Govardhan hill
Govardhan (Sanskrit:गोवर्धन) is a hill located near the town of Vrindavan in India, considered as sacred by a number of traditions within Hinduism. It is especially important to those traditions which worship Krishna or Vishnu as the Supreme God (Ishvara) such as Vaishnavism and Gaudiya Vaishnavism, which are popular around the Govardhan area. A great number of pilgrims visit Govardhan each year and perform parikrama, circulating around the area of the hill whilst praying, singing (bhajan) or performing japa meditation. The hill and surrounding area are believed to be the sites where Krishna and Balarama performed specific pastimes (lilas) during their last incarnation on the Earth planet.
Definition
The name 'Govardhana' has two primary translations. In the literal meaning 'Go' translates to 'cows', and 'vardhana' translates to 'nourishment'. Another meaning of 'Go' is 'the senses' and 'vardhana' can also mean 'to increase' - thus the name is also translated by devotees of Krishna as 'that which increases the senses' in their attraction to Krishna - In this connection it is believed that the personality of Govardhan blesses the devotee by increasing his devotion (bhakti). Thus by residing in the foothills of Govardhan Hill, all the senses and the respective duties of a soul attain divinity and are more inclined to perform service to Krishna.
The lifting of Govardhan
According to Vaishnava legend the Vedic demi-god, Indra was losing his hold over the human beings, and became jealous of the boy Krishna (an incarnation of the Supreme God according to the Bhagavata Purana [1]).
Indra thus invoked many clouds to appear in the sky and schemed to flood the region with rains lasting for seven days and seven nights. Krishna in reply then lifted Govardhan hill, under which all the animals and people of the region took shelter, safe from the rains of Indra's fury. Ultimately, Indra accepted defeat, and after praying to Krishna, left for his heavenly abode, the Svarga.
See also
Notes
- ^ Bhag-P 1.3.28 'Krishna Is the Source of All Incarnations'.
External links
- The Story of Govardhan
- Image Gallery & Description of Govardhan Hill
- GiriRaj Mandal
- Pictures of Govardhan Hill
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