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Govardhana Hill Parikrama

It is a form of worship to walk around Govardhana Hill. In the Adi Varaha Purana it is said, “Anyone who performs Govardhana parikrama will never have to take birth in this world again.”
Rupa Gosvami stated in his Mathura-mahatmya that one should first bathe in Manasi Ganga and then take darshan of Harideva before starting parikrama. There are many important spots that can be visited while going around Govardhana Hill.
The Six Gosvamis of Vrindavana would all do parikrama of Govardhana Hill. Sanatana Gosvami and Raghunatha Gosvami, when they stayed near Govardhana, would do parikrama daily. Other important devotees who have done parikrama of Govardhana are Sri Nityananda, Advaita Acarya, Madhavendra Puri, Vallabhacarya, Visvanatha Cakravarti, Srinivasa Acarya, and Narottama Dasa Thakur.

Besides walking around Govardhana, many devotees perform dandavat parikrama. It is called dandavat, because danda means lying flat on the ground like a stick. The devotees lies flat on the ground and places a rock to mark the spot and then moves forward the same distance of where he placed the rock. He then pays obeisances again and again going around the entire hill. It can take weeks or months to do this type of parikrama. Some devotees offer 108 obeisances in each spot, before moving to the next spot. A sadhu often sleeps in the same place that he ended at for the day.

Place to Stay near Govardhana Hill
Sri Giriraj Darshan (0565 815-797), just north of Jatipura on the Parikrama Path (above one-fourth km past Jatipura), is a peaceful place that has a good view of Govardhana Hill from the roof. Rooms with bath and hot water are Rs 200.

Practicalities of Govardhana Parikrama
The parikrama (circumambulation) route around Govardhana Hill is 25 km (14 miles). There is also a 40 km (24 miles) outer parikrama path. Sanatana Gosvami would do the outer parikrama while he was staying at Govardhana Hill.

The average person goes around Govardhana Hill in six or seven hours. People can go as fast as four hours, if they walk very fast. It is not unusual for some people to take eight hours or more. If you visit several places while going around Govardhana Hill, it can take more than 12 hours to do parikrama. It would be difficult to visit all the places in this book in one day, even if you went by taxi around Govardhana Hill.

It is possible to go around Govardhana Hill by car and it is a pleasant trip. By car it takes about an hour (non-stop).

The normal starting and ending place for Govardhana parikrama is Manasi Ganga, which is in the town of Govardhana. The town of Govardhana is in the middle of Govardhana Hill.
Once you leave the town of Govardhana after bathing in Manasi Ganga, you can see Govardhana Hill on your right. You then walk to the end of Govardhana Hill, to the town of Punchari. You then proceed along the other side of Govardhana Hill until you reach the town of Govardhana again.

From there you proceed to Radha Kunda, which is at the other end of Govardhana Hill. When you reach Radha Kunda you are about three-fourths of the way around Govardhana. After going around Radha Kunda you then walk to Kusuma Sarovara. You then return to the town of Govardhana and end the parikrama at Manasi Ganga.

Parikrama Rules
1. One should not wear shoes or items made of leather.
2. One should not wear clothes that are dirty or were slept in.
3. One should bathe and brush their teeth before beginning.
4. One should respect everyone and everything during parikrama.
5. One should try to avoid stepping on any living entity on the path.
6. If one becomes sick, one can stop and continue the parikrama the next day, but one should complete the parikrama, if possible.
7. Women should not perform parikrama during their menstruation.

Copyright ©2001 John Howley and Spiritual Guides