Character and Community Building

by Chaitanya Kishore Das

Recently there was a celebration called Nityananda Trayodasi. It is a holy day for Gaudiya Vaishnava followers celebrating the birth of the person Nityananda. If you’ve never heard of Nityananda, please allow a brief introduction. Nityananda was considered to be many things: an ascetic, an enlightened man, divinity incarnate, a priest, a madman; all depending on who you ask. Whatever the case, history attests to the fact that he was born in West Bengal in a place called Ekachakra near the end of the 15th century. He was a leading figure of the sankirtan movement of the early 16th century,  inaugurated by Nityananda’s leader and counterpart, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Nityananda preached  this sankirtan movement in the area of Bengal, going door-to-door requesting people to take up the  chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa (a form of mantra meditation).  

The sankirtan movement challenged the status quo. It was centered around glorifying the names of God through congregational call and response song. The loud chanting and dancing that was associated with sankirtan was looked down upon as sentimental, and lacking in the theological rigor of many of the traditions that were en vogue. Nityananda and his associates preached that anyone could engage in this sankirtan and develop love of God (considered to be the goal of all spiritual practice), exclusive of caste, gender, race, economic, or social background.  

One of the more famous stories of Nityananda was his conversion of two hardened criminals known  as Jagai and Madai. On the premise of policing the community, they wreaked havoc on its residents. They were known murderers, thieves, and adulterers. Upon seeing the two, people would cross the road or turn around entirely. Bathing at the sacred river, which was a communal ritual, was strictly avoided unless one was in a group for fear of being abused by the two.  

As mentioned above, Nityananda’s part in this ‘revolution’ was to go door-to-door and request people to perform sankirtan. And thus he did, but Nityananda also had larger designs. If he could somehow succeed in reshaping the hearts of the worst amongst them - Jagai and Madai - then this sankirtan movement could be looked upon as empowered. As the story goes, Nityananda and his partner Haridas advanced on the two rogues, dancing and chanting, much to the distress of all who were there to witness. Jagai and Madai immediately chased them off. Later, it came to pass that Jagai and Madai had set up camp near the sankirtan group and would witness them doing their nightly chanting and dancing. They grew to admire them purely on the basis of their expert singing. Seizing the opportunity, Nityananda approached them and requested they chant the names of God. He was immediately cracked on the head with a pitcher and commenced to bleeding. Nityananda took the blow with the utmost patience and grace, continuing to implore the brothers to chant the names of God. Jagai had softened a bit but Madai was enraged. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the leader of the movement arrived on the scene. His anger at seeing Nityananda injured overshadowed the entire scene. He threatened to harm the two rogues in such a way that even they began to retreat in fear. Who was it but Nityananda that intervened on their behalf. At this very moment, the two had given themselves over to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda, and the sankirtan movement.  

When Chaitanya Mahaprabhu deputized Nityananda to go from house to house to spread the sankirtan movement, it was not on a whim. He had chosen someone who was capable of changing minds and hearts through his character. In the episode above, Nityananda exhibited determination, courage, patience, tolerance, and forgiveness. These qualities speak to the character of a person. In a world of “likes,” and “followers,” we would be remiss to forgo the building of character.  

It was also telling that in targeting Jagai and Madai, Nityananda saw value in those standing on the margins of society. They were more than just charity cases, they were vital building blocks in this new community, built up on the basis of sankirtan. It is not enough to simply declare inclusivity. Creating a community where space is held for the marginalized requires creativity, intention, and strength of character. Community leaders should consider having an action plan for sustainably creating spaces for the marginalized to be included. Nityananda was called to action to help implement a movement that was open to all, and stood on business.