Re: Why Chant 'Nityananda' first?

In Chaitanya Bhagavata, Madhya-khanda 3.17 Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati in his purport mentions that in order to understand the characteristics of Sri Nityananda we need the mercy of Lord Gauranga. He says: �It is impossible for conditioned souls to take shelter of the Lotus feet of Sri Nityananda. The truth regarding Nityananda is realized only by the grace of Sri Chaitanya�s merciful form as the caitya-guru, the Supersoul.'

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna! The whole of Shri Chaitanya Bhagavata, right from the beginning, states that Lord Nitaai is the possesser and giver of Gaura Prema. As I had explained earlier, the above quote is describing confidential understanding of Lord Nityaananda. Thus, with the preliminary mercy of Lord Nityaananda, we understand Lord Gaura and when we receive the causeless mercy of Lord Gaura, we can attain full shelter and knowledge about the confidential truths about Lord Nitaai. The practical proof is that many Acharyas in Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita and Shri Chaitanya Bhagavata including the Goswamis have attained Lord Gaura specifically due to the initial mercy of Lord Nitaai. So that fact remains undisputed.

In our case we chant the Mantraraja �Nityananda� first and then we chant the Mantraraja �Gauranga�. Do we adhere to this sequence because of the direct instruction of Lord Gauranga Himself when He says to Murari Gupta to pay first obeisances to Lord Nityananda and then to Himself because: �Lord Nityananda is the elder brother?� Or because we approach the Lord via His devotee and the topmost devotee (and guru) is Lord Nityananda?

Both. Lord Gaura instructions is the highest method to please Him as well as Lord Nitaai. And He was clearly upset when Shrila Murari Gupta worshiped Him first in the presence of Lord Nitaai, His elder brother, so much so that He personally taught Shrila Murari Gupta in a vision to worship Lord Nitaai before His worship. And what greater form of worship is possible in Kali Yuga, than the chanting of His Name? Worshiping Lord Nitaai has to include chanting His Name because that is the highest form of worship and one has to chant His Name even while offering Him obeisances.

From Shri Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya, Chp 4: Jiva Goswami to Lord Nityananda:
gaura danta kara yadi tumi raksa kara, tumi yare danta kara gaura tara para.

�If Lord Gauranga punishes a devotee, You (Nityananda) protect him and somehow engage him in Gauranga�s service (like in the example of Kala Krsnadasa), but if You punish a devotee, he eternally becomes estranged from Lord Gauranga.�

The above verse proves without doubt that Lord Nitaai is even more causeless merciful than Lord Gaura. This is also confirmed in the pastimes of the deliverance of Shrila Jagai and Shrila Madhai. I don't think any devotee would dispute this truth. So, considering this situation, it is much more advisable to approach the more merciful Personality first by chanting His Holy Name in the beginning if we want to stand any chance to attain Lord Gaura and Lord Krishna. In the beginning, we are in the most fallen state, thus we need to approach the most merciful Personality first. This is our best chance to attain Gaura Krishna Prema. Even our Prayojana Acharya, Shrila Raghunatha Dasa Goswami had to approach, serve, please and satisfy Lord Nitaai first by organizing the Shri Chida Dahi Festival in Shri Panihati to get His causeless mercy to approach Lord Gaura in Puri Dhaama.

Also the Pancha Tattva starts first with Lord Gauranga and then Lord Nityananda.

Paramahansa Shrila Jagannatha Dasa babaji chanted the Pancha Tattva Mantra is that way, so we accept it in the same form as our Acharyas have chanted without change.

Among the bonafide Nitaai Gaura Nishta Bhaktas, there are three kinds according to their rasa (constitutional mellow):

(1) Those who are Gauravadis (more inclined to Lord Gaura)
(2) Those who are Nitaaivaadis (more inclined to Lord Nitaai)
(3) Those are Nitaai Gauravaadis (equally inclined towards Them both)

(1) may chant Gaura Naama first, (2) may chant Nitaai Naama first, and (3) may chant either Naama first. So, in the ultimate sense, there is not a very hard and fast rule that Nitaai Naama has to be chanted before Gaura Naama. One can chant These two Holy Names in any sequence. But for the benefit awarded to the conditioned souls in our fallen stage, Nityaananda Naama certainly grants us the qualification to chant Gauraanga Naama and then the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. Thus it is recommended to chant Nitaai Naama in the beginning and become sufficiently purified.

Daaso'smi, Swami Gaurangapada.

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