Why did Krsna worship Giriraja Govardhana, and tell everyone else to also worship him? He told Nanda Baba, Upananda, Sananda, Abhinanda, Nandana, Parjanya, Variyasi, the elders, and everyone to worship Giriraja. Why? Who is Govardhana, and why do we worship him? The Vrajavasis worshiped lord Indra, Siva, and Brahma. Most people worship the demigods. But, Krsna stopped the worship of the demigods, and instructed the Vrajavasis to worship Giriraja Govardhana. The Guruvarga has answered this question many times. They gave very sweet responses.
In the morning, we heard the conversation between Krsna and Radharani.
He asked Srimati Radharani, “Would You come to Vraja Mandala with Me?”
She said, “No.”
“Why won’t You come?”
“You can go if You like.”
Krsna said, “Please come with Me.”
“I will come if Govardhana and Yamuna-devi come with Me.”
“Everyone will go,” Krsna said.
Srimati came and the sakhis and manjaris also followed Her. Lord Krsna’s sakhas also came. All the Vrajavasis were only engaged in activities that would secure the welfare of Krsna. Durvasa rsi, Sandilya rsi, and all the sages came, but still, Srimati was not happy.
She told Krsna, “Where is My Govardhana? He came to Vraja mandala. But there is no respect and love for him. People throw straw, dust, garbage, and cow dung on him, and they step on him. They are using Govardhana as they like, and without respect. Is this the symptom of love? The Vrajavasis are all far from Govardhana.”
Krsna thought about this. Then, He said, “I will arrange a program.”
One day, Krsna asked Nanda Baba, “Baba, who helps and supports us in Vraja-mandala? Who serves us in Vraja-mandala? Who is our good friend? Whoever comes here expects respect and puja. When any of the different rsis come, we offer them puspanjali and bhoga, and when they are pleased, they bless us and leave again. They come to take, but how much do they help the Vrajavasis? Do they always stay with the Vrajavasis? Do they take care of the Vrajavasis? Do they have a relation with Vraja? They come to Vraja, and then leave again. They have no love for the Vrajavasis. They are in the party of Kamsa. We take care of the cows, but Kamsa takes fifty percent of the revenue as tax. He takes milk, butter, paneer, and everything. Why do we give this? Don’t go to these cheaters.
Why do you worship Indra who is a servant? Does he come and accept our service? What does he do? He does his duty as a servant. If he doesn’t do his service, he will be punished by the Lord. Why do you worship him?”
Nanda Maharaja said, “What do You want me to do?”
Krsna said, “We should go to Govardhana. Govardayati iti Govardhana—Giriraja satisfies the desires and increases the bliss of all the Vrajavasis. He has a loving relationship with everyone.”
pramada-madana-lilah kandare kandare te racayati nava-yunor dvadvam asminn amandam iti kila kalanartham lagnakas tad-dvayor me nija-nikata-nivasam dehi govardhana tvam
Govardhana’s heart is the playing center of God, and he gives everyone Vraja-bhakti rasa. Krsna is raso-vai-sah. This rasa is the only way to serve God and the Vrajavasis. The Vrajavasis collect water from Giriraja. When the cows go, they eat there; there is abundant grass there. Waterfalls decorate the surface of Govardhana. Giriraja is in the middle of Vraja, like the tilak of Vraja. Why is he neglected and disobeyed? What is the reason for the neglect of his worship? Did Indra ever come and accept the Vrajavasis’ bhoga; did he bless them?” Last night it was Dipavali. We heard the meaning. Today morning, Krsna did abhiseka and offered bhoga to Govardhana. Lord Krsna Himself, as tadatma with Giriraja, accepted all the bhoga. In one form, He is there in the form of Giriraja, and as such He accepted all the bhoga. And, He wanted more. He loved to taste the love of the Vrajavasis. When someone gives something with love, it has so much power. However much Krsna took, He wanted more. Krsna told Giriraja, “We are simple cowherds. Please, be happy with Tulasi leaves and water. We have no more food.” Then, Krsna told the Vrajavasis, “Now, ask for any boon from Giriraja. Whatever you like, you can ask.” The Vrajavasis gave some food and Giriraja accepted it directly. But, did Indra ever come and accept their gifts? Krsna, the supreme Lord Himself, explained the glories of Giriraja. Radharani was very happy. She said, “Now, people are respecting My Giriraja. He is My dear friend. Unless someone likes My Giriraja Govardhana, he is not My follower; he is My enemy. Vraja-mandala would have no place for such people. If someone does not like Yamuna-devi, or Giriraja Govardhana, he cannot be considered a Vrajavasi.” Indra became angry. He said, “Now, you are worshiping a hill? I will teach you a lesson. Why are the Vrajavasis following this cowherd boy?” Krsna said, “You are a servant in Vraja. You should sweep and clean Vraja. I arranged the demigods to serve.”devarshi-bhutapta-nrinam pitrinam na kinkaro nayam rini ca rajan sarvatmana yah saranam saranyam gato mukundam parihritya kartam
Srimad Bhagavatham
The Vrajavasis are not the servants of anyone. Demigods are supposed to serve the followers of God. If they don’t serve, they are suspended. Krsna made them angry. They all came, and washed Vraja-mandala for seven days and nights. Then, Giriraja became effulgent. There was no more dust or dirt covering Govardhana. Everything was gone. Before, Giriraja was lying down, being sad because he could not serve the Vrajavasis. Then, he stood up seven kilometers high, with seven stories. All the Vrajavasis came inside his heart, and he fed and maintained everyone for seven days. The Vrajavasis gave a little grain, but he gave water, food, and places to stay for the cows, and all the Vrajavasis. The old, the young, and indeed, everyone were sheltered by Giriraja Govardhana. For seven days and nights, the Vrajavasis were with Krnsa and Giriraja. Giriraja became very pleased. Wherever the power of Svarupa sakti is present, everyone will become happy and pleased. Nityananda Prabhu instructed Raghunatha, “Serve the Vaisnavas.” Then, thousands of Vaisnavas took prasada. The Vrajavasis have this love. Whoever wants to serve the Vrajavasis will never have any problems in life. Krsna showed how Giriraja was the dearest friend and the family member of the Vrajavasis. And, Krsna showed how he was their guardian and protector. He said, “Don’t go anywhere else for shelter. Come to Giriraja, do parikrama, bathe him, offer bhoga, give him whatever you have. Giriraja will accept it. He is ours.” From that day until now, Giriraja has been offered abhiseka and puja. In the homes of the Vrajavasis, they make hills out of cow dung and worship Giriraja. If they cannot go all the way to Govardhana, then they make Govardhana in their own homes. The Vrajavasis say, “I took all the dung from my cows, and then wealth came out of the dung.” ‘Govar’ means cow dung, and ‘dhana’ means wealth. From the cow dung, great wealth has come out. In their homes, they made Giriraja Govardhana from cow dung. There, they offer bhoga, incense, and lamps. The Vrajavasis are very simple hearted. They say dhana comes from govar. But, Krsna says, “Ananda vardaiti so ca Govardhana—Govardhana is the one who increases the bliss of the gopas and gopis.” The Vrajavasis say, “We don’t understand your language, Krsna. We know dhana, our wealth, came out of out govar, cow dung.” They thought that the greatest wealth is inside the cow dung. Therefore, they collect this dung; make dry patties, and then garlands. You can see in the Vrajavasis’ homes how they take small cow dung patties and make them into necklaces and bangles. In the evening, the Vrajavasis offer tilaka, flowers, lamps, and so forth to Giriraja. Krsna did everything for the happiness of Srimati Radharani. When Giriraja was pleased, and everyone was happy, then Srimati Radharani became happy. Giriraja has a kunja called rati-keli kunja. In that kunja, there are tunnels to Nandagrama, Varsana, and Yavata. Sometimes, Raghava Pandit stayed in these caves. There are so many caves and kunjas where Radha and Krsna perform their intimate pastimes. If you meditate on Govardhana-vasa-prathana-dasakam, you will have these pastimes enter your heart. Hari-katha spoken by Sripada Premananda Prabhu; rendition by Rasik Mohan Das This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.