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Glories of Giriraj Govardhana - Part 1

Date: 2016-10-27 Author: Amogha-drk das

Dear Prabhus and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Srila Gurudeva.

Now the time is nearing for celebrating the pastime of Krishna lifting the hill, at the end of this month. In that connection let us remember the appearance and teachings imparted to us by the Mountain, who is known as a dear devotee of the Lord. One popular Vraja-mandala parikrama story tells why Govardhana appears in Krishna-lila, from the Adi-varaha purana.

In -lila, when the monkeys threw mountain peaks and stones in the river in order to make a bridge for rescuing Sitadevi on the other side, Govardhan was also amongst the chosen one's to take part in this noble endeavor. Hanumanji picked up Govardhan from the Himalayas and started transporting him towards the river by the airways. However, after a certain distance, got the information that the monkeys had thrown enough stones; Govardhan was not needed to participate in making the bridge. Hearing this from Hanumanji dissapointed Govardhan so much that he wished very heart-renderingly to be used in the service of the Lord. That wish was fulfilled by the Lord appearing as His svayam-rupam, original form of Krishna in Dvapara-yuga. In Krishna's pastime as Giridhari, the lifter of the Giri or mountain/hill also known as Govardhana, He used the humble mountain as the main ingredient in one of His pastimes, by lifting it on his left pinky finger for seven days.

Even before the pastime of lifting Giriraj - the king of hills - Krishna and and Their cowherd friends delighted him many a times simply by stepping all over him when They were herding the cows and calves, playing etc. This brings us to one of the main teachings of Giri-Govardhan to us, and that is taking delight in devotional service by having an extremely humble disposition. That's why he is known as hari-dasa-varyo or the best of devotees of the Lord Hari. Srimad Bhagavatam 10.21.18 says:

hantāyam adrir abalā hari-dāsa-varyo yad rāma-kṛṣṇa-caraṇa-sparaśa-pramodaḥ mānaṁ tanoti saha-go-gaṇayos tayor yat pānīya-sūyavasa-kandara-kandamūlaiḥ

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

Krishna willing, we shall see further about the glories of Govardhana Hill in the subsequent offering.

Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Amogha-drk Krishna das Norway. Glories of Giriraj Govardhana - Part 2

Date: 2016-10-28 Author: Amogha-drk Krishna das

Dear Prabhus and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Srila Gurudeva.

In the previous offering, we discussed how Giriraja Govardhana, as the best devotee of the Lord, took pleasure being stepped on by Him. Now let us see further.

In fact Giri-Govardhana took delight in being literally stepped on not only by the Supreme but by His devotees as well. This goes very well together with the injunction of a devotee to be more humble than a blade of grass (trnād api sunicena). Like Uddhava Maharaja wanted to become grass in for the to step on, so he could get the dust from their lotus feet. Getting the dust from the feet of advanced devotees equals to getting their mood of devotion, imbibed in one's being as well. So in this way Govardhana is known as one who is elated by allowing devotees to step on him. He is serving them by providing them a place to be, to sit, take shelter from trees growing there, quench their thirst by drinking water flowing from its rivers etc. In this way he is increasing (vardhana) the devotee's life of enjoyment in Krishna consciousness. He provides these facilities to the cows (go) as well. Thus Raghunatha Goswami extolls his glories for the three worlds to hear in his Shri Govardhana-Vasa-Prarthana-Dashakam, verse 6.

sthala-jala-tala-śaṣpair bhūruhacchāyayā ca prati padam anukālaṁ hanta saṁvardhayan gāḥ tri-jagati nija-gotraṁ sārthakaṁ khyāpayan me nija-nikaṭa-nivāsam dehi govardhana! tvam

O Govardhana, please grant me residence near your side. You are worshiping Shri -Krishna with your nice spacious fields, ponds, streams and waterfalls, forests, fresh grass, and shade trees, and you are nourishing Shri Krishna’s beloved cows whose numbers are thus increasing at every moment. Your very name "Govardhana" (Go means cows, and vardhayati means to nourish and increase) is successful and renowned throughout the three worlds. If I can reside near you, I will also be able to receive the darshana of my ishtadeva Shri Krishna, who comes to you when He brings His cows out to graze.

That Govardhan plays an important part of Radha-Krishna's Lila is also confirmed in the Garga-Samhita Canto 1, Chapter 3, wherein when Sri Krishna promises that He will appear in the material world for protecting the devotee demigods and destroy the demoniac burden of the earth. But His consort expressed Her unwillingness to part from the spiritual abode of Goloka Vrindavana which is complete with its Govardhana Hill and river.

yatra vrindāvanam nāsti / yatra no yamuna nadi yatra govardhano nāsti / tatra me na manaḥ-sukham

My heart cannot be happy where there is no Vrindavana forest, no Yamuna river, and no Govardhana Hill.

Therefore, Narada Muni explains that Krishna, who is very practical, sent a portion of His own abode to this planet, which constitutes the tract of land called Vraja- or the earthly Vrindavan. Garga-Samhita 1.3.33 says,

veda-naga-kroṣa-bhūmim sva-dhāmnaḥ śrī-hariḥ svayam govardhanaṁ ca yamunāṁ preṣayāmāsa bhūpari Lord Krishna sent to the earth Govardhana Hill, the Yamuna river, and a 47 krosha portion of His abode.

Krishna willing, we shall see further about the appearance of Govardhana Hill in the subsequent offering.

Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Amogha-drk Krishna das Norway. Glories of Giriraj Govardhana - Part 3

Date: 2016-10-29 Author: Amogha-drk Krishna das

Dear Prabhus and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Srila Gurudeva.

In the previous offering, we discussed how the prelude to Govardhana Hill appearing in Krishna-Lila is explained in the scriptures. Now let us see further.

Once Muni, in the course of his travels, got to see the splendor of Govardhana and was captivated by him. Mount Govardhana had taken birth in the age of Satya-yuga in the material world, as the son of Dronacala. This is explained in Garga-Samhita Canto 2, Chapter 2, Verse 17-20.

One day, as he was traveling to holy places, the great sage Pulastya saw Mount Drona's son Govardhana, who was filled with flowering Madhavi vines, heavy with abundant fruits, filled with the sounds of gushing streams, peaceful, auspicious with many caves, suitable for performing austerities, filled with jewels, charming, wonderful with many colorful minerals, beautiful with graceful slopes, filled with many birds, deer, and nectar trees, and decorated with peacock calls, and which gave liberation for they who yearn for it.

Pulastya wanted to carry Govardhana with him to his home in Kashi, which was bereft of mountains, in order to perform austerities on it. Dronacala, fearing a possible curse from the sage if he did not comply with his demands, with tearful eyes let his son know about the request of the sage. Govardhana agreed to sit down in Pulastya's hand so that the sage could carry him. But the mountain said that wherever Pulastya would put him down there he would stay for good. Pulastya promised he would not put him down until reaching his home. When Pulastya reached Vraja-mandala, which is the replica of Vrindavana on Earth, Govardhana was reminded of Lord Krishna and His promise to descend with His sweet pastimes in Dvapara-yuga. In His pastimes, Krishna usually sends many associates along with His own abode, before coming Himself. Therefore Vrindavana with the river Yamuna was already there. This naturally attracted Govardhana to stay, since he also was an associate sent to appear by Krishna. Garga-Samhita Canto 2, Chapter 2, Verse 36-37 says:

"Remembering his previous life, as he traveled, Mount Govardhana said to himself: Shri Krishna, the Original Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the master of countless universes, will descend to this place, Vraja, and enjoy childhood playing with the cowherd boys, and then the pastimes of youth."

Thinking this, Govardhan Mountain made himself so heavy that the sage became so exhausted that he had to put him down, right there in Vraja-bhumi. After answering the call of nature and taking a bath, coming back to Govardhan, he was not able to lift him at all. He asked Govardhan why, and Govardhan replied that this was the deal, that wherever Pulastya put him down, there Govardhan would stay! That made Pulastya so angry that he cursed him to decrease by the size of a mustard seed every day.

And so we have the not very big size of Govardhan today, which they say is 80 feet at its highest, compared to 16 miles before Pulastya Rishi's curse. And it is said that after 10000 years of -yuga, Govardhana will no longer be visible. But, as the Garga-samhita Canto 2, Chapter 2, Verse 50 concludes,

yāvad bhāgīrathī gangā yāvad govardhano giriḥ tāvat kaleh prabhāvas tu bhaviṣyati na karhicit

As long as the Bhagirathi Ganges is present, and as long as Mount Govardhana is present, the power of Kali-yuga will not be present .

Sri Giriraj Govardhana Ki, Jay!

Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Amogha-drk Krishna das Norway.