Today is Annakuta Maha Mahotsava. All sampradayas follow this day and worship Sri Gurudev. I will speak about something today which is not present in any sastra, any sampradaya or is not in any planetary system. Giriraj Govardhan will spread his own glories, according to his own desire. I would not speak without his inspiration and instruction. If I did so, Giriraj would punish and smash me. But I would be very happy if he did so. And if this is good, and he gives me respect, it is not good. It would be better if he threw me inside Manasi Ganga. I like to roll in the dust of Vrajabhumi, and always stay here.
Today is his annakut festival. Where did Giriraj come from? How did he come? Everyone knows the general histories as given in our sastra. I will not touch that. I am out of this society and everything. Our program is different. If anyone likes it, it is ok, and if they do not like it, I have no problem. I am not doing anything for anyone's happiness. If no one likes me, and everyone kicks me out, I will be very happy. I will be like Giriraj, staying alone like a piece of stone. I will be very happy like this. If one is soft, then many ants, bugs, jackals, and other beings will come and try to disturb one. Then Hare he purata sundara sta saci nandana. Then Saci Nandana will not come in the cave of one's heart. Therefore it is better to be hard like a rock, Giriraj Govardarn.
Once, in Sveta Dwip, the host place in Vrndavan, in any kunjavan, Krsna was present. Sometimes he stays in Sharm kunja, or in any other rati keli kunja. There are many wonderful kunjakutirs. There are thousands and millions of kunjas all with their own names. Krsna went and met with the Vrajadevis, and they arranged a nice festival there.
Krsna asked, “What is the festival today?”
“This is Vraja mahotsava.”
“Vraja mahotsava? What is this? Do you not invite me?”
“No. You always disturb us.”
“Without me, no festival is possible.”
“Yes it is,” the gopis said. All of Vrajaraj is present here. This festival is for Vrajaraj.
They made a very nice diety of Krsna and one hand was up, and one hand was on his waist. He was carrying something with his hand, but it was not shown what he was carrying. This was the deity of Krsna they worship. They offered candana and Tulasi to him.
Krsna asked, “ Who taught you to do this? No one worships in Vrajamandal like this.”
“This is not you, this is Vrajaraj.”
Yesterday was dipavali. Then when everything was lighted up, they saw this very beautiful deity. He is called Vrajaraj.
Then they said he is Giriraj and Giridari. Who taught you to offer this tulasi and candana? Krsna asked.
“Oh, Laksmi does this in Vaikuntha. Millions of them follow him, and say, “Om Narayani Namaha, etat sarvam Narayan smarpyat.
With Veda mantras and purushashukta, they worship Narayan. But in Vraj mandal no one worships. Yesterday the darkness left, and the light came with the parvali. Though our hearts are clean, and from now, everyday we will worship this Vrajaraj Giriraj.
The gopis mood is very secret. They cannot directly worship Krsna. How can they worship him? In some tricky way.
They smeared oil on this deity along with sandal paste, and arbata, kumkum, casturi, and then brought water and gave him bath, and then with milk, and honey they gave abishek. How could the deity tolerate all of this? He is very strong.
“Does the deity accept your worship?” Krsna asked.
“Yes.”
The Vrijabasis are very busy. They have no time to worship. From early morning to evening they are busy in service and have no time to worship.
Now, they began her daily ritual to come and worship this deity, and then to pray.
Then, Snigdakanta and Madhukanta give classes. One day Snigdakanta speaks and Madhukanta hears, and the other day Madhukanta speaks, and Snigdakanta hears. They have a big meeting. Nanda baba, Yashoda, Upananda, Abinanda, Sunanda, Vrsabanu maharaj on the other side, and all the sakhis, sakhas, and all sit down.
Jiva Goswami Prabhu writes of this in Gopal Campu, and it lasts for three hours, from six am to nine am.
But sometimes, Nandababa offers necklaces to them, from his own neck. They speak so sweetly.
They ask, “Is this the glories of Giriraj?”
He says, “My deities says that when anyone hears the glories of Krsna, then they will be very happy.”
When anyone goes to Giriraj, they should speak the glories of Krsna, as found in Srimad Bhagavatam, Vishnu parana, and other scriptures. This is his worship.
Two lecturers, Snigdakanta and Madhukanta spoke the glories of Krsna. One day one would ask questions, and the other one would answer.
Today was the festival for Vrajaraj Giriraj. This festival went on every day.
Srimati Radharani was very pleased. Then, the gopis would daily offer bhoga, abhisek, pushpanjali, pray to him, hare katar, then arati, and then go on their own ways.
Once, Krsna was speaking with the Vrajadevis, and said, “Now, it is the end of Dwarpa yuga, and I will go to Vrajamandala in Pritivi-loka.” Brahma has requested me to come, along with all the demigods. Kamsa, Jarasunda, Salya, Dantavacra, Dritarastra, Duryodan, Shukooni, and so many crores of demons have controlled the earth, and are in the process of destroying everything. They are giving so much pain and punishment to the devotees. They are like milking a cow, but not giving her any food, and then stopping her with spears. They take her milk, blood, skin, bone, and everything, and then they want to destroy her. This is the nature of what they are doing to the earth. They are not respecting their mother or anyone. Therefore I will go to relieve this burden of the earth. Prititi-devi has come to me in the form of a cow and begged me to help relieve her burden. I sent two hairs from me, one is white, and one is black.
Some people say that there were two hairs, how did this Krsna have white hair? He is not old man with white hair. They fan Krsna with a white and black camara and they sent one white hair of the camara and one black hair of the camara. Then he said, “I am going as Baladev and Krsna, one to give light, and the other to steel darkness. I will go and relieve the burden of the earth.”
Krsna asked Srimati, “Will you come? Those sakhis and manjaris, will you come?”
“No, you go. If you want to fight, do all that. You can destroy the demons, and do all that thing. But I will not go.”
Krsna said, “Please come.”
I will say that whoever takes shelter of you will be relieved of all there mentalities.
Radharani said, “Ok, I will go. But my Vrajaraj Giriraj will also go.”
“How will this hill go?”
“No, he is not a hill. We daily worship him. He fulfils all our desires, and everyone is very happy. He is not just a stone or hill.”
Therefore, Radharani prays like this: handyam andravala manam tanoti saha parnia soya kandara kandarmoley
All the abala, sakhis and manjaris, pray to Giriraj, “Oh Giriraj, you gave us drinking water, grains for the cows, sweets, flutes, roots, and all things. You are Giriraj Govardarn. You increase the bliss of the gopas, gopis, cows, and all the Vrijabasis.”
Krsna said, “Yes, I will take Govardarn.”
“Will you come?”
“Yes. My Vrndavan, the twelve forests, my Vrndadevi, and everyone will go.
“Will Yamunadevi go?”
“Yes.”
Krsna arranged everything.
Before Krsna came, all of Vrajamandal went their to Pritivi loka. The forests, gardens, Yamuna, and everything came to the earth. Giriraj came since a long time. Radharani requested Krsna, “Where is my Giriraj?”
“Giriraj is the tilak of Vraj”, Krsna said. “He is in the middle of Vrajabhumi.”
“Where is he? You said he was coming, where is he?”
Now, you should give instruction for all the Vrijabasis to go and worship him. They should go and receive his blessings, and arrange of them to have a sweet relationship with him.
Krsna did not tell anyone about his secret meeting. Ec carj kori prabhupada sad
With one activity, Krsna reveals many purposes.
On one side, he wanted to smash the pride of Indra. On one side, he wanted to show the glories of Giriraj. And on another, he wanted to show the Vrijabasis how Giriraj Govardarn is so helpful for them.
Krsna wanted to show this to the Vrijabasis. He wanted to show them who their good friend and real friend and relative was. The Vrijabasis go and worship Durgha, Kali, Visnu, Shiva, Indra, Varuna or Chandra: Krsna does not like this. They are God’s family.
Mahajana kata sampata
Wherever the higher personalities do, ordinary people follow. Everyone would say, that the Vrajabasis themselves worshipped Indra and Chandra, why should we worship Narayan?
Krsna said, “No. He is this house servant, or a gatekeeper. He is only a servant, and not should be worshipped. They should be given affection, but not worshipped. Only the Lord is worthy of this worship.” The day before, Krsna discussed this with Nanda baba, and convinced him. To fulfil the desire of Radharani he did this. Radharani said, “So much time has passed.”
Srimati appeared on sarat purnima with all her sakhis and manjaris. Fifteen days have gone, she asked where is my Giriraj? We will go and worship him.
Krsna said, “I will arrange everything. Do not worry.”
Radharani said, “Just see the position of my Giriraj.”
When Gurudev went to Badger, he cleaned this place for Giriraj and called it Giriraj Govardarn. He bathed Giriraj there, danced, did abhisek, and arranged a nice festival. Before Giriraj but not respected. Radharani and the Vrajadevis always serve Giriraj in Vrajamandal. On this earth, he was not in a very respected position. And then Krsna said, “Do not worry, I will arrange his worship. I will give him abhisek, clean him very nicely.”
Indra Varuna and Chandra, Krsna did not order them directly to do this service. Krsna stole there own worship, and made them angry. For seven days and nights they brought all the water of heaven, and did Girirajs abhisek. They completely cleaned him.
When a servant is angry, he does a lot of work. Day and night he was working without any cessation. He worked for seven days and nights, washing Giriraj completely. With the parvan devata _______ (17.35) came with forty nine sevaks, and with their own cloth and hands, they cleaned Giriraj, scrubbing his form.
Krsna said, “Just see how busy these sevaks are.”
Then Giriraj’s body was shining like a jewel. He was completely clean. There were no longer any scorpions, jackals, in the caves, and no cow dung in straw on Giriraj, he was only resplendent in his own glory.
Srimati said, “Oh Krsna, you are so clever. All the abhisek water from Giriraj filled up Vrajamandal, it was all floating in Vraj. The cows were mooing, “Where will we go? We have no mat, quilt, shirt, everything is wet. All the buildings in Vraj were broken with the storm, and flew away. Nothing remained.
Srimati was singing with the sakhis and manjaris, and Nanda maharaj, Vrsabanu maharaj and everyone asked Krsna, “What should be done?”
“What? Chelo, Govardarn. Why should we stay longer in the house? Why are we separate from Govardarn? We are all in our own house and building, but we should go to Govardarn and take his shelter.
Nanda baba and all the Vrajabasis followed Krsna, line after line. Krsna said, “Everything is present there, we do not need to take anything.”
Then they saw inside Giriraj, that they had their own rooms, their cows, their cowshed, all their food, all their storerooms, everything was present there ready for the Vrajabasis. Just as Krsna took madhupuri till Dwarka, and all the Mathuru vasis woke and found themselves in their own places in Dwarka. They saw their houses, their children, their family and buildings and all possessions. In the same, Krsna brought all the Vrijabasis to Giriraj Govardarn, and they went inside and found all their own possessions.
That diety that Radharani worshiped of Vrajaraj Giriraj, he was present there, and he carried Giriraj. Vrajaraj carrys Giriraj. This deity is very nice.
Millions of Vrajabasis came inside Giriraj, but there was room and place for all of them. They all had some food, water, beds, and wood to cook with. There was all grains and ingredients to cook. The Vrijabasis nicely cooked for everyone, and they played and danced.
Giriraj is seven kilometres high, and twenty one kilometres long. In each kilometre, like there are the seven upper planetary systems, the first floor on the first level was for all the cows and calves. There was a long cow shed, and gardens for them to graze in, and lodgings and food. The second floor was for the servants. The third floor was for those who were elderly. The next one was for those in dasya rasa, Yashodamata’s own private helpers. Those who cook and clean, and everyone like that. Then on the next floor was a place for all the ladies. On the higher floor, on the fifth floor was all the men. There is a place for Vrsabanumaharaj, Nandamaharaj, and all the gentlemen of Vraj. On the sixth floor was a place for all the sakhis and manjaris and on the seventh floor was Krsna and the sakhas.
There was no need of an elevator lift. Water flowed in a waterfall. On one side there was Manasih ganga, one side was Haridev, and another was Kusuma savova, and everything else was present.
Indra could not see this. He was only outside cleaning Giriraj. Indra is proud. How much sakti did he have? Only very little. Prabhutatpya madkyene When someone gets a little power or post he becomes very intoxicated with arrogance. If a little money comes, or a little respect comes, then one thinks that he is very great.
After seven days, Indra washed Giriraj for seven days, and tried to smash him with his thunderbolts, but it was not possible. All thirty three crore demigods were called by Indra to fight with Giriraj and the Vrijabasis. When they came near Giriraj Govardarn, they all lost their sakti. When Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh came to Anasuya, begging her to give them biksa. They said biksa dehe. She asked Atriya moonie, three Brahmins came and they begged something from me. Can I give them biksa? He said, “Give anything they want.”
She went back to them, and they asked her to become naked and give her biksa. They said we want biksa according to our choice.
“What is that?”
“You can give us biksa while you are naked.”
She said, “Yes. I will be naked, but you will be like a newly born infant. Then I will give you biksa.”
Then Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh lost all their potency and became small babies. She took them in her lap and gave them her breast milk and placed them on a swinging seat. Then she had no problem.
Similaly, all the demigods came to Giriraj to fight and try to defeat him, to try to destroy Giriraj and the Vrijabasis. But when they came, they lost their swarup, and all became small pieces of stone. When you go to Giriraj Govardarn, you can see there are many pieces of stone all around Giriraj. They are not Giriraj on the sides. Thunderbolts cannot break Giriraj Govardarn. All the demigods lost their own swarup and became pieces of stone. How can they go back then? Indra saw that he was alone in heaven. He lost everything. What can I do alone? Then, Indra went to Brahma, and Brahma said, “I will not speak with you. You are a great offender. I cannot forgive you.”
He went to his guru Bhaspati, and Bhaspati said, “Don’t come to me.”
What can he do? He was feeling very sad. People are very proud and do bad activities. They themselves suffer. They do not have to be punished from outside. They feel this pain in their heart. And when one does good, he feels very healthy and strong. And when one does wrong, he slowly becomes very degraded, and feels very horrible.
Indra went to Sarabi mata, and prayed to her. He knew that Krsna is the mother of cows, and has so much love for cows. Surabi is the mother of cows and Krsna has so much love for them. He prayed for protection from her. She came and prayed to Krsna, “Oh, you are our Goraksa, you are protecting all the cows in my dynasty.”
Krsna’s respect prayed to us Namo brahmanitivaya jagat hitaya Krsna Govindaya namo namaha
She prayed to him with this verse. Then she said, “This Indra is very foolish. He does not know you are the supreme personality. And he does not know Giriraj is your next swarup.
Now, as long as my generation is in this world, as long as cows are present they will daily do abhisek of you Giriraj. And they will smear butter on his body, and massage him with yoghurt. As long as my generation is present on this earth, we will daily give him abhisek. This is my promise. “Oh Giriraj please forgive Indra.”
Halpa servaca bahucamani
The Lord accepts a small service to be very great.
Indra and Sarabi prayed to Giriraj for forgiveness, and Krsna melted at heart and forgived him. Indra, Brahma, Shiva all came, and they saw the demigods were all present as small pieces. They were rolling here and there on the ground, like saligram.
When we are not with Guru and vaisnavas, we are out on the street, like hawker speakers. We have no value. When we are with Krsna, sakti, Krsna sakti para brukta Radhika para devata sarva laksmi maya sarva mohini para
Maha Laksmi Radharani is supreme. If anyone disobeys her, he looses everything. There was one stone piece that was ahaliya, and when Ram touched her she got liberation. Now when they did abhisek of Giriraj, and then they did abhisek of Krsna, who is named Govinda. Sarabi ordered Arabat to bring water from the ganga and use that to bath Krsna. They bathed Krsna and then they offered pranam to him, did pranam and parikrama, and said, “Oh now you are Govinda.” Then Brahma began stuti. He prayed with the demigods the Brahma stuti, Govinda adi purusham tamam bajami
Before, Brahma did not do this altogether. Now he prayed with all the demigods, glorifying Krsna with this Govinda stuti. Then the demigods received their own forms from the stone pieces and the prayed for forgiveness. Then, Krsna said, “Now go back to your abodes. Do not attack the Vrijabasis. The Vrijabasis are always engaged in service. Do not disturb them.”
When they were under Giriraj, Krsna came back to Giriraj, and told the Vrijabasis, “Now come outside, the skies have cleared. They came out and saw the houses were all present without any harm done. Then they understood the glories of Giriraj Govardarn. All there possessions were there without any harm. They understood the glories of Giriraj then.
Then, what did Giriraj do? Krsna came home, and after being carried for seven days by Krsna the elder Vrijabasis went to Nandababa and said, “Krsna is not ordinary, he is Lord Narayan. We have seen his sakti now. You should not pull his ear, and chastise him. Oh Yashoda do not bind him. Do not beat him with a stick. Oh Vrijabasis, Krsna should be allowed to go anywhere and take butter. Do not complain against him. Everyone should serve and help Krsna.
Nandababa said, “Krsna is my son. If he does anything wrong, I will pull his ear and chastise him. You are foolish. He has not done anything. Giriraj Govardarn himself has been doing austerity for a long time in Vrajamandal to serve the Vrijabasis. After a very long time, now Krsna said, “Serve the Vrijabasis,” and then he stood up, and he has wings. He protected us with his wings. When there is an umbrella in the house, it is closed. It is only very small then. But in the rainy season, when you push the button the umbrella is very large and shelters one.
“Giriraj is a great yogi, he is not ordinary,” Nandababa said. He has so much power. He has protected the Vrijabasis with all his power.
The Vrijabasis said, “We worship cows, and we covered this hill with cow stool, then he took birth from cow stool.”
In the rainy season, mushrooms come up out of cow stool. Then like this, this is like an umbrella. They say this is Govardarn, gova is cow dung, and he is the dun or treasure which came out of the cow dung. They thought he was like a mushroom coming up and as an umbrella. This cow stool has so much power,” the sakhas said like this. They said, “Oh Govardarn, you are like a mushroom. The sakhas teased him like this.”
Krsna said, “Do not tease him.”
They had no respect.
Krsna said, “Come and I will show you his greatness. He showed them Haridev, with four arms, like one was carrying Govardarn, and with two hands he was eating.” They said, “How is he God? I do not believe this.”
The sakhas are very clever and like to argue. Krsna said, “He is God.”
“If he is God then Ganga comes from his feet. Where is the Ganga? Where is his caranamrita? Krsna said, “Just look. Caramrita is always flowing from his lotus feet to Brahma kunda. The water from Brahma kunda goes to Manasih ganga.”
The Ganga water is sweet, like amrita, nectar. But all the other places of water in Vraj are salty.
Then the sakhas would come daily to Manasih ganga to play and swim there and from there they would carry water. The sakhis and manjaris would come and cross that area by boat. On either side was Govardarn, very high, and then they would cross through the Manasi ganga. And there is only one other place Sakaricor where to pass, Krsna would stand there to take tax from the gopis. Krsna became a tax collector. When anyone goes to Mathura, first they have to give tax. Krsna would not allow good things to leave Braj and go be sold in the Mathura market. Why would he steal it? He said offer respect to Govardarn, and offer all your worship to Govardarn. Anything else that remains can be given to others. When you cook, or make anything, first give it to Govardarn. All the Vrijabasis would daily give to Govardarn.
What does Govardarn give?
The name of this place will be Darn gati. When anyone gives you darn, you must fulfil their desires. You must give whatever they like.
What happened?
One day, many gopis came and they stood at Sakari cor. They Giriraj so much dan. They said, “Oh Giriraj, if you are truthful, then today we will give you so much charity. But you must fulfil our desire.”
“What is that?”
“Krsna will be our nearest and dearest beloved friend and he will accept us.”
Krsna heard everything. Giriraj smiled. He said sit here nearby me.
Nearby Dangati there is a place, where Srila Gurudev used to do abhisek and anakut, at monibhavan. The sakhis and manjaris sat there. Now also their footprints is on top of the stone. And there is candan sila, where Radharani’s feet touched Govardarn, then the kum kum from her feet touched Govardarns chest. If you go and rub that stone, this candan comes out. This is called chandan sila.
Krsna came and Giriraj said.
Krsna arranged this program at Govinda kunda. It is the place of abhisek.
There was a big marriage ceremony, and Krsna accepted all the gopis at Govinda kund. That year, Brahma stole all the sakhas and calves. Then, when the sakhas came back home after one year, they saw that a gopi was in each of their houses. They thought, “Where did they come from? What are their names?”
They asked Krsna, and said, “I am surprised. I went home in the evening, and saw that there is a gopi in my home. I asked who are you and they were shy and did not answer.” Their parents told, “They are your wife.”
“But we did not get married.” I went in the morning to the forest with you, and in the evening, we had a wife. How is this possible?
Krsna said, “No, you were inside Ajagar, the python. You fell senseless from his poisen, then I sent a gopi to your homes to help and serve you. And they would for one or two years, the snake poisen is inside you, sometimes you will fall senseless. But these gopis know all mantra and tantra. They know how to relieve this poisen. Then the sakhas were happy and said, “Yes. She will be my friend. But not my wife.” The sakhas knew the gopis as their friend. And they thought, “I worship Krsna and she worships Krsna, I like Krsna, she likes Krsna.” They were friends, but not like husband and wife. This is the parikiya mood. Krsna gave them this position. There only relation was as friends. And the sakhas would not forbid the gopis to go to the Yamuna, or to go in the forest, they do not try to control them as their own wifes.
Giriraj Govardarn came to Vrndavan by the desire of Srimati Radharani. Today he was installed by Krsna and the Vrijabasis. Today, they received darsan of his swarup.
Millions of Vrijabasis come today, and do abhisek of him. They offer him puja, give him boga, and they make Govardarn with cow stool, and worship him. They make his eyes with one thing, and give him hands, mouth, and everything, out of cow dung.
Krsna called the Vrijabasis and arranged for this worship of Giriraj.
Srila Gurudev began annukut in Govardarn. First he worshipped him in Mathura and then at Goverdarn. Annakut festival is not everything. Das goswami wrote how you should worship with pancamrtam. He said, “Arcya itya pancamrta seva iti Govardarn.”
The method of worshipping Govardarn in pancamrita, this is hija ikya. Hearing, chanting, and so forth. Insert verse of manasiksa
Das goswami prayed to him with this verse, Bramhadama analila nija nikitanavasam
He said, “Anupana manavede.”
Insert verse
All our goswamis prayed to Giriraj Govardarn with many excellent verses. They write astacams and prayers to Giriraj. We are very lucky to have come to Vrajamandal and to be here to follow annakut mahotsava. Giriraj came before to Vrajamandal, but they do not know his glories. Today Krsna worshipped him, like installing him, and made everyone related to him.
Srimati became very happy that Krsna fulfilled her desires. She said, “Yes, my Giriraj is now very respected.”
During chandan yatra Gopal ordered Madhavendra puri to bring sandal to anoint his body. He said, “You offer boga to me and do abhisek, but my body is still very hot. Bring sandal to paste on my body. He said, “Kabe asamor koibe sevan” Chaitanya charitamrita
There are many people here but I do not tell them. I am only telling Madhavendra puri to go bring sandal. He has the moods of the gopis and is their follower. Madhavendra brought this sandal, and at Gopinath, in the Yamuna, then Gopinath told him to stay and worship him there.
Madhavendra puri began this annakuta mahotsava in kali yuga at Jati pura. This annakuta festival will go on everyday there. Millions would worship him. Radharani becomes pleased with anyone who worships Giriraj Govardarn. She does not pray or worship anyone, but in the Bhagavatam, Sukadev goswami tells how Radharani prayed to Giriraj, saying, “Handyamadri abala haridasavyo.”
He is the highest servant of Hare.
We are very lucky to be here in Vrndavan. After Gurupuja, we will do Giriraj abhisek together and then observe this annukut festival. If anyone likes, then they can go to Giriraj Govardarn, and the Vrijabasis offer annukut mahohsava in the evening. In the gaudiya sampradaya, we offer in the morning.
After the annakut festival in Mathura, Gurudev would go and do parikrama with all the Vrijabasis. We should go and offer pushpanjali and abhisek to Giriraj and do parikrama, then truly we will be able to become Radharani’s followers. Krsna began this program to reveal Radharani’s desire. Krsna has only this program. Whoever is very near and dear to Radharani, if he is glorified, then that is Radharanis glories.
Mahaprabhu said, “How can the Vrajadevis be glorified? This is the purpose of Mahaprabhus movement, and Krsna’s movement. And Giriraj Goverdarn is very near and dear to the Vrajadevis.