Glories of Govardhan

Before the beautiful gopisof Vrndavana, Srimati Radharani praised Govardhana Hill as the very best servant (Haridasa-varya) of Lord Krsna in the following words:

Of all the devotees, this Govardhana Hill is the best! O my friends, this hill supplies Krsna and Balarama, along with their calves, cows and cowherd friends, with all kindsof necessities - water for drinking, very soft grass, caves, fruits, flowers andvegetables. In this way the hill offers respects to the Lord.Being touched by the lotus feet ofKrsna and Balarama,Govardhana Hill appears very jubilant.

Source: Srimad-Bhagavatam

The largest Deity in the Universe is the Giriraj Govardhan
24x7 giving Darshan is the Giriraj Govardhan
Akhand Parikrama is going on at Giriraj Govardhan
We all take shelter of lord Hari &Brjawasi’sbut Lord Hari &Brajwasi’s take shelter of Giriraj Govardhan
Radha Krishna Jugal Swaroop in Bhakta Form is Giriraj Govardhan

In Braj, Giriraj is called Baba, which means fatherwho fulfills every desire.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

The Vedas also say that Govardhana Hill is non-different from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krsna Himself. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited Vraja in theyear 1515, He refused to climb Govardhana Hill because He saw that Govardhana was non-different from Lord Krsna. At the time of the annakuta ceremony, Krsna declaredthat He was non-different from Govardhana Hill.

Because Govardhana Hill is non-different from Krsna Himself, the rocks fromGovardhana are worshipable just like a Deity of Krsna, In fact, the stones known asGovardhana-silas do not even need to be installed as they are already considered to be worshipable. Many great devotees have worshiped these silas from Govardhana Hill.These devotees include Sanatana Gosvami and Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, as well as Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself.

PRANAM MANTRA OF GIRIRAJ JI

“Namaste Girirajayasrigovardhananamine;
Ashesha kleshanashayaparmanandadayine”

Govardhan Golok Prakat Leela

As per Garg Samithaone day Srimati Radha Rani requested Lord Krishna to create a place where Radha Krishna could do personal intimacy Leela’s and Lord Krishna Pratak Govardhan from his HEART. (Giriraj Govardhan is born from Shree Hari’s Hrday (Chest). It was first born at Golok.)

As per Bhavishya Puran Radha Krishna Pratak Goverdhan both from their HEART

Govardhan Bhumandal Prakat Leela

Lord Krishna's father Nanda Maharaja once enquired from his brother Upananda how Govardhana hill had appeared in the sacred land of Vrindavana. Upananda replied that King Pandu, father of the Pandavas, had asked this very question to Grandfather Bhishma, was had narrates the following story from the Garga Samhita:

One day in Goloka Vrindavana Lord Krishna informed Srimati Radharani that She should now appear on earth as it was time for Them to perform Their transcendental pastimes within the material world. Radharani replied that unless VrajaDhama, the Yamuna and Govardhana Hill were present there, She would not be very happy. Krsna then told Radharani that She need not worry as VrajaDhama, along with the Yamuna and Govardhana Hill had already appeared on earth.

Many years before this incident, in the land of Shalmali dvipa, the wife of the great mountain Dronacal gave birth to a son named Govardhana. At the time of Govardhana's birth all the demigods appeared in the sky and showered flowers upon him. The great mountains, led by the Himalayas and Sumeru, came there to offer their respects. They then performed parikrama of Govardhana and accepted him as their king. They offered very nice prayers praising Govardhana for having descended from Goloka Vrindavana, describing him as the "crown jewel of Vraja."

Govardhan Travel from Shalmali-dweep to Braj Bhumi

Satya-Yuga

Some years later, at the beginning of Satya-yuga, the great sage Pulastya Muni paid a visit to Shalmali dvipa. Upon seeing the beautiful Govardhana Hill covered with many lovely creepers, flowers, rivers, caves and chirping birds, the sage felt that this hill was capable of giving liberation. He then went to meet Dronacal, who immediately offered his respects and inquired from the sage what service he could render.

Pulastya Muni informed Dronacal that he was from Kashi (Benares) and was on pilgrimage to all the holy places. And he said that even though the sacred river Ganges flows through Kashi, there is no beautiful hill. He then asked Dronacal to give Govardhana to him so that he could perform his austerities sitting on top of the hill.

On hearing the sage's request, Dronacal, who was not willing to part with his son, started to shed tears in thought of separation from his beloved Govardhana. Not wanting to see Pulastya Muni become angry and curse his father, Govardhana asked the sage how he would carry him all the way to Kashi. The sage replied that he would carry him in his right hand. Govardhana then agreed to go with the sage on one condition that if the sage put him down anywhere during the course of the journey, he would not be able to lift him again. Pulastya Muni agreed. Carrying Govardhana in his right hand he left for Kashi.

By the will of providence Pulastya Muni passed through Vraja on his way to Kashi. On arriving in Vraja, Govardhana thought that now he was here he should remain in the holy dhama. By his mystic power he was able to influence Pulastya Muni to attend to the call of nature. Unmindful, the sage put Govardhana down and went off to answer the call. But when he returned he was unable to lift Govardhana again. Trying with all his might, using both hands, he could not lift Govardhana even slightly.

In great anger Pulastya Muni then became angry and cursed Govardhana to sink into the ground by the measurement of one mustard seed every day. When Govardhana first came to Vraja in the beginning of Satya-yuga, it is said that Govardhana at that time was 115 km (64 miles) long, 72 km (40 miles) wide and 29 km (16 miles) high. Now the hill is only 80 feet high at its highest point. It is said that after ten thousand years of the Kali-yuga Govardhana will have completely disappeared. It is said by Acaryas that Govardhana is decreasing in size because of separation from Lord Krishna.

After narrating the wonderful story of Govardhana's appearance, Sunanda informed Nanda Maharaja that as long as Govardhana Hill and the river Yamuna remained manifest, Kali-yuga would not take its full effect. Sunanda also said that anyone who is fortunate enough to hear the description of the appearance of Govardhana Hill would be freed from all sins.

Treta Yuga

At the time of Ram Setu, it needed a lot of rock stone, so Hanuman Ji went to Shalmali-dweep and requested Dronachal mount to give Govardhan Ji to be in the Seva of Lord Ram to complete the Ram Setu.

Giriraj Ji asked will Sri Ram will step on me – Hanuman Ji said I can’t promise
Giriraj Ji asked will devotees’ step on me – Hanuman Ji said I can’t promise
Giriraj Ji asked will I see Lord Ram – Hanuman Ji said YES that I can promise
Just to see Lord Ram, Giriraj Ji agreed to travel and serve Lord Ram

On the way, Hanuman Ji got the news that Ram setu is completed, and wherever you are and holding any rock, please keep it there and come back to serve lord Ram

So at that movement Hanuman Ji was at the top of Braj Bhumi and he kept Govardhan Ji at Braj Bhumi
Now Govardhan Ji is requesting to take him to serve Lord Ram but Hanuman Ji said it’s not possible because now I have the updated instruction to keep you here
Giriraj Ji said how I will serve the Lord, so a great devotee Hanuman Ji promised that Lord will come and do leela with you here only and to be the part of the leela Hanuman will also stay here in the form of punchhri ka lota

Dwapara Yuga

Soon I will share the content

Kali Yuga

Madhavendra Puri rediscovered Gopala

Sri Madhavendra Puri was the spiritual master of Isvara Puri who in turn was the spiritual master of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the most merciful incarnation of the Supreme Lord.
Once while in Vrindavana, Sri Madhavendra Puri had seated himself under a tree to take some rest after circumambulating the sacred Govardhan hill (covering a distance of around 22 Kms). While he was resting, a small cowherd boy approached him and offered him a pot of milk.
Sri Madhavendra was pleased with the beauty and the sweet words of the small boy, who claimed to be a resident of that village. The boy also notified him that no one in his village fasted and if someone did fast, then he would himself come and take care of his food. The boy added that he was in a hurry as he had to go milk the cows, but he would return on his way back to fetch the milk pot from Sri Madhavendra Puri.
After drinking the milk, Sri Madhavendra washed the pot and kept it aside for the cowherd boy, waiting for him to return. But the boy was nowhere to be seen. After waiting for a while, Sri Madhavendra fell asleep.
The little cowherd boy then appeared in his dream in which He revealed Himself to be none other than Sri Vrajendra Nandana Krishna, who had appeared to personally shower His mercy upon him. In the dream, the boy held Madhavendra’s hand and guided him towards a certain bush in the jungle, notifying him that He was buried at that site for hundreds of years. The Lord also informed Madhavendra of His great distress as He suffered a lot from the severe heat, cold, wind, and rains while staying buried there.
He revealed that He was Gopala, the lifter of the Govardhan hill and that He had originally been installed by King Vajranabha, the great-grandson of Lord Krishna. In the course of time, when the Mughals attacked Vrindavana, the priest hid Him in the bushes and fled. Sri Gopala had been waiting there for Sri Madhavendra ever since, in order to rescue Him from His situation
Sri Madhavendra Puri woke up from his dream and began considering it. He lamented that when he had first seen the little cowherd boy, he could not recognize Him as his beloved Krishna. The next morning, he went to the village and narrated the whole story to everyone. He assembled the village people who then began digging up the concerned bush. When the Gopala deity was unearthed from inside, the people were filled with wonder and delight.
Thereafter the enchanting deity of Gopala was carried atop the Govardhan hill. He was then seated upon a beautiful throne and thoroughly cleansed with water. Hundreds of buckets of water were fetched from the Govinda Kunda. Thereafter a huge festival was observed when Sri Gopala was being installed. Innumerable food items were offered unto Him. People were sumptuously fed. The grandeur of the event was comparable to that of the annakuta festival of Dvapara.

Lord Caitanya at Govardhana Hill (From Caitanya Caritamrita)

When Lord Caitanya saw Govardhana Hill, He immediately offered obeisances, falling down on the ground like a rod. He embraced one piece of rock from Govardhana Hilland became mad.
Just by seeing Govardhana Hill, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu became ecstatic with love of Krishna. While dancing and dancing and dancing, He recited the following verse fromthe Srimad Bhagavatam:

"Of all the devotees, this Govardhana Hill is the best! O My friends, this hill supplies Krishna and Balarama as well as Their calves, cows and cowherd friends with all kinds ofnecessities water for drinking, very soft grass, fruits, flowers and vegetables. In this way the hill offers respect to the Lord. Being touched by the lotus feet of Krishna andBalarama, Govardhana Hill appears very jubilant."
Lord Caitanya first bathed in Manasi Ganga and then took darshan of Harideva before doing Govardhana parikrama.
Lord Caitanya instructed: "One should remain in Vrindavana for only a short time and then return here as soon as possible. Also, do not climb Govardhana Hill to see theGopala Deity."

Govardhan Peacock Shape

Peacock Shape: Govardhana Hill should be envisioned to be in the shape of a peacock resting with its head tucked into its side.

Kusuma Sarovara: The peacock's face is considered to be the beautiful Kusumasarovara.

Dan Ghati and Manasi Ganga: These are described as the hill's long neck.

Mukharavinda: This area is considered the mouth of the peacock.

Radha Kunda and Syama Kunda: These two lakes are considered the eyes of the peacock-shaped hill.

Gvala Pokhara: Peacock ears

Balarama Sthali: The beginning of its tail

Punchari-kunda (Naval-kunda): This is considered the back and end of the tail feathers of the peacock.