rupted meditation on His feet, the great ocean CREEPER of worldy existence becomes very small and (valli) - Th is insignifi cant like the water held in a calf ’s mark symbol- hoof-print and is thus easily crossed over. izes how intelligent per- sons hold on to the lotus THUNDERBOLT (vrajra) - feet of Lord Nityananda Th is mark reveals that meditation fi rmly just as a creeper fi rmly on Nitai’s feet smashes to pieces the grasps whatever it is ascending. mountain of His devotee’s karmic reactions to past sins. It also indicates that whoever holds PLOW (hala) - H.H. Gour Gov- nitai-pada-kamala on to His feet becomes as exalted as Lord In- inda Swami in his book “Th e Flow dra (whose weapon is the thunderbolt). of Nectar” explains: “Balarama is Nityananda Prabhu. His lotus feet are as ROSE-APPLE (jambu-phalajambu-phala) cool as the cooling eff ect of crores of moons. - Th is mark is indicative that His Balarama has a plow in his hand, and Krsna a feet are the only worshipable ob- fl ute. In the beginning cultivation - karsana is jects for all those who are residents of this re- needed. Th en all the nasty weedlike things will gion of Jambudvipa (“island of the rose-apple”, be rooted out. Th e fi eld should be cultivated according to Vedic cosmography) properly with the plow of Balarama, then the fi eld of the heart - hrdaya-ksetra - becomes CLUB (gada) - Th is mark is to fertile and the seed of the devotional creeper show that Nitai’s feet are capable - bhakti-lata - will be sown. After proper cul- of chastising the elephant of sinful tivation by the plow of Nityananda/Balarama lust. It further indicates that for whoever takes when the land is fertile, then the seed should shelter of His feet, all their ancestors will also be sown. Th en when one develops prema- receive benefi t. bhakti you will be attracted by Krsna’s fl ute. Th e fl ute means akarsana - attraction. Kar- SPEAR ( sakti) - Th is mark as- sana-akarsana - cultivation and enchantment. sures those who wish to have the miserable bonds of the mundane sphere cut, and who take shelter of Nitai, His feet immediately appear to slash all entangle- ments and diffi culties. It also indicates that He is saktimana or the natural possessor of all divine potencies, whereas His servants are not endowed with separate, independent power but are completely dependent on Him.

FLOWER ( puspapuspa) - Th is mark shows that the divine fame of His feet spread everywhere just like the koti-candra-susitala fragrance of a fl ower. It also shows that His feet are not hard, but soft as fl ower petals. “Th e lotus feet of Lord Nityananda And it means that just as every fruit comes are cooling like a million moons.” into being after the plant blooms, similarly all Sri Nitai Pada-kamala ki jai! spiritual fruits come into being after fi rst blos- Excerpts taken from the book, “Radha-Krsna Nectar” Chapter: “The Meanings of the Auspi- cious Marks.” Published by Nectar Books P.O. Box 574 Union City Georgia 30291 USA soming at the soles of His feet. Sources given: Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sarartha-darsini (Visvanatha Cakravarti’s Bhagavatam commentary), Ananda-candrika (Visvanatha’s tika on Govinda-lilamrta), Visvanatha’s Rupa Cintamani, Ji va Gosvami’s Sri kara-pada-yugala-samahti, Skanda Purana, Matsya Purana, Garga Samhita, and numerous other quotes and compilations. Meaning of the Auspicious Marks ALTAR (vedi) ously, similarly the Lord is one and yet by His on the Lotus Feet of Sri Nityananda Prabhu - Th is mark cleverness can deliver many souls at the same proclaims that time. Th e half-moon also indicates that since compiled and translated by His Grace Dasaratha-suta dasa the sins of those who His toenails appear like ten splendorously meditate upon His feet full moons, the real moon has shriveled up in CONCH (sankha) - Th is auspi- Nityananda Prabhu to are burned up as if on the shame and appears in half-form. cious mark indicates that those who their heart receive the highest altar of sacrifi ce. Further- take shelter of the lotus feet of Lord benefi t. Th is mark also shows that the goddess more, it indicates that just as the universe is PITCHER (kalasa) - Th is mark Nityananda are always rescued from all sorts of fortune, Sri Laksmi Devi always resides at nourished by the brahmanas off ering fi re-sac- shows that Nitai’s feet hold the of distress. Just as during the arati ceremony His feet rendering humble service. It signifi es rifi ces, similarly those who off er their minds in golden pitcher full of purely nect- the conchshell is used to hold water that is of- that His feet are so soft that they can only be sacrifi ce to His feet stimulate universal nour- arean ambrosia to be freely consumed by the fered directly after the fi re of the ghee-lamp, compared to lotus petals; indeed upon fi rst ishment that aff ects all of creation. surrendered souls; indeed, they will never be similarly Nityananda’s lotus feet hold tran- glancing at His lotus feet, you would think bereft of nectar for this pitcher always remains scendental water that soothes His devotees you are directly seeing fresh lotus blossoms. It full. Th is mark also indicates that His feet can from the blazing fi re of material miseries. Also also reveals that just as a lotus blooms by day pour out nectar that extinguishes the blazing this symbol proclaims ultimate victory for the and contracts by night, similarly those who three-fold miseries of the separated devotees. devotees, since the conchshell mark on His remain steeped in meditation on Th eir feet Th e full pitcher is a symbol to show that no feet contains the entire ocean of material ex- always feel the blossoming unfoldment of bril- inauspiciousness can come near His devotees. istence that may now be easily crossed. Th is liant sattvika ecstasies that dispel the darkness Rather His feet bring ripples of happiness mark also also shows that those who resort to of ignorance. It also means that the bee of the emanating from divine auspiciousness. Nitai’s feet become completely fearless. devotee’s mind cannot fl y beyond the bondage of dry jnana (knowledge) and vairagya (renun- DISK ( cakra) - Th is mark cuts FLAG (dhvaja) - Th is mark an- ciation) without the temptation off ered by the down the six enemies of the devo- nounces that for the devotees medi- superior nectar of Th eir lotus feet. tees - lust, anger, greed, illusion, tating on His feet, Th ey give security envy and bewilderment. It indicates teja-tat- and safe protection from all sorts of fear. BOW (dhanu) - Th is mark re- tva, or the principle of brilliance by which He veals that those who take shelter destroys the darkness of sins from within His FISH (matsya) - Th is mark shows of Nitai’s lotus feet will be perpetu- devotee’s hearts. that just as a fi sh cannot live with- ally free from all worries and diffi culties. It out water, similarly the surrendered also shows that those who are stupefi ed in the SKY (ambara) - Th is mark indi- devotees cannot live a moment without di- material world remain motionless like a target cates that His feet are all pervad- rectly associating with His feet. It also shows and do not come to His feet. Whereas those ing throughout the entire creation, that all the most cherished desires and long- who come to the ultimate goal of His feet re- HALF-MOON (ardha-candra) both within and without all manifestations. ings of those who resort to Nitai’s feet will be main there and never go back to the material this mark symbolizes how His feet It also shows that even though His feet are truly fulfi lled. It also means that the mind is world. Further, when the mind of the devotee truly provide the desired objectives everywhere, they are unattached just like the very fi ckle, just like a fi sh who wavers this way meets the target of His feet, then prema con- of the devotees. It signifi es that even devatas sky. and that, and so only after much meditation denses as a result and overfl ows as the tears like Lord Siva (whose symbol is a half moon) showering from their eyes. have decorated their own heads with the soles do His feet fi nally come into the heart. It also UMBRELLA (catra) - Th is mark of His feet. It also shows that devotees who indicates that Nitai’s feet will come to live in proves that those who take shelter likewise decorate their own head with His one’s heart only if the heart has been liquefi ed GOAD (ankusa) - Th is mark indi- of Nitai’s feet are shielded from the feet can become exalted like Lord Siva. Just by soft loving emotions; His feet do not thrive cates that meditation on Nitai’s feet incessant rainfall of material miseries. It also as the moon showers nectar with its cooling where it is dry. brings the elephants of the devotee’s denotes that those who sit in the shade of His rays, similarly Nitai’s lotus feet shower nectar minds under control and keeps them on the feet become exalted just like maharajas (great upon the devotees, extinguishing the three- LOTUS (kamala) - Th is mark right path. It also shows that those who thus kings), who usually have umbrellas held over fold material miseries. So that the minds of increases greed for nectar in the stay on the path toward Th eir feet be come su- their heads. minds of the beelike devotees who perior among men, just as one riding on top of the devotees may reside at His feet, they bear an elephant travels far above the rest. the symbol of the moon (which is the deva- meditate on Nitai’s feet. Th e lotus also sig- COW-HOOF (gospada) - Th is nifi es that just as a lotus grows out of water, ta or presiding deity of the mind) upon His feet. Just as the moon is one, yet it destroys mark signifi es that for those who similarly those whose eyes swell with tears have taken full shelter of uninter- upon holding the Divine lotus feet of Srila the darkness seen by many people simultane-