Nityananda Balarama Ananta Sankarsana - Caitanya Bhagavata

I have lately taken up the reading of Caitanya-bhagavata. I decided that since I flick through it all the time and quote from it, my "study" would still be incomplete since I really should read it from beginning to end. So I am looking forward to this. It is said that CB represents the 'first half' of Mahaprabhu's lila, whereas CC elaborates more on the 'second half' and so it makes sense that I should read CB and then perhaps CC straight after.

The first chapter is exclusively dedicated to the glories of Nityananda Prabhu/Balarama/Ananta/Sankarsana, depending on how you view it. Ths is because the author (Sri Vrndavan das Thakur) pays tribute to his guru (Nityananda) before outlining the contents of the entire work, and the second chapter is when all the real hot stuff starts regarding the story of Sri Gauracand. One thing that confuses me is the interchangeable referring to Nityananda as Balaram, Balaram as Nityananda, Nityananda as Ananta, Ananta as Sankarsana, Sankarasana as Nityananda, Balaram as Sankarsana, and so on.

It is said that "Baladeva-tattva" is the svayam-prakasa whereas Krsna is the svayam-rupa. There is factually no difference between the Two in tattva, but Baladeva is still the "servitor Godhead" as some might put it. It is the sheer complication of the Baladeva-tattva and how He serves Caitanya/Krsna that astounds me. Sometimes the verses are also hard to interpret if you don't have a familiarity with the concepts involved. Nityananda being Nityananda, Balarama being Balarama, Ananta being the thousand-headed snake and Sankarshana being the second (?) member of the catur-vyuha, these are all names for the same actual personality. Reading the verses in context is important to figure out who in particular is being referred to. Obviously I am familiar with the basic concepts here but it all gets confusing when the same four-in-one personality is praised in so many different ways.

I thought I had it down pat when I figured out that 'Ananta' would always refer to the thousand-headed snake and the other names refer to those particular personalities, until I found this:





I was curious if anyone else has any insights into how they keep track of all the descriptions and glorifications, as well as if there are any other names for the Baladeva-tattva? I have elsewhere heard references to Mula-Sankarsana and Maha-Sankarsana. Ohhhhh, so confusing! Also, anyone have any valuable insights into Caitanya-bhagavata?

Oh by the way, I've never been able to figure out the catur-vyuha either. All these tattvas are SO complicated!

He wants other names for Balarama, does he? Howzabout this?

Dandavats,
Lancer

Oh my,... lol...

And then you hear all of those verses about the many different ways that Nityananda serves Gauracand, by being His footstool; bed; brahmana-thread, and so on. Mystery upon mystery upon mystery..

But how come we can't hear any of this glorification?

To explain, the first chapter of Caitanya-bhagavata is almost exclusive in its praise of Baladeva-tattva. The descriptions of Baladeva in His form as Ananta conjures up images of huge enormity as illustrated by that verse describing this universe as a bindu, the location of which Anantadeva does not know.

Having occupied all of His time glorifying Krsna (and Caitanya) since time immemorial, and sound being one of the 'universal' elements, how is it that we miss out on the reverberation of these glories that are being sounded throughout the universe?

Just for reference:

Duh!