaviraj Goaswami explains in Chaitanya Charitamrit –
saṅkarṣaṇaḥ kāraṇa-toya-śāyī garbhoda-śāyī ca payo ’bdhi-śāyī
śeṣaś ca yasyāṁśa-kalāḥ sa nityā-nandākhya-rāmaḥ śaraṇaṁ mamāstu – (CC Adi 1.7)
“May Śrī Nityananda Rāma be the object of my constant remembrance. Saṅkarṣaṇa, Śeṣa Nāga and the Viṣṇus who lie on the Kāraṇa Ocean, Garbha Ocean, and ocean of milk are His plenary portions and the portions of His plenary portions.”
It means in Kaliyuga Shri Krishna incarnated as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Balram ji as Nityananda Prabhu. Nityananda Prabhu is non different from Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in all respects except bhaav, love. Shri Gauranga Mahaprabhu is the worshippable Lord who accepts service whereas Shri Nityananda Prabhu is the servant Lord who serves. Thus the Lord Himself demonstrates how one can serve God.
What is the significance of celebrating Nityananda Trayodashi?
The significance of celebrating Nityananda Trayodashi lies in the appearance day of Lord Nityananda, who is non-different from Lord Balarama. Lord Nityananda appeared on the thirteenth day of the waxing moon in the month of Magha (January-February).
By observing this auspicious day, one can attain devotion to Lord Krishna and freedom from the bondage of ignorance, as mentioned in the Sri Caitanya-bhagavata. Just as the appearance day of the Lord is sanctified, the appearance days of the Vaisnavas, such as Lord Nityananda, are also considered pure and auspicious.
It is recommended to hold festivals and observe vows on these days to awaken one's propensity for serving Krishna and to cut asunder the knots of material illusion.
Celebrating Nityananda Trayodashi is a way to connect with the transcendental pastimes and mercy of Lord Nityananda, leading one closer to pure love of God.
Appearance and pastimes of Nityananda Prabhu
In 1474, Nityananda Prabhu appeared in the village Ekachakra of Bengal. He was born to a religious Bengali Brahmin, known as Pandit Hadai, and his wife, Padmavati. They are the real parents of Nityananda Prabhu in Goloka Vrindavan. At an early age, He used to re-enact various pastimes of the Lord with His friends. They all were amazed at how many details of the Lord’s pastimes Nityananda Prabhu knew at that age. When they ask Him, He would simply say, these all wereHis pastimes. They would all laugh and no one would believe Him. After a few years, in the company of a Sanyasi, he visited all the pilgrimages, then started living in Vrindavan. While residing there, he got to know that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had started the sankirtan movement. He came to meet Mahaprabhu and took permission. After that, He started preaching Krishna consciousness.
It is impossible to get the mercy of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu without getting mercy of Shri Nityananda Prabhu. Whatever knowledge of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s life we have available today is only due to the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu. One gets the power to glorify and to preach from His Nityananda Prabhu because, in His AnantShesha form, He empowers.