Nityananda Trayodasi: Appearance of Sri Nityananda Prabhu

What is Nityananda Trayodasi?

Sri Nityananda Prabhu appeared in the village of Ekachakra in Birbhum, Bengal, as the son of Hadai Pandita and Padmavati. Devotees honour Him on Nityananda Trayodasi, the thirteenth day of the bright fortnight of Magha, which in 2027 is Friday, 19 February.

Significance

Sri Nityananda is Lord Balarama, the first expansion of Lord Krishna, and He descended with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. As a boy He gathered the village children and acted out the pastimes of Krishna, Rama and Vamana. At twelve He left home to visit the holy places, and in His twentieth year He met Lord Caitanya. He was then sent back to Bengal to preach the holy name. Even when Madhai struck Him, Lord Nityananda thought only of how to deliver the two brothers, Jagai and Madhai.

Srila Prabhupada taught that Balarama is the original spiritual master, and that without His mercy we cannot understand Krishna or Lord Caitanya. In one lecture he said it plainly:

Nityānanda Prabhu is the strength, spiritual strength. And without spiritual strength you cannot approach Kṛṣṇa.

Lecture, Bhubaneswar, 2 February 1977

How to observe it

Devotees fast until noon and gather to read Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, chapter 5, "The Glories of Lord Nityananda Balarama". They also sing Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura's song "nitai-pada-kamala", which Srila Prabhupada explained in a lecture on Lord Nityananda's appearance day. At home, the simplest offering is to chant "Jaya Nitai, Jaya Gaura" and ask Lord Nityananda for His shelter.