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Govardhan Pastimes

How Govardhana Hill Came to Braja
Govardhana Hill was about 16 miles (29 km) high 5,000 years ago. But because of the curse of Pulastya Muni, it is sinking the height of a mustard seed (some say a sesame seed) daily.

Nanda Maharaja, Krishna’s father, once asked his brother how Govardhana Hill appeared in the holy land of Braja. Upananda told him that previously the father of the Pandava brothers, King Pandu has asked Bhisma this same question, who answered it with the following story mentioned in the Garga Samhita. At the end of the story Sunanda told Nanda Maharaja, that as long as the Yamuna River and Govardhana stay on earth, that Kali Yuga would not have its full effect.

In Satya Yuga, Pulastya Muni approached Dronacala, the king of the mountains, and he told him that he was from Kasi (Varanasi) and that although the Ganges River flows through Kasi, there was not any nice mountains there. He then asked Dronacala for his son Govardhana. Dronacala was depressed and started to cry, pleading with the sage that he could not bear the separation from his son Govardhana. The sage became furious and was going to curse Dronacala. Govardhana then spoke and said he would go with the sage, under the condition that wherever the sage would put him down, he would remain, which Pulastya agreed to.

Pulastya Muni then took Govardhana and started for his ashrama. While passing through Braja Mandala, Govardhana though it would be a great place to stay, and through his mystic power he influenced Palastya to have to answer the call of nature. He then put Govardhana down. When he returned, he found that he could not move Govardhana. He became very angry and then cursed Govardhana to shrink the size of a mustard seed (some say it is a sesame seed) daily. At that time Govardhana Hill was very large. It is said that Govardhana at that time was 115 km (64 miles) long, 72 km (40 miles) wide and 29 km (16 miles) high. Now the hill is only 25m (80 feet) high at its highest point. It is said that at the end of Kali Yuga that Govardhana will be completely gone.

Another story about Govardhana Hill is that the monkey army of Lord Rama was carrying different stones to construct a bridge to Lanka. This happened in Treta Yuga, when Lord Rama was getting ready to attack Lanka. Hanuman was carrying Govardhana from the Himalayas to help build the bridge. This was on the fifth day of construction. As Hanuman was carrying Govardhana over Braja, Nala and Neela, who were in charge of building the bridge declared that it was completed and no more stones were needed. When Hanuman heard this, he was in Braja Mandala and he placed Govardhana there. Govardhana then starting crying that he was lost in two ways. Now he was taken away from being close to Lord Siva, who lives in the Himalayas and he would not be able to be used in the service of Lord Rama and therefore, be able to see Him. Rama heard about Govardhana crying and said that in Dwapara Yuga he would be born as Sri Krishna and would hold Govardhana up for seven days and nights to save the residents of Braja.

Govardhana Puja Story
During Dwapara Yuga, Lord Krishna convinced the cowherd men to worship Govardhana, instead of doing a sacrifice to please Lord Indra, the king of heaven, who is charge of the rain. Krishna told the cowherd men that Govardhana Hill was supplying so many necessities and should be worshiped instead.

“His reasons for discouraging the sacrifice performed to please Indra were twofold. First, as stated in the Bhagavad-gita there is no need to worship the demigods for any material advancement; all results derived from worshiping the demigods are simply temporary, and only those who are less intelligent are interested with temporary results. Secondly, whatever temporary result one derives from worshiping the demigods is actually granted by the permission of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

“Lord Caitanya has recommended that since Krishna is worshipable, so His land, Vrindavana and Govardhana Hill, are also worshipable. To confirm this statement, Lord Krishna said that Govardhana Puja is as good as worship of Him. From that day, Govardhana Puja has been going on, and is known as Annakuta. In all the temples of Vrindavan or outside of Vrindavana, huge quantities of food are prepared in this ceremony and are very sumptuously distributed to the general population.

“The cowherd men headed by Nanda Maharaja performed Govardhana worship and circumambulation of the hill. Nanda Maharaja and the cowherd men called in learned brahmanas and began to worship Govardhana Hill by chanting Vedic hymns and offering prasadam. The inhabitants of Vrindavana assembled together, decorated their cows and gave them grass. Keeping the cows in front, they began to circumambulate Govardhana Hill. The gopis also dressed themselves very luxuriantly and sat in bull-driven carts, chanting the glories of Krishna’s pastimes. Assembled there to act as priests for Govardhana Puja, the brahmanas offered their blessing to the cowherd men and their wives, the gopis. When everything was complete, Krishna assumed a great transcendental form and declared to the inhabitants of Vrindavana that He was Himself Govardhana Hill in order to convince the devotees that Govardhana Hill and Krishna Himself are identical. Then Krishna began to eat all the food offered there. The identity of Krishna and Govardhana Hill is still honored, and great devotees take rocks from Govardhana Hill and worship them exactly as they worship the Deity of Krishna in the temples. Devotees therefore collect small rocks or pebbles from Govardhana Hill and worship them at home, because this worship is as good as Deity worship. The form of Krishna who began to eat the offering was separately constituted, and Krishna Himself along with other inhabitants of Vrindavana began to offer obeisances to the Deity as well as Govardhana Hill.” (Krishna Book, Chap. 24)

After the cowherd men worshiped Govardhana Hill, Lord Indra became angry that he was not worshiped. He then sent torrents of rain upon Vrindavana. The residents of Vrindavana then approached Lord Krishna for help. Krishna then lifted Govardhana Hill and held it over the residents of Vrindavana like an umbrella.

“The inhabitants of Vrindavana and their animals remained there for one week without being disturbed by hunger, thirst or any other discomforts. They were simply astonished to see how Krishna was holding up the mountain with the little finger of His left hand. Seeing the extraordinary mystic power of Krishna, Indra, the King of heaven, was thunderstruck and baffled in his determination. He immediately called for all the clouds and asked them to desist.” (Krishna Book)
After this, Indra came along with a Surabhi cow and offered prayers to Lord Krishna and then worshiped Him.

Lord Caitanya at Govardhana Hill (From Caitanya Caritamrita)
When Lord Caitanya saw Govardhana Hill, He immediately offered obeisances, falling down on the ground like a rod. He embraced one piece of rock from Govardhana Hill and became mad.

Just by seeing Govardhana Hill, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu became ecstatic with love of Krishna. While dancing and dancing and dancing, He recited the following verse from the Srimad Bhagavatam:

“Of all the devotees, this Govardhana Hill is the best! O My friends, this hill supplies Krishna and Balarama as well as Their calves, cows and cowherd friends with all kinds of necessities—water for drinking, very soft grass, fruits, flowers and vegetables. In this way the hill offers respect to the Lord. Being touched by the lotus feet of Krishna and Balarama, Govardhana Hill appears very jubilant.”

Lord Caitanya first bathed in Manasi Ganga and then took darshan of Harideva before doing Govardhana parikrama. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did parikrama in 1515.

Lord Caitanya instructed: “One should remain in Vrindavana for only a short time and then return here as soon as possible. Also, do not climb Govardhana Hill to see the Gopala Deity.”

Copyright ©2001 John Howley and Spiritual Guides