Sriman Mahaprabhu & Nityananda Prabhu & Sri Advaita Prabhu

Deities – Sri Advaita, Sriman Mahaprabhu, Sriman Nityananda Prabhu, Nandanacharya prabhu, and Sudevi Mata

Nandana Ācārya, the seventeenth branch of the Caitanya tree, is celebrated within the world because the two Prabhus (Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda) sometimes hid in his house. Nandana Ācārya was another companion of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu during His kīrtana pastimes in Navadvīpa. Śrīla Nityānanda Prabhu, as Avadhūta, traveled on many pilgrimages, and when He first came to Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma He remained hidden in the house of Nandana Ācārya. It is there that He first met all the devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. When Caitanya Mahāprabhu exhibited His mahā-prakāśa, He asked Rāmāi Paṇḍita to call Advaita Prabhu, who was hiding in the home of Nandana Ācārya, for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu could understand that He was hiding. Similarly, Lord Caitanya also sometimes hid in the home of Nandana Ācārya. In this connection one may refer to Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata, Madhya-khaṇḍa, Chapters Six and Seventeen.
(CC Adi 10.39, Translation and Purport)

Nityānanda Prabhu traveled on many pilgrimages with the sannyāsī. It is said that for many days He lived at Mathurā with him, and at that time He heard about Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s pastimes in Navadvīpa. Therefore He came down to Bengal to see the Lord. When Lord Nityānanda came to Navadvīpa, He was a guest at the house of Nandana Ācārya. Understanding that Nityānanda Prabhu had arrived, Lord Caitanya sent His devotees to Him, and thus there was a meeting between Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda Prabhu.
(CC Ādi 17.12 purport)

“The Lord said, ‘O Ananta, I am satisfied with Your service because You are the first amongst the best devotees. For this reason, when I appear in Navadvīpa You will appear as My best servant.
“O fortunate one, Navadvipa is equal to Vṛndāvana. Long ago it was created by Rādhā to bestow mercy on the living entities. Vṛndāvana and Navadvipa are as dear to Me as Rādhā Herself. This I testify is the truth. O Ananta, as I always reside in Vṛndāvana with Radhikā, so I always reside in Navadvīpa combined with Rādhikā in one form as Gauranga. Just as I never leave Vṛndāvana, I never leave Navadvīpa. I appear in Vṛndāvana during every kalpa, and I perform pastimes for the pleasure of the devotees and to purify the world. O Ananta, please describe those same pastimes as they occur in Navadvipa.
“O fortunate one, when I appear in person for the benefit of the populace, You will also appear. I do not tolerate separation from You even for a moment. Therefore, in another age I take You as My elder brother in Vṛndāvana.
“I will appear in Navadvipa, the great holy place, in the house of a brahmana. Being prayed for by the devas. I will kill the fear generated by the advent of Kali-yuga. At that time, appearing as the large-bodied Nityananda. You will be absorbed in kirtana pastimes and transform the bewildered faithless into My devotees. You will convert the living entities into the best of devotees by gathering the essence of My eternal pastimes and composing an attractive samhita approved by the great devotees.”
Lord Siva said. “O Parvati, being ordered by the Lord in this way, Ananta offered His obeisances to the Lord and then composed this great samhita which gives prema-bhakti. When Ananta offered this samhita at the lotus feet of the Lord. He felt great satisfaction. Since this work was full of the Lord’s infinite (ananta) pastimes and since it came from the mouth of Ananta, the Lord called this work. Ananta-samhita.
“My dear Parvati, one time in Vaikuntha the Lord gave this samhita to Brahma for the benefit of all the worlds, and later, in another kalpa, He mercifully gave it to me when I was overcome from drinking poison. As my mouth was burning with the poison. I took this nectarean samhita in my mouth. O Parvati, since that time I have been constantly reciting this samhita along with the auspicious mantra of Gauranga’s name. Being purified by this. I am considered the best of devotees. I am now satisfied, having been freed from the sinful reactions due to creating the atheistic Māyāvāda scriptures which criticize Kṛṣṇa.
“O Parvati, because you are my beloved, in a previous kalpa I gave this samhita to you, but because of your being a woman. or because of your predominance of speculative knowledge, you could not remember it. Described in this samhita are the attractive pastimes of Kṛṣṇa and the character of Gauranga, which bestows direct meeting of Radha and Kṛṣṇa.
“O Parvati, by hearing, reading, or teaching this scripture, a person can attain direct service to Lord Gauranga, who is merciful to the devotees and whose form is eternal and full of knowledge and bliss. Such a person resides in Navadvipa for many kalpas. Then, by Gauranga’s mercy, that person becomes a gopi and resides with Radha and Krsna in the groves of Vṛndāvana as an attendant (sakhi). This is without a doubt the truth.
(Sri Navadvipa-Dhama-Mahatmya, Pramana-Khanda, Chapter 2)

Nandana Ācārya welcomed Nityānanda Prabhu, fed Him, and kept Him in his house. Anyone who hears about the arrival of Nityānanda in Navadvīpa will certainly receive the wealth of love. When Viśvambhara understood that Nityānanda had arrived, He became unlimitedly joyful at heart. On some pretext, the Lord had previously given the Vaiṣṇavas some hint about Nityānanda’s arrival, yet none of them had understood. “O brothers, within two or three days, some great personality will come here.” By providence, after worshiping Viṣṇu that same day, Gauracandra soon met with all the Vaiṣṇavas. The Lord told everyone, “Today, I have seen something wonderful in a dream.
“A chariot, adorned by a flag marked with a palm tree and expert in bestowing the essence of life on all people, arrived at My doorstep. Within the chariot, I saw someone with a huge body. He held a post on His shoulder, and His movements were unsteady. In His left hand, He carried a waterpot wrapped with cane. He was dressed in blue garments, and His head was decorated with a blue cloth. His left ear was adorned with a charming earring. By His characteristics, I could understand that He was none other than Haladhara. He repeatedly inquired ten or twenty times, ‘Is this the house of Nimāi Paṇḍita?’ He was dressed like an avadhūta and appeared to be most powerful. I have never seen such a personality before. I was filled with respect on seeing Him and asked, ‘Which great personality are You?’ He smiled and said, ‘I am Your brother. Tomorrow, We will meet.’ I became most pleased by hearing His words, and I considered Myself to be identical with Him.”
While speaking in this way, the Lord lost His external consciousness and roared loudly in the mood of Haladhara. The Lord repeatedly cried out, “Bring wine! Bring wine!” His cry was so loud that everyone’s eardrums were almost broken.
Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita said, “Please hear me, O Gosāñi. The wine that You are demanding is available only with You. Only one whom You give it to can have it.” The devotees were trembling as they looked on from a distance. All the Vaiṣṇavas contemplated, “There must be a reason for this.” The reddish-eyed Lord recited poems and laughed as His body swayed back and forth like Saṅkarṣaṇa. After a while, the Lord returned to His normal state. Then the friend of Rāma began to explain the meaning of the dream. “It appears to Me that some great personality has arrived here. I have already previously informed you that we will soon meet a great personality. O Haridāsa! O Śrīvāsa! Go immediately and see who has come.”
On the order of the Lord, the two mahā-bhāgavatas happily searched throughout Navadvīpa. While searching in this way, they confided to each other, “It seems Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa has come.” Overwhelmed in ecstasy, the two looked everywhere but were unable to get any indication of where He was. They looked all over Nadia for nine hours without finding anyone and then returned to the Lord. The two informed the Lord, “We have not found anyone new. We have searched the residences of Vaiṣṇavas, sannyāsīs, and gṛhasthas; we have even gone to the houses of atheists. We have looked all over Navadvīpa, but we did not go outside Navadvīpa.” Gauracandra smiled as He heard their report. By this pastime, He revealed that Nityānanda is most confidential. Some persons sing the glories of Gauracandra in this incarnation and run away when they hear the name of Nityānanda. If one worships Govinda but does not respect Lord Śiva, as a result of this sin, he will go to the abode of Yamarāja. In this incarnation, Lord Nityānanda is most confidential. One can see Him only when Lord Caitanya reveals Him. The progress of anyone who blasphemes Him without understanding the depth of His characteristics is obstructed, even if he achieves devotional service to Viṣṇu. Devotees like Śrīvāsa certainly know the truth regarding Nityānanda, but for some curious reason, they could not find Him. After a while, the Lord smiled and said, “Everyone come and see Him with Me.” All the devotees happily went with the Lord while chanting, “Jaya Kṛṣṇa.”
Śrī Gaurasundara led all the devotees to the house of Nandana Ācārya. Sitting there was one great jewel-like personality. Everyone saw that His effulgence was like that of millions of suns. No one could understand His internal mood. He was absorbed in happiness from His meditation and continually smiled. Understanding His pure devotional mood, Viśvambhara and the devotees offered Him obeisances. Everyone then stood there watching Him in awe and reverence without speaking a word. Mahāprabhu Viśvambhara stood directly in front of Nityānanda, who immediately recognized the Lord of His life. The form of Viśvambhara was as attractive as that of Cupid. He was decorated with divine sandalwood pulp, flower garlands, and garments. How can the luster of shining gold be compared with His body? Even the moon desires to see His face. Accompanied by the devotees, the most enchanting Śrī Gaurāṅga and Nityānanda wander throughout Navadvīpa. The value of pearls is minimized on seeing His beautiful teeth, and one loses consciousness on seeing His tied-up hair. One who sees His elongated lotus eyes wonders whether other lotuses exist. His hands reach down to His knees, and His raised chest is adorned with a thin white brāhmaṇa thread. His forehead is beautified with marks of tilaka, and His entire body looks most enchanting even without ornaments. What is the beauty of millions of jewels compared with the beauty of His toenails? What is the use of nectar when we see His smile?
Accepting Śrī Caitanya and Nityānanda Prabhu as my life and soul, I, Vṛndāvana dāsa, sing the glories of Their lotus feet.
(Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata, Madhya-khaṇḍa 3.135 – 3.190)

On realizing this, He immediately went to Navadvīpa, where He stayed at the house of Nandana Ācārya. Nandana Ācārya was a mahā-bhāgavata. He saw that the bodily effulgence of Nityānanda was equal to the sun.
(Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata, Madhya-khaṇḍa 3.124 – 3.125)

Prabhupāda: Parama koruṇa, pahū dui jana, nitāi gauracandra. This is a song by Locana dāsa Ṭhākura, a great devotee and ācārya of the Gauḍīya-sampradāya. He is declaring that pahū dui jana. Pahū means lords. Dui jana means two. Who are the two Lords? Nitāi Gauracandra. One is Lord Nitāi, Nityānanda; another is Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
So he says that, “These two Lords are very merciful.” Parama koruṇa, pahū dui jana. Parama koruṇa means very merciful. Nitai Gauracandra. Saba avatāra, sāra śiromaṇi. Avatāra means incarnation, and saba means all. “They are the essence of all incarnations.” Saba avatāra, sāra śiromaṇi, kevala ānanda-kanda: “And the specific significance of these incarnations is that to prosecute Their ways of self-realization is simply joyful,” ānanda-kanda.
They introduced chanting and dancing. No other incarnation . . . there are many incarnation, just like Lord Rāma. Even Kṛṣṇa, He taught Bhagavad-gītā. That requires knowledge, understanding. But here Lord Caitanya, Nityānanda, introduced some process which is simply joyful: simply chant and dance. Kevala ānanda-kanda. Saba avatāra, sāra śiromaṇi, kevala ānanda-kanda.
Therefore he requests everyone, bhajo bhajo bhāi, caitanya nitāi: “My dear brothers, I request you. Just you worship Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda” sudṛḍha biśwāsa kori’, “with firm conviction and faith” Don’t think that this chanting and dancing will not lead you to the desired goal. It will, because there is assurance of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu that you will get all perfection by this process.
(690104 – Lecture Purport to Parama Koruna – Los Angeles)

For further reading, please refer to:
Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata, Madhya-khaṇḍa : Chapter Four, entitled, “Revelation of Nityānanda’s Glories.”