Nityananda
Hindu saint (born c. 1474) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Nityananda (Nityānanda; born in Ekachakra, Bengal Sultanate, present day in Birbhum district of West Bengal 1474), also called Nitai, was a primary religious figure within the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition of Bengal. Nitai was Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's friend and disciple. They are often mentioned together as Gaura-Nitai (Gaura, "golden one", referring to Chaitanya, Nitai being a shortened form of Nityānanda Rama) or Nimai-Nitai (Nimai being another name of Chaitanya).[1] Followers often refer to Nityānanda as "Sri Nityananda", "Prabhu Nityananda" or "Nityananda Rama".
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Sri Nityananda Prabhu | |
---|---|
Personal | |
Born | circa 1474 |
Died | c. 1540 |
Religion | Hinduism |
Spouse | Jahnava and Vasudha |
Parents |
|
Known for | Expounded Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Bhakti yoga along with Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Śrī Advaita Ācārya |
Organization | |
Philosophy | Bhakti yoga, Achintya Bheda Abheda |
Religious career | |
Guru | Madhavendra Puri (mantra guru) |
Associates | Śrī Advaita Ācārya, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Śrī Gadadhāra Pandita, Śrīvāsa Thakura, Haridasa Thakur and others |
According to Gaudiya-Vaishnava tradition, Nityānanda is an incarnation of Balarama, with Chaitanya being his eternal brother and friend, Krishna.[2] He is considered the "most merciful" incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead[3] (a term popularised by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami).
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati writes: "Nityananda is the Primary Manifestive Constituent of the Divinity[clarification needed]. Nityananda alone possesses the distinctive function of the guru. In Nityananda, the function is embodied. Nityananda is the servant-God."[4]