Nayananand

In Galta, near Jaipur, Rajasthan, is located the Gaddi of the Sri Sampradaya. In the past, there was a Mahanta named "Suryananda, " who was a very powerful and loving devotee. Once he expressed his desire to leave for a pilgrimage and entrust the responsibilities of the Gaddi to his chief disciple, Sri Raghudasa. However, not feeling himself qualified for the task, Sri Raghudasa did not accede. Seeing his order being transgressed Sri Suryananda became angry and cursed Sri Raghudasa to become a laper. Falling at his guru's feet again and again, Sri Raghudasa begged to be forgiven for his offense. Sri Suryananda then assured that he would soon take another birth and will then meet Raghudasa, while he (Raghudasa) will be on way to Nilachala. Drinking the water from his feet (Charnamrita), Sri Raghudasa would be freed from the offense. Sri Suryananda further informed that he would continue to have the same scar of a spade slash on his back, by which he could be identified in his next birth.

Having thus pacified Sri Raghudasa, Sri Suryananda started for his pilgrimage, and gradually moving towards east, arrived to Sripat Gopiballavpur accompanied by 14, 000 Naga sadhus. Upon hearing the news of his arrival, Sri Sri Shyamananda Prabhu and Sri Sri Rasikananda Prabhu went ahead and received him with all respect. While spending some time in Sripat Gopiballavpur, observing the loving service and exclusive devotion that Sri Sri Rasikananda Prabhu offered to Lord Sri Krishna and how he was constantly serving thousands of Vaishnava sadhus, Sri Suryananda became very impressed and developed a strong desire to be born as his son.

One day, Sri Sri Shyamananda Prabhu and Sri Sri Rasikananda Prabhu were alone, absorbed in discussing topics about Lord Sri Krishna. At that moment, Sri Suryananda came and expressed his wish to Sri Sri Shyamananda Prabhu. Sri Sri Shyamananda Prabhu with the consent of Sri Sri Rasikananda Prabhu then directed him to be born as Sri Sri Radhananda's eldest son, and thus become Sri Sri Rasikananda Prabhu's grandson. With all devotion and a faltering voice, Sri Suryananda again requested that the same scar, which he got due to a spade slash in a fight among sadhus during a Kumbha Mela in Haridwar, be again visible on his back in his next body. Sri Sri Shyamananda Prabhu approved his prayer and then replied, "So, be it."

After that, Sri Suryananda offered his worshippable Sri Sri Lakshmi-Narasimha Shalagrama-shila and a Hanuman flag to the Temple at Sripat Gopiballavpur and departed towards the holy Nilachala to have darshan of Lord Sri Jagannatha, where he gave up his body. He was reborn as Sri Sri Nayanananda Prabhupada, the eldest son of Sri Sri Radhananda Prabhupada in Sripat Gopiballavpur.

At otherside, Sri Raghudasa, following the last instruction of his Gurudeva left for pilgrimage and in search of his Gurudeva reached Sripat Gopiballavpur. When he saw the scar of a spade slash on the back of Sri Sri Nayanananda Prabhupada, he became very surprised and recognized him as his Gurudeva. After drinking the water (charanamrita) from Sri Sri Nayanananda Prabhupada's feet, he was immediately cured from his leprosy. Receiving his Gurudeva's blessings and order, he then returned to Galta and ascended to the post of Mahanta.

Sri Sri Nayanananda Prabhupada had written extensively in Bengali, Oriya and Maithili. As of now, fifteen songs written by him, are available. Sri Sri Nayanananda Prabhupada was a disciple of Sri Sri Rasikananda Prabhu. He entered the eternal pastimes on the seventh lunar day of the bright fortnight of the Vaishakha month of 1699 AD. His wife was Srimati Charu Devi, who left this world on the ninth lunar day of the Kartika month. They had three sons, Sri Sri Brajajanananda Prabhupada, Sri Sri Vrindavanananda Prabhupada and Sri Sri Utsavananda Prabhupada.