Govardhan Parvat
Govardhan parvat is located in the town of Govardhan in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India.
Govardhan parvat is situated about 22 kilometers (14 miles) west of Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna. it is region part of the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, which is relatively close to, New Delhi.
The story of Govardhan parvat also promotes a deep respect for nature. Krishna’s act of protecting the hill against the storm sent by Indra is often interpreted as a divine endorsement of environmental conservation, suggesting that nature is sacred and should be revered and protected.
The area around Govardhan parvat has numerous temples and ashrams, making it a vibrant center for spiritual learning and practice. It attracts pilgrims and visitors not just from India but from around the world, who come to study and immerse themselves in the devotional life.
THE STORY OF GOVARDHAN PARVAT
In the town of Vrindavan, where Krishna spent his childhood, it was customary for the villagers to conduct elaborate sacrifices to appease Indra, the king of the gods and the controller of rains.
These sacrifices were conducted out of fear that without Indra’s benevolence, there would be no rain, thereby leading to poor harvests and hardship for the villagers.
As a young boy, Krishna questioned the necessity of these elaborate sacrifices. He argued that people should live in harmony with nature and focus their energies on tending to their livestock and farms rather than conducting costly sacrifices.
Krishna suggested that the villagers should honor the hill known as Govardhan parvat instead, as it provided the necessary resources for their livelihood, such as grass for their cattle, wood, fruits, and water. His charisma and convincing words led the villagers to divert their devotion from Indra to Govardhan Hill.
Feeling slighted by the villagers’ neglect, Indra decided to teach them a lesson. He unleashed a terrible storm on Vrindavan, with powerful rains and fierce winds, intending to flood the village as a demonstration of his power and to assert his importance.
Seeing the plight of his fellow villagers, who were now at risk due to the relentless storm, Krishna took a miraculous action. He lifted the entire Govardhan parvat with the little finger of his right hand, inviting all the villagers, along with their livestock, to take shelter underneath it. Krishna held the hill aloft like an umbrella, providing shelter from Indra’s storm.
The storm raged for seven days and nights. Throughout this time, Krishna remained steadfast, his divine power easily countering Indra’s fury. Eventually, Indra realized that Krishna was no ordinary child but a divine incarnation.
Ashamed of his wrath and the needless suffering he caused, Indra stopped the storm and descended to Krishna to apologize.
Krishna forgave Indra, who returned to his heavenly abode, now with a profound respect for Krishna’s divinity. This episode not only reinforced Krishna’s divine nature but also taught the villagers (and through the story, all devotees) about the virtues of devotion, protection, and the folly of ego and pride. It emphasized that true devotion should be directed toward those who offer actual shelter and sustenance.
RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE OF GOVARDHAN PARVAT
Govardhan parvat is a major pilgrimage site for devotees of Krishna. Pilgrims perform a practice called govardhan parvat Parikrama or circumambulation, which involves walking around the hill.
This act is seen as a form of devotion and penance, and many believe it brings them closer to divinity and helps in the fulfillment of their prayers. The complete govardhan parvat Parikrama is about 21 kilometers long and can take a full day to complete.