10 November 1996 Govardhana
We are very fortunate that so many devotees from all around India and more than 20-25 countries have assembled here. All of you have forsaken your material opulence and happiness to be here at the lotus feet of Sri Giriraja. When I went to the western countries, I saw how opulent their homes were. Even Indra would have become embarrassed upon seeing their homes. The devotees respected me so much and became so happy upon listening to the glories of Giriraja and Vraja-mandala.
The glories of Vraja-mandala, Govardhana, Radha-kunda, Syama-kunda, Nandagaon, Varsana, Bhandiravana, and the twelve forests are incomparable. Even the gods cannot possibly understand them. After listening to their glories, the devotees left all their happiness behind and are doing parikrama with us.
Once Krsna wanted to go to the earthly realm. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has described this pastime of Srimati Radhika’s and Krsna’s conversation in Goloka Vrndavana in his Svapna-vilasamrta. When Srimati Radhika understood Krsna’s intentions, She said, “Will You take Me with You as well?”
“Certainly,” replied Krsna.
Srimati Radhika said, “But I will not go to a place where there is no Vrndavana, Vraja-mandala, Yamuna, Giriraja-Govardhana, Manasi-ganga and the other pastime-places of Vraja-mandala.”
Krsna said, “You are Svarupa-sakti Yourself. By Your mere desire, all of Vraja-mandala will also descend on earth before Us. I will send Our eternal associates first, then You should come with Me.”
Therefore, the abode of Vraja-mandala, which comprises of eighty-four miles is not a region of this world. It has appeared to manifest the pastimes of Krsna. Krsna descends along with His various incarnations like Rama and Nrsimha to deliver those who think of the bodies to be their real selves and who are encaged within the prison-house of this material existence. He delivers the conditioned souls by awarding them the service of His lotus feet. If Bhagavan and His associates wouldn’t have appeared in this world, then how could we ever hope to be delivered? All the living entities are the servants of Krsna. By the mercy of Sri Guru, they realize their constitutional position as the conscious servants of Sri Krsna. They will realize that they don’t belong to this world and neither are they the body or the mind. By the mercy of Sri Guru, they will do bhajana and realize that “I am not this body; I am not the mind. I am a pure servant of Sri Krsna. I have come to this world because of having forgotten Him.”
Rama, Kalki, and so many incarnations appeared—but we still haven’t been delivered and we are continuing to wander in the cycle of birth and death. But by the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His dear devotees, we have understood that we are the servants of Sri Krsna and we are not the body or the mind. We will be forced to leave our bodies today or tomorrow because this world is not our eternal residence. Therefore, Bhagavan descends with Giriraja and Yamuna to manifest His pastimes. Although Yamuna has been covered by the illusory potency, she is not a dirty river. Giriraja is not a heap of stones. If he was as such, then why are millions of people circumambulating him and having all their desires fulfilled? Therefore, Giriraja is here.
I will speak on two pastimes on how Giriraja manifested. Giriraja was in the Himalayas. He is the son of Drona. Drona is one of the friends of Himalaya. He had a beautiful son and his name was Giriraja. Though he was little, he was so beautiful. He was decorated by Tamala trees, Kadamba trees, cuckoos, parrots, and everything else. He was surrounded by Govinda Kunda, Manasi-ganga, Kusuma-sarovara and other ponds. He was loved so much by his father. When anyone would see Giriraja-Govardhana, they would become so attracted to him. So, when Sri Ramacandra wanted to make a bridge across the ocean to go to Lanka, He ordered Nala, Nila, and all the monkeys to make a bridge. Thus, Rama would cross the ocean, go to Lanka, and bring Sita from there. So, when the bridge was being built, all the monkeys like Sugriva and Hanuman jumped to many places and brought many mountains and stone chips to help build the bridge. So, Hanuman also jumped and went to the Western part of the Himalayas. And he took the son of Drona named Giriraja-Govardhana. When he was returning from there, he received a message from Ramacandra when he was on the boundary of Vraja where Giriraja-Govardhana presently is.
In that message, Ramacandra said, “You are bringing so many mountains and big rocks. So, you should keep the mountain where you are presently at. Don’t bring the mountain here, because the bridge is completed. So keep the mountain there.”
When Hanuman was in Vraja, where Govardhana is still present up to this day, this message of Ramacandra was at once given to him. Therefore, Hanuman kept Giriraja-Govardhana there and he returned to where Ramacandra was. From that very time, Govardhana is there. Govardhana was so pleased to be there because Krsna will come and manifest all His pastimes there.
Also, there is another history of Giriraja-Govardhana in Skanda Purana. During the age of Satya Yuga, there was a Rsi called Pulastya. He used to live in Kasi. He saw that Vrndavana is so beautiful having so many mountains, rivers, and so many ponds. Vrndavana was so beautifully decorated. He wanted to make Kasi like Vrndavana. But he saw that only the Ganga is in Kasi. Yamuna is in Vrndavana and the Ganges is in Kasi. But there are no mountains or forests in Kasi. Hence, he wanted to bring any mountain from the Himalayas.
He went to Drona and said, “Your son is very lovely. I want you to give your son to me. I will take him with me to Kasi.”
Drona replied, “He is my life and soul. So how can I give him?”
Pulastya Rsi said, “If you deny me, then I will have to give you a curse that you will be burned to ashes.”
He feared and said, “Yes, you may take Govardhana.”
But Govardhana said, “I will go; but on one condition. You should not put me down anywhere. If you put me down anywhere, then I will not go from that place. I will be there forever. And, don’t take me when you are impure.”
Pulastya Rsi said, “Yes. I will follow.”
When the Rsi came to Vraja, where Govardhana presently is; then he felt an urge to pass. He kept Giriraja there and went near Manasa-Ganga for taking a bath. But the Rsi felt the need to pass water. He continuously passed water for many hours and hours. It was not stopping. After the Rsi took bath, performed his sandhya-vandana, took food and rested, he tried to lift Giriraja again, but Giriraja refused to move – remaining true to his previous condition. The Rsi could not lift Govardhana, even when he employed all his power. When they had reached Vraja, thoughts of Sri Krsna’s future lilas entered Govardhana’s mind, and he had become so heavy that the Rsi could no longer carry him and was forced to put him down right there, where Giriraja-Govardhana is presently situated.
Govardhana told the Rsi, “Why have you kept me here? Didn’t I tell you that I will never leave the place where you will keep me down? So, I cannot go anywhere else.”
The Rsi replied, “If you will not go with me, then I will have to give you a curse.”
Govardhana unhesitatingly said, “You can do anything you like, but I will not go.”
The Rsi then said, “Day by day, you will shrink in size. And you will not even be visibly seen when the age of Kali will exert its full influence.”
Govardhana replied, “Okay. I don’t care for your curse. But, I will see the pastimes of Srimati Radhika, Krsna, the gopas and the gopis. I will see how Krsna will play with all the cows and calves. I will see all His pastimes. I think that if Krsna will be merciful to me, then He will lift me on His finger. So many pastimes will manifest. Therefore, my life will be successful in beholding these pastimes.”
Pulastya Rsi tried lifting Giriraja-Govardhana so much; but he was unable to. And he returned empty-handed. Giriraja-Govardhana then started to anxiously wait for Krsna’s advent.
He thought, “When will Krsna come and play on My head, chest, and body? When will He play in my kunjas and ponds like, Manasi-Ganga, Kusuma-Sarovara, Radha Kunda, Syama Kunda, and Govinda Kunda?”
At last Krsna came and performed so many marvellous pastimes on Giriraja-Govardhana. The two eyes of Govardhana are Radha Kunda and Syama Kunda. His heart is where Sri Harideva is. The form of Govardhana resembles that of a sitting cow. The southern border of Govardhana is called Puchari. The form of Govardhana can also be likened to that of a peacock. When they dance, their tail is raised high. Thus, the two eyes are Radha Kunda and Syama Kunda. Hence, Govardhana’s form can be likened to the forms of a cow and a peacock. Govardhana is Krsna Himself because Krsna became Govardhana.
Also, the gopis have said, “Govardhana, you are not Krsna. You are a bona fide Vaisnava and you can give anything to anyone. You can give material things; you can give Vaikuntha; you can give anything.” Govardhana can also give the pure love of the gopis.”
Hence, the gopis have called Govardhana, “Haridasa-varya.”
There are three Haridasas. Yudhisthira Maharaja was haridasa. Also, Uddhava was haridasa-vara. But, Govardhana is haridasa-varya; the best of the haridasas. Because Krsna and the gopis play within the groves of Govardhana. Uddhava has not seen these pastimes, but Giriraja-Govardhana has seen. He is a witness to these pastimes. Dan-ghati is a place where Krsna and the gopis began to quarrel among themselves. This is called Prema-kalaha.
We bow down to Giriraja.
All the insects, birds, worms, trees and creepers are living entities who are bound by their karma. Although Giriraja Govardhana looks like a mountain, you should know that he is the eternal associate of Sri Krsna. In the same way, although Yamuna looks like a river, she is the eternal friend of Sri Krsna; she is Visakha-devi herself. The trees are great saints. We have heard and it is also stated in the scriptures that there were six trees near Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda. These trees were the five Pandavas and Draupadi-devi herself. Although they attained Krsna’s association in Dvaraka and Hastinapura, they couldn’t enter into Krsna’s pastimes in Vraja. Therefore, they appeared as trees and performed austerities for thousands of years.
They told Srila Raghunatha Das Gosvami, “O Raghunathaji! Please don’t cut us down.”
Don’t think of these trees to be like ordinary trees. Mundane historians and scientists are mostly atheistic. They cannot understand these truths. They cannot understand the origin of existence. Everything can only be understood by the power of one’s bhajana and by the causeless compassion of Sri Bhagavan. These self-manifest truths are only realized by the realization of atma-jnana. These truths are beyond the reach of the mind and senses because such faculties are material. Valmiki did austerities for lakhs of years and he realized all the pastimes of Sri Ramacandra in his heart. Vyasadeva also realized all these pastimes by bhakti-yoga.
bhakti-yogena manasi
samyak praṇihite 'male
apaśyat puruṣaṁ pūrṇaṁ
māyāṁ ca tad-apāśrayam
(SB 1.7.4)
[Thus he fixed his mind, perfectly engaging it by linking it in devotional service [bhakti-yoga] without any tinge of materialism, and thus he saw the Absolute Personality of Godhead along with His external energy, which was under full control.]
We can only understand these truths after practicing sadhana-bhajana for lakhs of years. Therefore, Giriraja is not just a mountain. Krsna is Svayam Bhagavan Himself and He manifests most enchanting pastimes in Vraja. He is the origin of all incarnations and expansions:
ete cāṁśa-kalāḥ puṁsaḥ
kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam
(SB 1.3.28)
[All of the above-mentioned incarnations are either plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions of the Lord, but Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the original Personality of Godhead.]
As Pujyapada Trivikrama Maharaja said, Giriraja is Krsna Himself. But he is simultaneously one with and different from Him (acintya-bheda-abheda). He is Bhagavan and also His sevaka. In other words, although He is Svayam Bhagavan—He is also Bhagavan’s eternal servant. Therefore, the Gopis said:
hantāyam adrir abalā hari-dāsa-varyo
yad rāma-kṛṣṇa-caraṇa-sparaśa-pramodaḥ
mānaṁ tanoti saha-go-gaṇayos tayor yat
pānīya-sūyavasa-kandara-kandamūlaiḥ
(SB 10.21.18)
[Of all the devotees, this Govardhana Hill is the best! O my friends, this hill supplies Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, along with Their calves, cows and cowherd friends, with all kinds of necessities — water for drinking, very soft grass, caves, fruits, flowers and vegetables. In this way the hill offers respects to the Lord. Being touched by the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, Govardhana Hill appears very jubilant.]
Even Nanda, Yasoda, and all the other Vrajavasis come and pray to Krsna. They only desire Krsna’s well-being and happiness. Thus, all the Vrajavasis stopped worshiping Indra and started worshiping Giriraja. The Vrajavasis pray, “May Krsna never be defeated; may He vanquish all the demons. May He remain eternally happy and beautiful.”
The Gopis never thought of Krsna to be Bhagavan. Only the residents of Mathura, Dvaraka and the rest of the world consider Him to be Bhagavan. Nanda and Yasoda only think of Him as their beloved son who cannot even turn to the other side without their help. In this way, they always serve Krsna, who is the last limit of Godhood. So, 56 types of food was offered to Giriraja here. Giriraja became happy and showed the caturbhuja-rupa (four-handed form), which is Krsna’s prakasa-vigraha to all the Vrajavasis. He also stood in His threefold bending form while playing on His flute. A peacock feather was resplendently situated on the top of His head. He was simultaneously the beloved of the Gopis and the beloved friend of the sakhas. He was also seen as the dear son of Sri Nanda Baba and Yasoda Maiya. He was also seen as the brother of many and as the dear guardian of all the cows while carrying Giriraja on His little finger.
The sakhas held their sticks beneath Giriraja and proudly said, “You are not holding Giriraja—we are!”
And what did the elderly Gopas say? They told Krsna, “You are not carrying Giriraja! Nanda Baba has performed many austerities to please Narayana. It is only by the power of such austerities that You are able to carry Giriraja. Don’t think that You are lifting Giriraja!”
The Gopis looked at Giriraja with sharp glances and said, “Giriraja! If you fall, we will burn you to ashes.”
Krsna lifted Giriraja by His little finger of His left hand. Therefore, He didn’t lift Giriraja—Srimati Radhika who is always situated on His left side lifted Giriraja. The scriptures have delineated so many glories of Sri Giriraja. These glories cannot be understand by ordinary people. But there is one example which even ordinary people can understand.
About fifty to sixty years ago, there was a paraplegic girl from Rajasthan. Since she didn’t have a backbone, she couldn’t walk. She told her relatives, “Just leave me in Giriraja. I will die there.” They brought her to Giriraja and after leaving her in one place, they started circumambulating Giriraja. Seeing so many people around her doing parikrama, the girl prayed, “Oh Girirajaji! Kindly bestow your mercy upon me so that I may also do your parikrama.”
The girl then started doing parikrama by lying down and crawling on the parikrama path. Much to her surprise, she could then gradually stand upright after doing parikrama continuously for six-seven months. She then offered her obeisances and continued with her parikrama. She would then finish her parikrama at Dan-ghati. In this way, she did parikrama for sixty years. People would come and give her prasada everyday. She passed away ten years ago in Mathura. The residents of Mathura also invited me for the festival celebrated in her honor. They told me about who she was when I went there. They observe this festival every year.
Sri Rupa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami, Vallabhacarya, Vittalacarya, and even Ramanujacarya and Madhvacarya have glorified Giriraja Govardhana in such wonderful ways. Thus, all the Vrajavasis would do parikrama of Giriraja Govardhana along with Krsna. They would eat sweets along the way and those who were unable to walk would sit on bullock-carts and do parikrama while glorifying Giriraja. Giriraja fulfills the desires of even Krsna Himself. What to speak of others! If anyone does parikrama, then Giriraja is bound to follow him in one form or another. Consider this to be the supreme truth (parama-satya)! He will surely come and ask what your desire is.
If you place a rock on another rock, then Giriraja will know that you desire to have a palatial building. If you tie two twigs together, then he will know that you desire to be married. If someone desires to be cured of any illness, then he will immediately do so. But Giriraja becomes a little anxious if someone says, “I only desire to have prema-bhakti at the lotus feet of Sri Radha and Krsna.” We should only desire the love that the Vrajavasis have for Krsna. And even among the Vrajavasis the love that Nanda and Yasoda have is greater than the love of the sakhas. Such prema is devoid of any desires and is immaculately pure. May we attain the prema that the Gopis have for Krsna. We should only pray to Giriraja to attain such moods of love and affection.
pramada-madana-līlāḥ kandare kandare te
rachayati nava-yūnor dvandvam asminn amandam
iti kila kalanārthaṁ lagnakas tad-dvayor me
nija-nikaṭa-nivāsaṁ dehi govardhana tvam
(Śrī Govardhana-Vāsa-Prārthanā-Daśakam—Verse 2)
["O Govardhana! Please grant me a dwelling near your side so that I can easily witness and serve the youthful lovers Sri Radha-Krsna as They perform newer and newer secret, amorous lilas within your many caves, and where They become completely maddened from drinking prema. You are present there, and you make everything possible.”]
The Gosvamis pray, “There are sacred groves decorated by creepers all around you (the path encircling Giriraja). Even Brahma and Siva are unable to witness the pastimes taking place within your groves and caves. May these pastimes manifest in my heart and make my life successful.”
Therefore, Giriraja carefully listens to such prayers and contemplates deeply within himself if he should give such rarely attained prema or not. But if a sadhaka truly desires such prema, then Giriraja will definitely give it. Yamuna, Giriraja, Radha-kunda, Syama-kunda, Vrnda-devi, Lalita-devi and Visakha-devi can give such Vraja-prema. They have the power to do so. There is no greater attainment than realizing these moods of prema. And Giriraja easily awards such prema. Therefore, the Gosvamis and all other devotees who desire pure bhakti reside on the banks of Giriraja and perform austerities without sleeping and by just subsisting on madhukari-bhiksa (requesting prasada from the homes of Vrajavasis). In this way, you can achieve prema, which is our only dharma. Krsna’s service is our only necessity. Prema is the only dharma of this world. And it is classified into sadhana-bhakti, bhava-bhakti and prema-bhakti. This prema is present in every living entity in one form or another. Prema is found even in a dog because it loves its puppies. A tiger will kill others, but it has love for its mate and cubs. Regardless of following any religion, every person has love inherently present within him or her. Prema is the dharma of the soul and it is devoid of hate, envy and violence towards others. Giriraja can give such prema.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu descended to give such prema even to the low-born. What to speak of brahmanas, sannyasis and the others? Every living entity can inherit such prema, which is attained by chanting the Hare Krsna Mahamantra:
Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Mahaprabhu preached the holy name everywhere.
yei bhaje sei baḍa, abhakta--hīna, chāra
kṛṣṇa-bhajane nāhi jāti-kulādi-vicāra
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Antya 4.67)
[“Anyone who takes to devotional service is exalted, whereas a nondevotee is always condemned and abominable. Therefore in the discharge of devotional service to the Lord, there is no consideration of the status of one's family.”]
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed everyone on how to attain such prema. Srimad Bhagavatam also speaks of such prema. We have come to this world to inherit this prema. May Giriraja Govardhana bestow his mercy on us and give us this prema. This is the best service to him. We desire to plant trees and make groves around Giriraja. We desire that peacocks be seen here. Fifty years ago, we would see herds of deer jumping around. But now we don’t see any deer around. There were so many blue cows around also. Peacocks and cuckoos are rarely seen dancing and cooing. Peacocks only say ‘ke-ka’ sometimes. What to speak of other animals and birds.
Our respected Modiji asked what service he could render. I told him, “You should make people come here and realize the glories of Vraja. In this way, their hearts will become supremely pure.”
These pastime-places of Vraja are no longer seen now. The sincere sadhus would do bhajana here without any worries. What we had seen fifty-sixty years ago have gradually concealed themselves. There used to be an attractive forest near Puchari, which resembles the tail of Giriraja. Herds of deer and many peacocks would be seen here. So, we should make such an environment and preserve the sanctity of these places. The sadhus can come and do nice bhajana here. This is the best service. We pray to Giriraja Govardhana that he bestow his mercy upon us. May Giriraja also inspire others to make enchanting gardens around him and remind everyone of his glories.
Gaura-premanande! Haribol!
*Submitted by Govardhana dasa.
