Sri Govardhana-puja

Giriraj Swami: Sri Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta: Chapter One,

TEXT 7

govardhano jayati śaila-kulādhirājo

yo gopikābhir udito hari-dāsa-varyaḥ

kṛṣṇena śakra-makha-bhaṅga-kṛtārcito yaḥ

saptāham asya kara-padma-tale ‘py avātsīt

TRANSLATION

All glories to Govardhana, the emperor of lordly mountains, the Lord’s dear gopīs called him the best servant of Hari, Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna disrupted the sacrifice for worship of Indra to worship Govardhana instead, and then the hill resided for a week on the Lord’s lotus palm.

COMMENTARY

Although Sri Govardhana currently appears as a long low hill, he is the greatest of mountains, surpassing in glory the Himalayas, Sumeru and all other mighty ranges and peaks. Exceeding the power of any near mountain he serves Krishna in Krishna’s personal abode, in several intimate ways. He pleases Krishna so much that the gopīs of Braj have singled him out for praise.

hantāyam adrir abalā hari-dāsa-varyo yad rāma-kṛṣṇa-caraṇa-sparaśa-pramodaḥ

mānaṃ tanoti saha-go-gaṇayos tayor yat panīya-sūyavasa-kandara-kanda-mūlaiḥ

“Of all the devotees, this Govardhana hill is the best. Oh friends, for Krishna and Balarama, along with their calves, cows and cowherd friends, this hill supplies all necessities.”

When Indra felt insulted and tried to destroy Vrajabhumi with a terrible rainstorm, Krishna easily lifted Govardhana with his left hand and held Govardhana aloft for seven days to protect His devotees. Thus, He proved that Govardhana Hill is greater than the King of heaven. This wonderful pastime is elaborately described in the Tenth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, chapters 24 to 27.

COMMENT

Lord Krishna knows the hearts of every living entity. And He is especially concerned with His devotees. Indra, the king of heaven is a devotee of Krishna but sometimes he becomes intoxicated with false pride. And no one can serve Krishna if he or she is proud. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says that the beginning of devotional service is humility – tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā upadekṣyanti tad-jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ. Devotional service begins when one becomes humble and is ready to accept superior guidance. In the beginning of the Bhagavad-gītā, Arjuna was discussing with Krishna as if they were equals, friends. And therefore, Krishna could not really impart the knowledge of the Bhagavad-gītā to him. But when Arjuna became humble and felt dependent on the mercy of Lord Krishna to guide him, then he surrendered, Śiṣyas te ‘haṁ śādhi māṁ tvāṁ prapannam. And when he became humble and surrendered to Krishna, Krishna was able to instruct him in the knowledge of the Bhagavad-gītā.

So, Indra became very proud. And Krishna knew that unless Indra became freed from his false prestige, he could not properly engage in devotional service. Indra is the king of heaven, he is the chief of the devas, he is the controller of the rainfall and he enjoys in his heavenly abode. Now generally, ordinary people are very eager to get material opulence, janmaiśvarya-śruta-śrībhiḥ. Aristocratic birth, wealth, knowledge, and aristocratic association and physical beauty. But Queen Kunti, in her beautiful prayers to Lord Krishna explains that one who is on the path of material advancement trying to increase the opulence of aristocratic birth or society, wealth, knowledge, culture, and Sri, beauty, cannot feelingly chant the holy name of the Lord. So, these items which appear to be very desirable in the material world can be impediments in the spiritual realm. And that was certainly the case with King Indra. He is born as the King of heaven, and very learned in scripture, very handsome, and was surrounded by beautiful things and people, women. And because he identified with these items and thought that they belonged to him and he had the right to enjoy them, he became fallen. And thus, when Krishna diverted the paraphernalia that had been traditionally used in the worship of King Indra, to the worship of Govardhana Hill, Indra became very angry.

Now we know from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam that Govardhana Hill is not an ordinary mountain but he is the best servant of Sri Hari, Krishna. And we also know from the govardhana-līlā that Govardhana Hill is himself Krishna. But Indra was so blinded by a false prestige that he could not recognize Krishna in the form of a cowherd boy to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And he could not recognize Govardhana Hill to be Krishna, or the best servant of Lord Krishna. So, when Krishna stopped the Indra yajña, Indra became very furious and he decided that he would take revenge. And so, he sent the Sāṁvartaka clouds. And these are not ordinary clouds, these are the clouds used at the time of universal devastation. There is the story of Markandeya Rishi in the Twelfth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, how he was caught up in the flood of universal devastation. So, in any case, those clouds were sent by Indra and they poured rain on Vrindavan; not drops but pillars of rain, along with contemptuous winds. And Lord Krishna, to give protection to the residents of Vrindavana and to crush the false pride of Indra, lifted Govardhana Hill with His left hand and held it over His head like an umbrella with the tip of the small finger of His left hand. He was so expert in crushing the false pride of Indra that nothing Indra could do, could disturb Him, or the residents of Vrindavan or Govardhana Hill.

When Krishna was lifting Govardhana Hill, the Sāṁvartaka clouds were using all their might to try to blow the mountain off Krishna’s finger, but it did not waver. In fact, just to smash Indra’s false pride, all those powerful Sāṁvartaka clouds with all the torrents of rain and hurricane-like winds were not able to make one leaf fall off any of the trees on Govardhana hill. In fact, they were not able to move one speck of dust, even one, the fraction of one atom; they were not able to move even one particle of dust. So, after one week, the Sāṁvartaka clouds were exhausted and they returned to Indra and explained what had happened. Then Indra himself came along with the Sāṁvartaka clouds, but they could not do anything. Then Indra had the realization that he had committed an offense. And he went to Bṛhaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods. And Bṛhaspati confirmed you have committed a very grievous offense. And if you try to approach Krishna directly, you will not be successful, you must approach Him through the medium of some dear devotee of Krishna. So, King Indra approached Surabhi, a heavenly cow, who is dear to Krishna, and she took pity on him and she agreed to accompany him to Lord Krishna.

So, they came to Vrindavan, Krishna walked right past Indra as if he did not exist. But then when He saw Surabhi, He stopped. And Surabhi represented Indra’s case and eventually Lord Krishna accepted Indra’s prayers for forgiveness. So, the whole govardhana-līlā, you could say, was engineered by Lord Krishna to crush the false pride of Indra, to bring him to a proper position in devotional service. But Indra was very fearful. He thought, I misunderstood Krishna, I mistook Krishna as an ordinary cowherd. Now when Krishna comes again, I might make the same mistake. He was very worried. So Surabhi said that let us go to Navadvipa because in Kali-yuga Krishna will come again as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Let us go there and perform austerities. So, they went to Navadvipa, to the island of Godruma, to the area now called Surabhi Kunj. And they constantly chanted the holy name of Gauranga. And eventually Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was pleased with their devotional service and He appeared to them in a beautiful transcendental form. And He blessed them and he told Indra that you can return to your heavenly abode, and when I descend as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu you will have the opportunity to serve Me. But Surabhi did not want to return to her heavenly abode. I mean, she has her own planet, not the same heavenly planet as Indra but her own celestial planet. Because she had become very attached to Navadvipa, she wanted to remain there. And so, she does reside there under the tree where they had performed their austerities. And that very name Godrumadwipa, “go” refers to cow and “druma” refers to tree. So that refers to Surabhi who is residing under that tree where she and Indra had initially chanted the holy names of Gauranga.

So, we should take lessons from this pastime to always remain humble. Yes, these are opulences, janmaiśvarya-śruta-śrībhiḥ, (and there are others) and they can be used in Krishna’s service. They are meant to be used in Krishna’s service. But as soon as we think that they are us, or they belong to us and we want to enjoy them, then we become proud and we are likely to commit offenses. Yes, people who are proud, they are very quick to pass judgment on others, to find fault with others and they always think that they are completely right and justified in what they think and speak. Ramachandra Puri criticized Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Himself; he was convinced that he was right and that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was wrong. Ramachandra Khan was extremely offensive to Haridasa Thakura and he convinced so many people to be on his side. And he was completely convinced that he was right. And when we become proud and commit offenses, we place ourselves in a very precarious condition. So, we should keep in mind this instructive story. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu exhibited similar mercy towards Valla-Bhatta. Valla-Bhatta considered himself to be a very learned scholar and he was proud and envious of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s intimate associates. And Chaitanya Mahaprabhu arranged to smash his false prestige as well. The Caitanya-caritāmṛta compares it exactly to the way Krishna smashed the false pride of Indra.

So that is also Krishna’s mercy, Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s mercy. But it is better that we remain humble, are aware of our actual positions as insignificant living entities who have no capacity to do anything on our own, who have nothing that we can call our own; whatever capacity we have, it is coming from Krishna. It is Krishna’s – whatever property we think is ours is Krishna’s, and if we are conscious that it is all Krishna and Krishna’s property, and we accept it in a humble mood of service to Krishna and His devotees, we will be safe. And as soon as we think I am intelligent, I am learned, I am beautiful, I am capable, then we run a very great risk. So, to remember this pastime, devotees have been enjoined to celebrate Govardhana-puja. Even today devotees and everywhere, especially in Vrindavan they are celebrating Govardhana-puja with mountains of foodstuffs being offered near Govardhana and Giridhari. And so, we are continuing that tradition here, a very joyful festival.

Hare Krishna.

Devotees: Hare Krishna.

Giriraj Swami: Are there any questions or comments? Yes, Urvashi dasi?

Devotee: Hare Krishna Maharaja. Is there some way that, I do not know how to put this, that we can evoke Krishna’s wrath upon us that will smash, because it is so, I just feel I am so blinded and annoyed, guilty of all the things you mentioned. And how can we bring upon the wrath so that we can really realize how insignificant we are and become humble, so that we can begin trying to get pure in devotional service?

Giriraj Swami: Well, that is a very good question, very sincere question. But I think your underlying question is how you can be free from false identification and false prestige, so you can really chant the holy names of Krishna. And our simple practices that Srila Prabhupada gave us have that potency. If we get up early in the morning, sing the samsara prayers, chant our rounds, and read. I mean, not all in the morning, we do as much as we can in the morning and continue. And that will have a powerful effect, especially reading. Srila Prabhupada often recommended that we read his books for one hour every day. When you read the books, you are reminded who you are; that you are not the body, you are not the mind, you are not the intelligence – none of the things that you identify with are you, nor are they yours. And it is very purifying when you read in the mood in which you asked your question, of being purified and saved from this cloud that obscures everything. And it has that effect; it clarifies who you really are, and what your actual position is, and what your real function is, and where your real happiness lies. Because the whole materialistic society is giving us the opposite message. Everyone. Everyone you meet in the shop, in the workplace, in the school, wherever you go, everyone is basically caught up in the bodily concept of life. They are all working for these impediments. They are all working for aristocratic association, wealth, knowledge, learning, beauty. And it is very easy to get caught up by that false propaganda.

As His Holiness Radhanath Swami said, “My Deity has empowered the material energy and people in the material world, He actually empowered them to bewilder us.” They are ordinary people; they are empowered to bewilder us. So much false. . . everything, advertising. And so, to be freed from that false propaganda we need to take shelter of Krishna and the devotees. And the best way is by chanting the holy name, reading Srila Prabhupada’s books, especially Srila Prabhupada’s books. And associating with devotees in that mood of purifying our consciousness, and getting out of the mind. That is what is keeping us down. Going to India, or anywhere, retreats, yatras, festivals, and really engaging oneself wholeheartedly in those activities; they will also help. But you can pray, you can pray, whatever it takes: “Oh Lord, do whatever it takes to bring me back to You.” Going to India. . . physically we must give up this or that, the sense of false proprietorship but it does help to simplify your life. That is why there is varnashrama-dharma, different people who have different occupational duties and they have different requirements. So, like Kshatriyas, they need opulence to enforce their will on people. But brahmans, they live as simply as possible, otherwise it is a problem.

Like Prabhupada said on one morning walk on the beach, “Basically to get money is difficult, to keep money is difficult, and when you lose it, that is another difficulty.” He said it is difficult in every phase. And we will lose it all, if not earlier, then at the time of death – we are going to lose it all. We have invested our energy and our consciousness in those things. And when the time of death comes, our consciousness will be in those things, it will be hard to give them up. It will be hard to think of Krishna. So, it is better to practice now. Therefore, that phrase die before dying. Bhakti Tirtha Swami used it in his last book, die before dying, in the sense that when we die, we are going to have to shed all these false identifications and false attachments. So, we should rather do that before. Do that now. So that when death comes, it is not too much too soon. So, that is very wise advice if we do that now, then when death comes it is just a very easy transition. I mean it is hard for the soul, but it is [Unintelligible].

Devotee: [Unintelligible] monetary elements. So, you must work harder to achieve that. But in attaining it you would increase your service and devotional service, but you must devote that time and work hard to attain that.

Giriraj Swami: It is all a matter of the consciousness. All these things can be used in Krishna’s service; they are meant to be used in Krishna’s service. But there is a danger, and if we remain strongly situated in our spiritual practices, especially in our minimum sixteen rounds, in our reading of Srila Prabhupada’s books, then the other activities can go on. I mean you can. It is a difficult question. But yes, if you have that gift to make money and then want to use the money to serve Krishna, that is fine.