Govardhan Hill

Glories of Govardhana Hill    Appearance of Govardhana Hill
Krishna's Lifting of Govardhana Hill    Govardhana Parikrama    Kusamara Sarova    Manasi Ganga
Sanatana Goswami Bhajana Kutira    Aniyora Village    Govinda Kunda    Parikrama Map

The Lifting of Govardhana Hill

The destroyer of Mura is always eager to protect the cowherd community. 
He has no other interest. He maintained the honor of Govardhana Hill by lovingly 
holding him aloft for seven days, playfully exhibiting with the hand that held the
hill charming gestures of respectful worship.  May that Govardhana—whose caves are smeared
 with kunkuma left behind from the pastimes there of Gandharvika and Murabhit, and whose
 exquisite bolders are covered with precious gems—protect us all.

Vraja-vilas-stava 51, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami

On seeing that the inhabitants of Vrndavana had neglected to worship him, Indra, the King of Heaven, decided to punish them by sending terrible rain clouds to inundate the land of Vrndavana. Seething with rage, King Indra was thinking that simply on the advice of a talkative village boy named Krishna, the Vrajavasis had stopped the Indra-yajna and instead worshipped Govardhana Hill, the brahmanas, and the cows. Unfortunately, being so puffed-up with his own self-importance and false prestige, Indra could not understand that this simple village boy called Krishna was in fact the Supreme Personality of Godhead enjoying His transcendental pastimes as a cowherd boy in the land of Vrndavana.

Calling for the samvartaka clouds of devastation that are used to destroy the whole cosmic manifestation at the end of a kalpa, Indra ordered them to proceed to Vrndavana and cause extensive floods that would destroy the livelihood of the inhabitants. Within no time torrents of rain as thick as pillars, accompanied by thunder, lighting and howling winds, descended on Vrndavana, causing great misery to its inhabitants. The land became so full of water that no one could distinguish between high ground and low ground. Shivering because of the severe cold brought about by the torrential rains, the inhabitants of Vrndavana approached Lord Krishna for shelter.

Understanding the situation, Krishna immediately lifted Govardhana Hill with His left hand, just as a child picks up a mushroom, and held it up like an umbrella. Bringing all their household possessions, the inhabitants of Vrndavana, along with their cows, took shelter from the torrential rains under Govardhana Hill. For seven days they remained safe under the hill, not even disturbed by hunger and thirst. They were simply astonished to see beautiful Krishna balancing Govardhana Hill on His little finger.

His false pride cut to pieces, baffled and dumbstruck, King Indra called back the clouds of devastation. At that moment the rains stopped, the sky cleared and the Sun shone again over the beautiful land of Vrndavana. Krishna asked the Vrajavasis to return to their homes without fear, and then He gently replaced Govardhana Hill in exactly the same place. Nanda Baba, mother Yasoda, Balarama and all the inhabitants of Vrndavana embraced Krishna to their hearts content. The demigods in the higher planets began to beat kettledrums and shower the earth with fragrant flowers. As the gopis began to sing beautiful songs about the glorious and uncommon pastimes of Sri Krishna, all the inhabitants of Vrndavana returned to their respective homes along with their cows.

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