Lord Caitanya is the most merciful incarnation of the Lord – yet there is someone who is even more merciful than Him. On the spiritual platform, perfection is not a limit but is ever-increasing; therefore the superlatively most merciful Lord can be superseded by someone who is even more merciful.
Who is more merciful than Lord Caitanya? Who is more merciful than the incarnation of Lord Krishna who appeared specifically to deliver the suffering souls of this world and grant the highest and most secret treasure of the spiritual realm to one and all?
Lord Caitanya was prepared to kill Jagai and Madhai, the two sinful men who attacked Lord Nityananda. But Lord Nityananda prevented Him from doing so and begged the Lord to show them His mercy. Thus, we can see the supreme mercy of Nityananda Prabhu.
In Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 5.208-209, the author Krishna dasa Kaviraja Goswami glorifies Lord Nityananda as follows:
preme matta nityananda krpa-avatara
uttama, adhama, kichu na kare vicaraBecause He is intoxicated by ecstatic love and is an incarnation of mercy, He does not distinguish between the good and the bad.
ye age padaye, tare karaye nistara
ataeva nistarila mo-hena duracaraHe delivers all those who fall down before Him. Therefore He has delivered such a sinful and fallen person as me.
Nityananda’s mercy is available for one and all, and in ISKCON Mayapur, devotees are watching a tangible manifestation of Lord Nityananda’s mercy unfold: the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, the grand temple that will be the headquarters of the sankirtana movement of Lord Caitanya and the place from which the mercy of Gaura-Nitai will spread throughout the world.
The temple was predicted by Lord Nityananda Himself. In Sri Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura narrates Lord Nityananda’s prediction:
“When our Lord Caitanya disappears, by His desire, the Ganges will swell. The Ganges water will almost cover Mayapur for a hundred years, and then the water will again recede. For some time only the place will remain, devoid of houses. Then again, by the Lord’s desire, this place will again be manifest, and the devotees will build temples of the Lord. One exceedingly wonderful temple (adbhuta-mandira) will appear from which Gauranga’s eternal service will be preached everywhere.”
Not only did Lord Nityananda predict this temple, but He has personally traveled the world seeking donations for its construction. The padukas, or shoes, of the Deity of Lord Nityananda in the Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir have traveled to multiple continents, accompanied by the head pujari of Mayapur Jananivas dasa. The shoes of the Deity are considered nondifferent from the Deity Himself – Sri Nityananda Prabhu Himself has gone door to door, temple to temple, requesting donations for this most important project.
In so many ways, Lord Nityananda’s mercy is made available to one and all. Let us take advantage of the mercy of Lord Nitai, and join Him in His sankirtana mission.
nityānanda-mahimā-sindhu ananta, apāra
eka kaṇā sparśi mātra, — se kṛpā tāṅhāraThe ocean of Lord Nityānanda’s glories is infinite and unfathomable. Only by His mercy can I touch even a drop of it. – Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 5.157