Nityananda

Nityananda Biography

Nityananda was a Vaishnava saint who is worshipped by vaishnavites as an incarnation of Balarama. Nityananda was Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s friend and disciple. They are also mentioned together as Gaura-Nitai or Nimai-Nitai. Nityananda is a religious figure within the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition of Bengal and often referred to by the names - 'Sri Nityananda', 'Prabhu Nityananda' or 'Nityananda Rama'. He is considered the 'most merciful' incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

He was born in Ekachakra, a small village in Birbhum district of present West Bengal around the year 1474. He was born to Pandit Hadai Ojha and Padmavati. Since childhood he was a great devotee of Krishna and used to recite his hymns and bhajans. During his youth days, he played the role of Laxmana in most of the village plays. Once a travelling saint, Lakshmipati Tirtha reached his home and his father asked him to demand anything he wants. The saint asked him to send his son along with him to travel across the country. Thus at the age of thirteen, Nityananda left home with the saint, Lakshmipati Tirtha and his father reluctantly agreed. Both wandered many places and it was the beginning of spiritual journey of Nityananda. Tirtha initiated him and Nityananda has been associated with his guru’s other famous disciples like Madhavendra Puri, Advaita Acharya, and Ishvara Puri.

Nityananda married two daughters of Suryadasa Sarakhela, Vasudha and Jahnava. After marriage, he settled in Khardaha. There exist many stories how Nityananda and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu met for the first time. However the story relating to two drunkards is widely accepted one, though the same story has been told in several ways. Anyhow, the Jodi of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda has given a deep religious and cultural implications in Bengal.

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Updated: March 12, 2014