Nityananda Caritamrta

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Introduction
däsa Öhäkura. Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu advented in this world
to distribute love of God. He inaugurated His pastimes of distribution
of love of God by first giving prema to four-year-old
Näräyaëé-devé. The Lord gave Näräyaëé-devé remnants of His
chewed betel nuts and thus empowered her. Later on, because of
Lord Caitanya’s favor, Çréla Våndävana däsa Öhäkura was born
as her son. Çré Näräyaëé-devé personally witnessed the pastimes
of Lord Gauräìga. Whatever Çréla Våndävana däsa Öhäkura
heard from his mother, and whatever he later found in Muräri
Gupta’s diary, which recorded the transcendental pastimes of
Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, he wrote in Çré Caitanya-bhägavata.
Çréla Våndävana däsa Öhäkura was a direct disciple of Lord
Nityänanda and His associate in various pastimes. This book,
Nityänanda-caritämåta, was compiled from his writings.
There is no direct evidence that Çréla Våndävana däsa
Öhäkura ever met Lord Gauräìga Mahäprabhu, but he was born
as the Lord’s manifested pastimes were in progress. The book Çré
Prema-viläsa describes his birth and family as follows:
“There was a brähmaëa named Vaikuëöha däsa who lived
in the village of Kumärahaööa. Çré Näräyaëé-devé was married
to him. From the womb of Näräyaëé-devé, Çréla Våndävana däsa
Öhäkura, the incarnation of Çréla Vyäsadeva, was born. When
Çréla Våndävana däsa Öhäkura was within the womb of his
mother, his father, Vaikuëöha däsa, left this world and went to
the spiritual world. When Çréväsa Paëòita saw that his niece
was pregnant and a widow, he brought her to his home.
Thereafter, when Çréla Våndävana däsa Öhäkura was five
years old, he lived with his mother at Mämagäcchi. Väsudeva
Datta, a celebrated recipient of Lord Caitanya’s mercy, took
responsibility for the maintenance of Çréla Våndävana däsa
Öhäkura and his mother. At the house of Väsudeva Datta, Çréla
Våndävana däsa Öhäkura grew up and studied various scriptures.
After the disappearance of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, Çré
Nityänanda Prabhu, and Çré Advaita Prabhu, Çréla Våndävana
däsa Öhäkura resided at a village called Denuòa.”
Regarding the eternal identity of Çréla Våndävana däsa
Öhäkura, Çréla Kavi Karëapüra wrote (Çré Gaura-gaëoddeçadépikä.
verse 109):
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