Lifting Govardhana Hill

Chapter 24, 25, 26, 27

Seeing the Vrindavana residents busy in organising a ritualistic offering to Indra, Krishna assured His father, Nanda Maharaja, that such worship was unnecessary – as vaisyas, He said, their priority was to worship the cows, brahmanas and Govardhana Hill. Out of affection for Krishna, they made the unconventional decision to abandon their age- old tradition. Instead, the Vrindavana residents prepared a grand variety of food items, while Govardhana hill, who manifested a huge form and accepted all the offerings.

Outraged by this breach, Indra sent the deadly Samvartaka cloud to inundate Vrindavana with torrential rain. Amidst the panic and mayhem, Krishna miraculously lifted the gigantic Govardhana Hill and invited the villagers to take shelter underneath until the skies cleared. After seven days of deluge, Indra withdrew the cloud, and the Vrindavana residents emerged unharmed, with heightened appreciation for their beloved Krishna.

The cowherd men recounted the ever-growing list of Krishna’s inconceivable activities. They were completely astonished and uncontrollably attracted! Nanda Maharaja remembered the statements of Gargamuni, who had predicted that Krishna would protect the saintly and annihilate the miscreants. Having had first hand experience of this, the ashamed Indra stepped forward offering prayers of submission. Accompanied by the surabhi cow, Indra then performed a bathing ceremony of Krishna and glorified Him with the name ‘Govinda’ - ‘one who gives pleasure to the cows.’