A Story of Dvapar Yuga in Prose ( Part- 12-C)
By Lokanath Mishra
Govardhan Lila : The Story of Govardhan Puja
In the lush forests of Vrindavan, life flowed in simple beauty. The air was sweet with the fragrance of wild jasmine, cows grazed on soft meadows, and the river Yamuna glistened like a silver ribbon under the sun.
Each year, the villagers of Vrindavan prepared for a grand festival to honor Indra, the god of rain. They believed that without Indra’s blessings, no rains would fall, no crops would grow, and their cattle would starve.
The people bustled with joy. Pots of fresh milk were churned into butter, heaps of rice and sweets were cooked, and garlands of flowers hung in every home. Children ran around laughing, their hands sticky with jaggery, while the elders arranged offerings for Indra’s worship.
Seeing all this, little Krishna—who was no ordinary child but the Supreme Lord Himself in human form—approached His father, Nanda Maharaj, with curiosity shining in His eyes.
Krishna : “Father, may I ask something? For whom are we preparing all these offerings? Why do we worship Indra in this way?”
Nanda Maharaj: “My dear boy, Indra is the king of the heavens and the controller of rains. Without his favor, we cannot grow our food or sustain our cows. So, every year, we worship him to ensure that he continues to bless Vrindavan with rain.”
Krishna smiled knowingly. Though He was only a child in their eyes, He carried the wisdom of the universe in His heart.
Krishna: “Father, does Indra truly give the rains by his own power? Or is he simply following the will of the Supreme Lord? The truth is, our lives depend not on Indra, but on the cows and on Govardhan Hill. From Govardhan, we receive fruits, grains, herbs, and streams of water. The cows graze on its grasses and give us milk, our very nourishment. Should we not worship Govardhan and the cows instead of Indra?”
The elders gathered, listening to Krishna’s gentle words. A silence filled the courtyard. What He said struck their hearts with truth—simple, undeniable truth.
And so, for the first time, the people of Vrindavan decided not to perform the annual sacrifice to Indra. Instead, they prepared a festival in honor of Govardhan Hill and the cows.
The day of the festival arrived. The villagers carried mountains of food—sweet laddus, rice cooked in ghee, milk, butter, yogurt, fruits, and vegetables—and placed them before Govardhan Hill. They decorated the hill with flowers, lamps, and colored powders, and sang songs of gratitude.
Then Krishna revealed His divine nature. Before their eyes, He expanded Himself into a gigantic form as Govardhan Hill personified, and He accepted all the offerings with great joy. The villagers watched in awe, their hearts brimming with devotion.
After the worship, everyone feasted together in celebration. The children danced, the cows mooed contentedly, and the sound of flute and drums filled Vrindavan. From that day forward, this celebration became known as Govardhan Puja, or Annakuta—“the mountain of food.”
But high above in the heavens, Lord Indra looked down in fury. His pride was wounded.
Indra (thundering): “These villagers have abandoned me! And all because of that mischievous boy, Krishna. How dare they defy me! I shall unleash such a storm that Vrindavan will be drowned, and they will learn the price of insulting their king!”
Summoning the Samvartaka clouds, fierce storms reserved for universal destruction, Indra commanded them to pour their fury upon Vrindavan.
Dark clouds swallowed the sky, lightning flashed, and thunder roared like the drums of war. Torrential rains pounded the earth, flooding fields and uprooting trees. The villagers, terrified, clutched their children and cows, crying out for protection.
The people of Vrindavan ran to Krishna, their only refuge.
Villagers: “O Krishna, we listened to You, and now Indra has sent this storm to destroy us. Please protect us, O beloved child of Vrindavan!”
Krishna, calm as the moon, simply smiled.
Krishna: “Do not fear. Indra is proud, and his pride will be broken. Come with me, and I will give you shelter.”
With a playful ease, Krishna placed His little finger beneath Govardhan Hill and lifted the entire mountain into the sky as if it were a toy umbrella.
Krishna: “Come, bring your families, your cows, and all you possess. Take shelter beneath Govardhan!”
And so, the entire village—men, women, children, cows, and birds—gathered under the shelter of the hill. For seven days and seven nights, Krishna held Govardhan aloft, protecting His devotees from the storm.
Inside, the villagers sang, danced, and marveled at Krishna’s divinity. The gopis gazed at Him with unblinking love, the cowherd boys played beside Him, and the elders prayed in reverence. Even the cows, chewing calmly beneath the mountain, seemed to know they were safe under Krishna’s care.
After seven days, Indra’s pride broke like a shattered cloud. He realized that no power could overcome Krishna. Humbled, he withdrew the storms and descended from the heavens, his head bowed.
He approached Krishna and fell at His feet.
Indra: “O Lord, forgive me. In my arrogance, I thought myself supreme. But You alone are the master of all. I am but Your servant. Please pardon my offense.”
Krishna’s eyes, filled with compassion, rested on Indra.
Krishna: “Indra, your duty is to nourish the world with rains, not to destroy it out of pride. Learn humility, and never forget that all power comes from the Supreme.”
Indra bowed deeply, purified of his arrogance, and returned to his heavenly abode.
With the storm ended, Krishna gently placed Govardhan Hill back in its place. Vrindavan blossomed once again, fresh with greenery washed by the rains. The villagers rejoiced, singing Krishna’s glories.
From that day on, Govardhan Puja was celebrated every year. Mountains of food—Annakuta—are prepared in remembrance of Krishna’s pastime, and devotees honor the cows and Govardhan Hill with love.
Spiritual Lessons of Govardhan Lila
1. True Worship is Gratitude, Not Fear – Krishna redirected worship from Indra’s pride to Govardhan’s nurturing presence, teaching us to honor what sustains life.
2. Pride Brings Downfall – Even the mighty Indra was humbled by arrogance, showing that humility is the ornament of greatness.
3. God Protects His Devotees – Like Krishna lifting Govardhan, the Divine always shelters those who surrender with faith.
4. Nature is Sacred – Worshiping cows and Govardhan reminds us that the earth is holy, and to honor it is to honor God.
5. Love Conquers All – The festival of Govardhan Puja reminds us that Krishna is bound not by power, but by the love of His devotees.
And so, Krishna is remembered forever as Giridhari, the lifter of Govardhan Hill, who broke the pride of Indra and revealed the sweet truth:
“Where there is devotion and humility, there is shelter under the mountain of God’s grace.”
The Sacred Tradition of Gosani Jatra in Puri (Part–3)
The Sacred Tradition of Gosani Jatra in Puri (Part–2)
A Story of Dvapar Yuga in Prose ( part-16)