Friday 30th January - The appearance of Nityananda prabhu - with special guest HG Madhu Vrata das prabhu

This week is another auspicious festival day - Nityananda Trayodashi. Lord Nityananda is the eternal associate of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden avatar of Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When Krishna appeared 5000 years ago on Earth, in the form of cowheard boy, so with him came Balaram, his brother, His first expansion. When Krishna appeared again 500 years ago as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the very same Balaram, appeared as Nityananda.

om pūrnam adah pūrnam idam

pūrnāt pūrnam udacyate

pūrnasya pūrnam ādāya

pūrnam evāvaśisyate

The Personality of Godhead is perfect and complete, and because He is completely perfect, all emanations from Him, such as this phenomenal world, are perfectly equipped as complete wholes. Whatever is produced of the Complete Whole is also complete in itself. Because He is the Complete Whole, even though so many complete units emanate from Him, He remains the complete balance.

(Sri Isopanisad)

The ancient Bhakti texts explain, God, Krishna, can expand without diminishing Himself. Krishna is purna, complete. When He expands, He does not divide or dilute. Each expansion is also fully divine, fully conscious, fully powerful, yet still rooted in the original source. Nityananda is understood as Krishna’s first expansion, originally as Balarama in Vrindavan. Balarama/Nityananda is not a partial God or a lesser version. He is fully God, with a different function and mood. Krishna embodies sweetness, intimacy, attraction. Balarama embodies strength, service, and support. Same completeness, different role. His Grace, Madhu Vrata das prabhu, senior devotee, long time Bhakti Yogi, who spent many years as a monk in India, is this weeks special guest and will give a talk on the Glories of Nityananda prabhu, His unique attributes and pastimes, spiritual relevance to this tradition of Bhakti Yoga and how His appearance benefits the entire world.

nitāi-pada-kamala, koti-candra-suśītala

je chāyāy jagata jurāy

The lotus feet of Lord Nityananda are a shelter where one will get the soothing moonlight not only of one, but of millions of moons. If the world wants to have real peace, it should take shelter of Lord Nityananda.

(Nitai Pada Kamala - Narottama dasa Thakur)

This promises to be a very special festival night, please join us to hear from our special guest, sing devotional songs (Bhajans) and of course we will also have much Kirtan (chanting with musical instruments) and finish with a Veggie/Vegan Spiritual Feast. We look forward to seeing you there!

Downstairs at BMECP centre, near to the rear of Brighton's train station - 10 Fleet St, Brighton, BN1 4ZE. PLEASE RING THE DOORBELL

Map of the venue HERE

Time 19.00-22.00