Who is Lord Nityananda?
Lord Nityananda is the manifestation of Lord Balarāma who is considered to be the original guru (a bonafide teacher) for all of mankind. He is the elder brother of Lord Caitanya, who both appeared in this material world around 500 years ago to give the transcendental holy name and simultaneously glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. They reestablished the movement of harinam sankirtan (the chanting of the holy name of Lord Hari, Krsna) to give people at large an understanding and purpose of their material existence. The mantra Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare is eternal, unlimited and is a key to reconnect to the spiritual platform of God-realisation. The names Hare, Krsna and Rama are names of God’s external (Hare) and internal (Krsna, Rama) potency and is an opening prayer asking to perform loving devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krsna.
Nityananda in sanskrit means eternal pleasure. His presence is felt in the presence of one's own guru, for the guru is considered to be a living manifestation of Nityananda Prabhu's love, and His power is what gives a disciple the ability to perform devotional service and experience the bliss of devotional life.
A short meditation on Lord Nityananda
nityanandam aham vande, karne lambita-mauktikam
caitanyagraja-rupena, pavitri-krta-bhutalam
I humbly bow down to and glorify Lord Sri Nityananda Prabhu, on whose beautiful left lotus ear one elegant pearl ornament is swinging. Accepting the role as the elder brother of the Supreme Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu, Lord Nityananda Prabhu sanctified the whole world and purified all the living entities.
Of qualities Lord Nityananda can be described as...
nilambara-dharah srimal-languli-musala-priyah
sankarsanas candra-varno yadunam kula-mangalah
Nilambara-dharah: Sri Nityananda wears blue garments.
Srimal-languli: He wields a splendid plough (as His weapon).
Musala-priyah: He delights in fighting with the club.
Sankarsanas: He causes integration of the cosmic manifestation.
Candra-varno: His complexion is like the moon.
Mangalah: and He creates auspiciousness.
Yadunam kula: for the Yadu dynasty.
gaurasrayah samah santo maya-manusa-rupa-dhrk nityanandavadhutas ca yajna-sutra-dharah sudhih
Gaura-asraya: Sri Nityananda takes shelter of Gaura
Sama: He is equipoised
Santa: peaceful
Maya-manusa-rupa-dhrk: and accepts the apparent form of a man
Nitya-ananda: Lord Nityananda is ever blissful
Avadhuta: and is not bound by social convention
Yajna-sutra-dhara: He wears a sacred thread for performing sacrifice
Sudhi: and has exquisite intelligence
patita-prana-dah prthvi-pavano bhakta-vatsalah
premananda-madonmatta brahmadi-nama-gocarah
Patita: To those fallen (in the world of birth and death)
Prana-da: Sri Nityananda bestows the energy of spiritual life
Prthvi-pavana: He purifies the earth
Bhakta-vatsala: Sri Nityananda is affectionate to His devotees.
Mada-unmatta: and mad with intoxication
Prema-ananda: of the bliss of Krsna-prema
Nama-gocara: His names are known
Brahma-adi: by Brahma (Haridasa) and other devotees
vana-mala-dharo hari rocanadi-vibhusitah
nagendra-sunda-dor-danda-svarna-kankana-manditah
Vana-mala-dhara: Sri Nityananda wears a garland of forest flowers
Hari: and a necklace of pearls
Rocana-adi-vibhusita: Sri Nityananda is ornamented by yellow rocana ointment and so forth
Nagendra-sunda-doh-danda: His arms, which resemble the trunks of elephants
Svarna-kankana-mandita: are decorated by golden bangles
With these names in mind of Lord Nityananda, one can meditate and remember the lotus feet and qualities of Sri Lord Nityananda.