Nityananda Caritamrta

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ÇRÉ NITYÄNANDA CARITÄMÅTA
while swinging their hands and bodies. The priest came to perform
the necessary duties prior to the marriage, while the ladies
made auspicious sounds on all sides.
The priest tied yellow threads on Lord Nityänanda’s and
Jähnavä’s hands. Jahnavä then went inside the house, bowing
down her head. The musicians played auspicious rägas as all the
people dove and surfaced in the ocean of great happiness.
As the ladies brought water for the ceremony, some of them
said, “Jähnavä is indeed most fortunate. Who else could have
such a beautiful groom, except Revaté, who previously had such
a wonderful husband?”
“They look just like Çaìkara and Parvaté,” someone said.
“They look like Lakñmé and Näräyaëa.” others said.
“It is like the union of Kämadeva and Raté,” another said.
Yet others said, “They are like Räma and Sétä.”
In this way, people revealed their minds to one another.
They laughed and fell on each other as if intoxicated. Many
of the ladies were simple young girls, attending the marriage
of their friend, and were unable to check their jubilation. The
whole day passed in blissful preparation. Finally, the auspicious
time for the marriage ceremony arrived.
Süryadäsa Paëòita told his relatives to decorate both the
bride and groom. Hearing this, everyone became very happy. Nityänanda
Prabhu came out and sat in the courtyard of the Viñëu
temple and Gaurédäsa Paëòita began to decorate Him. Nityänanda
was naturally very enchanting. The Paëòita put tilaka and
sandalwood paste on His forehead. Naturally intoxicated with
prema, Nityänanda’s eyes always moved in circles. The Paëòita
put black ointment on those eyes. The Lord’s beautifully raised
nose was marked with tilaka and sandalwood paste. The beauty
of His face defeated the beauty of the full moon. His broad chest
was decorated with sandalwood paste and flower garlands. He
wore white garments and a white sacred thread. That thread appeared
just like Lord Ananta Çeña covering Lord Balaräma. A
crown adorned His head, and He wore beautiful earrings. The
golden ornaments decorating His body shone brightly.
The artistic ladies sat in a private place and decorated Jähnavä
with undivided attention. They combed and braided her
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