Home > Society > Religion in India > Nityananda
Nityananda
Nityananda (b 1474 CE) is a Vaishnava saint who is a primary religious figure within the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition of Bengal.

Share this Article:

Nityananda, Vaishnava SaintNityananda is worshipped as an incarnation of Balarama. Nityananda was Chaitanya`s friend and disciple. They are also mentioned together as Gaura-Nitai or Nimai-Nitai Followers refer to Nityananda as `Sri Nityananda`, `Prabhu Nityananda` or `Nityananda Rama`.

Nityananda is an incarnation of Balarama according to Gaudiya Vaishnavism and his eternal brother and friend is Chaitanya. He was born to a religious Bandyaghati Brahmin, Mukunda Pandit and Padmavati in Ekachakra in Birbhum district of present West Bengal around the year 1474. He was highly a devoted person and could sing Vaishnava hymns. He was known for his dramatic re-enactments of Lord Rama`s pastimes.

He left his home at the age of thirteen with a sannyasi known as Lakshmipati Tirtha. His father had offered the travelling sannyasi a gift anything he wished. Lakshmipati Tirtha replied to this that he was in need of someone to assist him in his travels to the holy places and Nityananda would be perfect. His father agreed to sannyasi`s wish as he had promised. This started his physical and spiritual journey through India which helps him to be in contact with important Vaishnava Gurus. He was also associated with Lakshmipati Tirtha`s famous other disciples like Madhavendra Puri, Advaita Acharya, and Ishvara Puri.

Jagai-Madhai is a well known tale related to Chaitanya and Nityananda. Once while chanting the name of Lord Krishna in the streets, Nityananda was attacked by Jagai and Madhai, two drunken brothers. Madhai threw an earthen pot which cut Nityananada`s forehead. Chaitanya heard about this and flew to a rage and wanted to kill the brothers with his Chakra. Nityananda requested him to pardon them. Thereafter they became disciples of Chaitanya.

He married two daughters of Suryadasa Sarakhela, Vasudha and Jahnava. He settled in Khardaha after marriage. He also had a son, Virachandra and a daughter, Ganga from his first wife Vasudha. His step mother later initiated Virabhadra to vaishnava rites.

This article is a stub. You can enrich by adding more information to it. Send your Write Up to [email protected]


Share this Article:

Subscribe to Newsletter
Learn unknown facts about India from a curated list of informative articles.

Related Articles

More Articles in Religion in India

Religion in Indus Valley Civilization
Religion in Indus Valley Civilisation included Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Details about the religion in Indus Valley Civilization have been gathered from archaeological artefacts.
Shaivism Religion
Shaivism is the second largest “religious community” in modern India with its roots deeply seated in the Hindu Vedic belief.
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism is among the more popular denominations of Hinduism, with its own distinctive ideas about spirituality and morality. Vaishnavism concentrates on worshipping god Vishnu and of his incarnations.
Hinduism Religion
Hinduism is more of a philosophy which is a way of living according to the understanding of the principles of Vedas and Upanishads.
Islam
Islam is a religion that beliefs in Allah as the one and only God and creator of the Universe. Islamic law or Sharia is characterised by the five pillars of Islam which comprise the essential duties of every Muslim.
Christianity
Christianity is a religion based on the teachings and life of Jesus Christ and it is the largest religion in the world.
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and a philosophy that encompasses a wide variety of beliefs, practices and traditions that are chiefly based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha and its later disciples.
Jainism
Jainism chronologically preceded the religion of Buddhism. It is considered as one of the oldest religions of India. Jainism in India shared with Hinduism and Buddhism. It is an integral part of South Asian religious belief and practice, but it is not a Hindu sect and not a Buddhist heresy, as earlier scholars believed.
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism, closely related to Judaism, Christianity and Islam was founded by Zoroaster.
Sikhism
Sikhism is a religion started by Guru Nanak in land of Punjab in 15th century A.D.
Iyer Brahmin
Iyer Brahmins are originally from Tamil Nadu of South India. The Iyers have always taken an interest in preserving the arts and sciences.
Barai Caste
Barai Caste is the professional cultivator caste of betel leaf. Tamboli and Pansari are the terms used indifferently for Barai Caste. The diversity of names of the sub-divisions of Barai Caste discloses the mixed elements that formed the caste.
Dangi Caste
Dangi Caste is largely distributed in the high land regions, and the word Dangi is said to have originated from the geographical features of their territory. Main occupation of the members of Dangi Caste is cultivation.
Nadar Caste
One of the most renowned castes of Tamil Nadu is the Nadar caste. The Nadar community is a mixture of sub-castes and classes of different origins, which came under one banner of Nadar caste gradually.
Kumbhakar Caste
Kumbhakar is the potter caste who manufactures all kinds of earthen vessels.
Gujjars in Maharashtra
Gujjars in Maharashtra have several sub-castes. Here, in this state the Gurjars are listed as a separate caste. They are included in the Maharashtra OBC list.
Awasthi Brahmin
Awasthi is a surname or a family name of a particular sub-caste of Brahmins in the Indian continent.
Bhoyar Caste
Bhoyar Caste is largely found in the Central Provinces of the country. Traditional occupation of Bhoyars is agriculture. They are good cultivators and mostly grow sugarcane.
Gujjars in Mughal Era
Gujjars in the Mughal era enjoyed great power. Further their power increased with the decline of Aurangzeb, Mughal emperor.
Origin of Vaishnavism
Origin of Vaishnavism shares its attributes to many sources and religious evolution, dating back to pre-Vedic epoch.
Gotra in Hinduism
In Hinduism, gotra refers to a lineage system tracing descent from ancient sages, primarily through the paternal line. Originating from Vedic tradition, it plays a crucial role in identity and marriage customs. Individuals from the same gotra are considered to share a common ancestor and are traditionally prohibited from intermarrying.