Places near Vrindavan

Places near Vrindavan

Way to Yavat;

       There are many small villages and upavans (sub-forests) in Vraja Mandala Bhoomi which are the holy places of the appearance and the activities of Lord Shri Krishna and His associates. Prominent amongst these are Raval, Barsana, Nandagaon, Unchagaon and Javat. The scriptures describe that whenever the Supreme Lord appears on this planet, He does not come alone, rather He descends with all His eternal associates and His personal paraphernalia from the spiritual world, Goloka Vrindavan. In fact, before His descent to this world, Lord ordered all the demigods to take birth in the various villages in and around Vrindavan so that they can witness and assist in His sweet pastimes.  So, these villages around Vrindavan are also very important as they are the places of appearance and pastimes of the Lord’s intimate associates.

       Raval is the birthplace of Shrimati Radharani, the female counterpart of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Shri Krishna. This is the place where Vrishabhanu Maharaj found Shrimati Radharani floating in the Yamuna on a golden lotus flower on the day of Radhashtami. Later on Vrishbhanu Maharaj and Kirtida Devi, father and mother of Shri Radhika, moved to Barsana. Barsana Gram also called “Vrishabhanupur”, is the eternal playground of Shrimati Radharani, the Sakhis, the Manjaris and Shri Krishna, the Sakhas and the Gopas. Visiting Barsana and Raval to beg for Shrimati Radharani’s mercy is an important part of a devotee’s pilgrimage to Vrindavan dham because Krishna’s mercy automatically follows for a person who has received the mercy of Shrimati Radharani and Her servants.

       Another prominent place is Unchagaon which is the village of Lalita Sakhi, a close friend of Shrimati Radharani. Lalita Sakhi is one of the eight principal Gopis (ashta sakhis).

       Each and every inch of this Vraja Bhoomi is extraordinary and spiritually surcharged with Lord Krishna’s sweet pastimes. It is not possible to describe the glory and importance of each and every place here.

       Places to visit:

      

       1. Nandagaon
       2. Barsana
       3. Raval
       4. Yavat
       5. Unchagaon

Radha Kund and Shyama Kund

Radha Kund and Shyama Kund

Radha & Shyama Kund, Govardhan;

       Radha Kund and Shyama Kund, the two most spiritually surcharged Kunds (ponds), are located in a village called Arita about 3 miles north-east of Govardhan and fourteen miles from Mathura and Vrindavan.

Radha Kund is the holiest place in all of Brahma’s creation. Radha Kund and Shyama Kund represent the eyes of Govardhan, which is in the shape of a peacock. This is the place where Radha and Krishna performed their most intimate and most sweet pastimes.

Krishna is killing a demon Arishtasura;

       One of the demons by the name Arishta, sent by the evil Kamsa to kill Krishna and Balarama, assumed the form of a bull and attacked Krishna. But he was easily overpowered and was instead killed by the Lord. This pastime took place in the afternoon when Krishna and His cowherd friends were herding the cattle.

       That night when Krishna went to meet His beloved Srimati Radharani, She jokingly forbade Him to touch Her and said, “Today, You have killed a bull, which belongs to the cow family. You have therefore committed the sin of killing a cow. Please do not touch My pure body.”

       Krishna smilingly replied that the bull was in fact a very dangerous demon and so by killing it He incurred no sin. But Radharani refused to accept this explanation and Her sakhis also supported Her.

       Krishna then asked how He could atone for the sin. In reply, Radharani said that the only way to atone the sin is to take bath in every holy place in the world. To fulfill Her desire Krishna created a large kunda by striking the ground with His heel. He then summoned all the holy places from all over the planet. When they appeared Krishna asked their personified forms to enter in to the Kunda in the form of water, which they promptly did. Within moments the kunda was filled with the most pure and sacred water. Krishna then bathed in it and approached Radharani, having atoned for the sin of killing a bull. He bragged about how His kunda was the most beautiful and how great He was in creating such a kunda. Hearing Her beloved boast in such a manner, Radharani along with Her sakhis decided to create an even more exquisite kunda adjacent to the one created by Krishna, by digging the place with their bracelets. When not a drop of water manifested in the kunda, Krishna said that they could take water from His kunda. Radharani refused and She along with Her sakhis decided to fill Her kunda by carrying water from Manasi-ganga in clay water pots. Sri Krishna signalled to the holy places that they should insist that Radharani and Her sakhis fill up their kunda with water from His. The holy places personified prayed to Radharani and Her sakhis and pleased them by glorifying them in many ways. She then mercifully gave them the permission to enter Her kunda, and immediately a current of water flowed from Krishna-kunda to Radha-kunda.

Shyama Kund, Govardhan;

       After Radha-kunda was filled with holy waters of the entire planet, Lord Krishna told Srimati Radharani that Her kund would be the most famous place in the world and that He would daily bathe in Her kunda. Lord Krishna declared that Radha-kunda is as dear to Him as Srimati Radharani Herself and anyone who bathes in it will get Her love. Radha kunda is the personified love of Srimati Radharani.

Radha Kund, Govardhan;

        These two kundas manifested at midnight on krishnashtami (the eighth day of the dark moon) in the month of Kartika; therefore, thousands of people bathe here at midnight on this day, which is known as Bahulashtami.

       Since these are the places where Radha and Krishna performed their most intimate and sweet pastimes, Srila Prabhupada, told that we should not approach Radha Kund in a familiar or light manner. Otherwise it would not help us to advance in our spiritual life. We should approach these pastimes with great reverence and should not treat them as something ordinary or talk about it lightly. We should consider these pastimes to be way above our heads and should aspire to be the servants of the servants of those who have realized the glories of Sri Radha Kunda.

The Mentality of Arishtasura

       Arishtasura represents one of the very serious obstacles on the path of devotional service: the propensity to consider oneself very religious, and to follow the principles of religion invented by other conditioned souls—while criticizing the path of devotional service. This is a very serious obstacle, and it’s everywhere. In the name of religion, in this age of Kali, there is so much concoction: what is religion is taken to be irreligion and what is irreligion is taken to be religion. There are people presenting so many different ideas about God, about who is God and how to attain God.

       Some people say that there is one path and it doesn’t matter what God you worship, it doesn’t matter what deity you worship, because ultimately, I am God, you are God, and everything is God; you just somehow purify yourself by concentrating yourself, your attention on some kind of divinity, and you will become Bhagavan. Hundreds and millions of people in this world believe in this. And then when we tell them Krishna is God, that Bhakti is the real process, they criticize—what is this sectarianism? What is this close mindedness? What is all this austerities and renunciation you are talking about? You just worship any God, any demigod, it doesn’t matter. Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur declared war against these misconceptions.

      But we sometimes tend to become affected by all this propaganda. Then it becomes very, very great obstacle in devotional service.

       We should therefore understand what Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita:

       Men of small intelligence worship the demigods, and their fruits are limited and temporary. Those who worship the demigods go to the planets of the demigods, but My devotees ultimately reach My supreme planet. (BG 7.23)

        So we should not be mislaid by false propaganda.

       And even, often times, people who declare Krishna to be God, have so many different conceptions without knowing what actually the truth is.

       Therefore Krishna says:

 Evam parampara praptam imam rajarsayo viduh

Sa kaleneha mahata yogo nastah parantapa (B.G. – 4.2)

       If we take the truth from a proper disciplic succession of great acharyas, we then understand what is what. 

       So many people are dragged away from the process of devotional service, due to this type of association—represented by Arishtasura.

      Kamsa worshipped Shiva, considered himself a very, very religious man, and he sent Arishtasura to promote hisreligiosity. What was the purpose? To kill Krishna. Similarly, all these Arishtasuras who are preaching principles that are contrary to pure devotional service, they are coming to attack Krishna in our hearts. Therefore, we must defend ourselves by maintaining proper association, by understanding philosophically what our siddhanta is, and ultimately by crying out to Krishna for help by chanting his holy names, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

Jihva Mandir

Jihva Mandir, Govardhan;

       Raghunath Das Goswami wanted to dig a well so that the Vrajvasis would not wash their clothes in Radha-Kunda. While digging the well the workers hit upon a rock and blood began to come out of that rock. Raghunath Das Goswami immediately stopped the digging. Later on, Lord Krishna appeared in his dream and told him that He was non-different from Govardhan and the rock that was hit upon was the tongue of Giriraj. Krishna then asked Radhunath Das Goswami to take out that sila and worship it on the altar.

Even to this day the Govardhan sila representing the tongue of Giriraj is worshipped with Tulasi leaves and water from the Radha-kunda as instructed by Lord Krishna to Das Goswami.

Excavation of Radha Kunda and Shyam Kunda

Lord Krishna in the mood of Srimati Radharani in Govardhan;

       Generally it is noted that after the great spiritual personalities wind up their pastimes in this material world, the places associated with them are lost to the world in due course of time. The Lord then arranges these places to re-manifest to the world through His pure loving devotees, in order to reveal to the world the glories of these devotees.

       After Krishna disappeared from this world, Radha Kunda and Shyama Kunda were also lost to the world.

       The pastime of how Radha-kunda and Shyama-kunda were revealed to the world through one of the most intimate and pure devotees of Lord Chaitanya, Srila Raghunath Das Goswami.

       Radha Kunda and Shyama Kunda were lost to the world for a long time. Then in 1550 Lord Chaitanya came to Vrindavan on the day of Kartika Poornima and stayed in Vrindavan for two months.

Place where Lord Chaitania found Radha and Shyama Kunds;

       Lord Caitanya was searching for Aritagram, because according to the scriptures this is the place where the famous Radha-Kunda and Shyama Kund were present. So one day Lord Caitanya sat under a Tamala tree and while meditating upon Radha-Kunda and Shyama- Kunda, He saw two bodies of water in a nearby paddy field. Lord Caitanya who is none other then Radha and Krishna, could immediately identify them as Radha Kunda & Shyama Kunda. He very happily took the waters of the kundas and applied tilaka on His body using the clay from Radha-kunda.

 Lord very happily took the waters of the kundas
and applied tilaka on His body using the clay from Radha-kunda;

        Raghunath Das Goswami witnessed Lord Chaitanya’s pastimes at Puri, and after the departure of Lord Caitanya and His associates he came to Vrindavan. Sanatana Goswami instructed him to stay near Radha-Kunda where he daily spoke for 3 hours on Gaur Lila. He performed his bhajan at Radha-Kunda. One time Raghunath Das Goswami, understanding the mood of Lord Chaitanya, was thinking that Lord Caitanya wanted the holy places of Vrindavan to be excavated for the benefit of all people. But at that time Radha-Kunda & Shyama-Kunda were just two small ponds. Raghunath Das Goswami thought of excavating them but he didn’t want to entangle himself in money etc. Radha & Krishna understood his heart. At the same time a wealthy merchant was on his way to Badrikasrama with the intention of building a beautiful temple for Lord Badrinath. Badrinath appeared in the dream of that merchant and instructed him to excavate Radha-Kunda under the guidance of Raghunath Das Goswami instead. In this way Radha-Kunda & Shyama-Kunda were excavated.

       While excavating Shyama-Kunda, Yudhisthira Maharaj appeared in a dream to Raghunath Das Goswami and told him that he, with his four brothers, were standing there in the form of trees and meditating on the pastimes of Radha & Krishna. So in order to show respect to the Pandavas the trees were left as it is and therefore Shyama-Kunda is not square shaped.

The Highest Position of Sri Radha Kunda

Radha Kund;

       Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is none other than the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna in the compassionate mood of Srimati Radharani, invested within the heart of Rupa Goswami his own divine love and commissioned him to come to Vrindavan and reveal Vrindavan to the world. In Shri Updeshamruta(text 9) Srila Rupa Goswami has written about all holy places in this creation. It is said that Mathura Puri is most sacred because here the Supreme Lord Krishna appeared. Of all the places in Mathura Puri Vrindavan is more sacred because here Krishna performs the Rasa Lila or dances of Vraja. Of all places in forests of Vrindavan, Govardhan is most sacred because such very, very confidential pleasing pastimes are eternally being enacted here. Of all places of Govardhan, the supreme-most of all places in all the spiritual and material worlds is Sri Radha kunda, because it is at Radha-kunda that the highest divine loving relations of Sri Radha and Sri Krishna are enacted. For devotees what is highest is whatever gives Radha and Krishna most pleasure. Because They enjoy each other’s company with highest degree of ecstatic love at Radha kunda, it is considered holiest of all holy places in all of creation.

Uddhava Kund

Uddhava Baithak

Uddhava Kund, Govardhan;

       This place is located to the west of Kusuma Sarovara on the right side of the parikarama marg. King Vajranabha manifested this Kunda under the guidance of Shandilya rishi and other sages.

Uddhava Kund;

        At this place there is a temple dedicated to Uddhava, Lord Krishna’s dear cousin. This place is of great spiritual significance because it is said that Uddhava always resides here praying to Lord Krishna for the love and devotion that the Gopis had for Lord Krishna. Uddhava came to Vrindavan to deliver the message of Lord Krishna. But he was so overwhelmed by seeing the devotion and love of the gopis for Krishna that he wanted to remain in the forest of Vrindavan as a creeper (gulma-lata) and smear the dust of the gopis’ feet on his head.

       When Lord Krishna sent Uddhava to Vrindavan to deliver His message to the Gopis , Uddhava stayed there for ten months. He realized that he had no love for Krishna as compared to the Gopis. Uddhava was famous as being a great devotee, but when he saw the Vrajvasi’s love he felt he had no love.

       When a materialistic person sees someone having something more in some specialization he/she becomes envious. When a Vaishnava sees someone superior, he/she would want to follow in the footsteps of that superior, would want to serve that superior, and would want to get the dust of that superior. That’s what makes a Vaishnava great.

Sri Sri Radha Krishna;

       Envy is the basic principle of material existence, but it has absolutely no place in spiritual life. When we see someone being more blessed than ourselves, someone being more recognized than ourselves, someone being more empowered than ourselves, or someone being able to do greater things than ourselves, if we are materialistically affected, we would become envious. But if we are spiritually blessed we would not become envious, we would want to serve those people, we would want to be blessed by those people, and we would want to follow in the footsteps of those people. That quality is seen as great by Krishna. Our so called greatness is not seen as great by Krishna. If you can speak nicely or sing nicely or manage things nicely or influence people nicely or do some particular activities nicely, that is not very impressive to Krishna. It’s our consciousness that is impressive to Krishna. If we see good in others and without envy want to serve them and follow in their footsteps, that’s what makes us great in the eyes of God.

Sri Sri Radha Krishna;

        Uddhava could see that the love of Vrajvasis was supreme and he wanted to follow in their footsteps. He was the best devotee in Mathura and still he was willing to give up his royal post and position as a great prince and as an associate of Krishna—to become grass in Vrindavan.

Govind Kund

Govind Kund

Govind Kund, Govardhan;

       Govind Kund is located on the edge of Aniyora Village, about 400m after the village of Aniyora. It is a 1.85 acre rectangular tank at the foot of Giriraj Govardhan.

       This is where Lord Indra bathed Lord Krishna and offered prayers to him, after Lord Krishna lifted Govardhana Hill. This kunda was made by the bathing ceremony. Krishna’s feet were bathed with Ganges water, milk, tulasi manjaris and lotus flowers. This kunda was originally filled with these ingredients of the abhiseka (bathing ceremony.)

       Krishna as a 7 year old boy persuaded His father Nanda maharaj and other cowherd men to stop worshipping Indra, the demigod of rains, and instead worship the supremely compassionate Govardhan Hill for providing all the things necessary for the cows.

Govind Kund;

        When Indra saw that the Vrajavasis had stopped worshipping him and were worshipping Govardhana instead, he became angry. Consequently, with the intention of destroying them, he poured forth torrential rains and hurled thunderbolts upon them for seven days, but he was not successful. Finally, Lord Brahma advised him to ask for forgiveness for his offence, and so Indra performed abhisheka of Sri Krishna with the milk of Surabhi, the celestial cow, at this place. Sri Krishna was named “Govinda” because He nourishes and gives pleasure to all—the cows, the gopas, the gopis and to the land of Vraja. This place is known as Govinda Kunda because the name-giving ceremony and abhisheka of Sri Govinda were performed here. Sri Vajranabha, the great grandson of Krishna, established this kunda in memory of this pastime.

       Various scriptures state the significance of Govinda Kund

       In the purport to Caitanya Caritamrita Madhya 18.37 it is stated: “Govinda Kunda is exalted for its many spiritual activities. It was here that Indra was defeated by Lord Krishna, and Indra offered his prayers and bathed Lord Govinda.

       In the Mathura-khanda it is also stated: “Simply by bathing in Govinda Kunda, one is awarded liberation. This lake was produced when Sri Krishna was bathed by Lord Indra.”

       “In this way, Krishna was bathed by the milk of the surabhi cows, and Indra was bathed by the water of the celestial Ganges through the trunk of his elephant carrier. After this, the heavenly King Indra, along with the surabhi cows and all the other demigods and their mothers, worshiped Lord Krishna by bathing Him with Ganges water and the milk of the surabhis.” (Krishna Book, Chap. 27)

       “With humility caused by great fear, Indra took hold of the lotus feet of Lord Krishna and, in the company of a Surabhi cow, performed His coronation festival by bathing Him with the waters of the heavenly Ganga. Thus Lord Krishna’s kingship over the cows became splendidly manifest. I pray that Govinda-kunda, the lake created by that ceremonial bath, may eternally appear before my eyes.” (Stavavali, Vraja-vilasa-stava 74)

The Second Coronation at Govinda Kunda

Sri Sri Radha Govinda;

       “Lord Brahma came to be the head priest. Lord Shiva came to give his blessings, and with the permission of Shiva and the direction of Brahma, it is explained that Surabhi along with seven chaste women of the earth performed a beautiful abhishek ceremony to Lord Krishna. It was at that time that Brahma performed aarti and put a crown on His head and formerly declared that Krishna is the Supreme Indra. He is the Lord of all Universes. After the demigods completed the worship, they offered their obeisances and returned to their respectable abodes.

       “Krishna was sitting here on a beautiful throne at Govinda Kunda. At that time the cowherd boys looking for their cows, came by. They saw Krishna sitting very beautifully, and they saw all of the puja paraphernalia of the demigods. So the cowherd boys picked them up, and they started offering aartis and puja to Krishna: fanning Him and holding the umbrellas, offering incense and lamps, singing beautiful songs. When the demigods looked down and saw this, they were totally ashamed seeing the type of devotion, the simple and spontaneous love of the cowherd boys. They realized that they, the demigods, have no devotion at all. Seeing these little children worshipping Krishna with such pure love—they were dancing, they were singing so sweetly—the demigods in their heart of hearts worshipped the lotus feet of the gopas of Vrindavan.

       At that time Nanda Maharaj also came by and he saw all that was going on. He asked where all this beautiful paraphernalia came from, and what was happening? Sridama explained, ‘We were searching for our cows and we came here, and we just found all this beautiful paraphernalia.’ Madhumangal explained, ‘When we came, we saw something unbelievable. There was this cow talking to Krishna, and then we saw this man with thousands of eyes on his body offering his obeisances. Then we saw a man with four heads, and another man with five heads offering their prayers. Then we saw this big, big, big elephant pouring water on Krishna from the river Ganges. And we saw this beautiful cow giving unlimited, unlimited quantities of milk to bathe Krishna with.’ At that time a celestial voice came from the sky. It was the voice of the demigods and they told Nanda Maharaj, ‘ Just as we have coroneted Krishna as “Govinda”, you should coronate Krishna as the Lord of Braja.

       So the Brajwasis performed a beautiful abhishek for Krishna here at Govinda Kunda, and Yashodamayi offered the arti.”

Manasi Ganga

Manasi Ganga

Manasi Ganga, Govardhan;

       This most sacred lake is the largest of all kundas and is situated right in the heart of Govardhan town. The waters of Manasi-ganga are said to be non-different from the Ganges itself. In fact it is considered to be even better. One who bathes in the river Ganges is purified of all sins, but one who bathes in Manasi-ganga is not only purified of sins, but will also achieve prema-bhakti, the highest platform of pure loving devotion to Krishna.

Manasi Ganga;

How did Manasi Ganga appear?

Appearance of Ganga Devi in Vrindavan;

       “Once a demon sent by Kamsa to kill Krishna assumed the form of a calf and hid amongst the cattle herds of Krishna. When Krishna realized this He killed the demon. But because He had killed the demon when he was in the form of a calf, the cowherd boys refused to play with Krishna, and asked Krishna to bathe in the Ganges to purify Himself. Not wanting to leave Vraja, Krishna meditated upon the Ganga within His mind (Manasi) and she manifested before Him in the form of Manasi-ganga. Krishna then took bath in the waters of Manasi-ganga to the delight of His cowherd friends.

Manasi Ganga non-different from Ganga

Manasi Ganga non different from Ganga;

       Krishna revealed to the residents of Vrindavan that Manasi Ganga situated near Govardhan is non-different from Ganga.

       “One day Nanda Maharaj and the cowherd men heard the glories of Ganga: Once Garuda was carrying a snake in his claws and was flying over Ganga, when accidentally the tail of the snake touched the waters of Ganga and the snake immediately transformed to a four handed form of the residents of Vaikuntha. Amazed, Garuda then placed that divine being on his back and took him to Vaikuntha.

       Hearing this pastime, Nanda Maharaj and the others desired to go to the Ganges and take bath in her. But Krishna stopped them and explained that all the holy places resided in Vrindavan, and therefore there was no need to go out of Vrindavan. He took them to Manasi Ganga. At that point, Mother Ganga personally came out on her crocodile. When the Vrajavasis saw Mother Ganga they offered obeisances to her. Nanda Maharaj and the others then took their holy bath in Manasi Ganga. This incident which took place on the day of Diwali is still commemorated by offering lamps to Manasi Ganga on that day.

Temple at Manasi Ganga;

Kusum Sarovara

Kusuma Sarovara

Kusum Sarovar, Govardhan;

       This beautiful place is located about one-and-a-half miles south-west of Sri Radha Kunda. It is also known as Sumana Sarovara due to the beautiful forest that surrounded the lake formerly. The trees there bore flowers like beli, cameli, juhi, yuthi, mallika and campaka.

Flowers offered to the Lotus Feet of Krishna;

       Kusuma Sarovara is set against a backdrop of exotic palatial buildings in sand stone. These palatial buildings built in memory of one of the most powerful Jat kings contain a replica of Sri Krishna and Srimati Radharani’s Lotus feet. The ceilings depict beautiful pictures of Krishna’s pastimes. There is also a temple dedicated to Giriraj.

       In terms of spiritual importance it is said that this Kunda is very dear to Srimati Radharani. Along with  Her girlfriends, She used to pick flowers from here. The Divine Couple Radha and Krishna performed many pastimes here.

       Ashtavakra Muni performed great austerity at Kusum Sarovar while waiting for the appearance of the Divine couple Radha and Krishna.

      Lord Chaitanya, who is none other than Sri Krishna Himself in the compassionate mood of Srimati Radharani, visited this Kunda and bathed in its cooling waters.

Cooling waters of Kusum Sarovar;

       It is also said that anyone who bathes in the cooling and soothing waters of Kusuma Sarovara will achieve pure love of Godhead and gain entrance in to the pastimes of the Divine Couple Radha and Krishna.

       “Once Narada approached Siva for an explanation of Rasalila. Lord Shiva gave Narada a mantra and asked him to go to Brahma Kund and worship Vrinda devi. When worshiped by Narada, Vrinda devi instructed him to meditate upon Krishna and Krishna’s Vrindavan pastimes. Narada went to Narada Kund and performed his tapasya by which Vrinda devi appeared and asked him to take bath in the north-west side of Kusum Sarovar. Upon doing so, Narada became Naradi Gopi. Later, when he again took bath, he became Narada muni. Narada then returned to Narada Kund to write Narada Bhakti Sutras.”

Govardhan

Govardhan

Krishna is lifting the Govardhan Hill;

       Within the holy Vraj dham, which by material calculation has a diameter of 84 miles, are twelve sacred forests where Lord Krishna enjoyed many transcendental pastimes. Of these twelve forests, the forest of vrindavan is considered to be not only the most sacred but also the largest. Within it the most intimate and confidential pastimes of divine love took place.

Sacred path around Govardhan;

        Situated in the middle of this vast forest is the transcendental mountain known as Govardhan. Upon the slopes of this transcendental mountain Lord Krishna enjoyed innumerable childhood pastimes surrounded by his most confidential associates, the beautiful gopis and cowherd boys of vrindavan.  Situated 14 miles west of  Mathura, Govardhan, also known as  Giriraj,  is the sacred center of Vraja and is identified as a natural form of Krishna.

       The name ‘Govardhana’ has two primary translations. In the literal meaning, ‘Go’ translates to ‘cows’, and ‘vardhana’ translates to ‘nourishment’. Another meaning of ‘Go’ is ‘the senses’ and another meaning of ”vardhana’ is ‘to increase.’ Thus the name is also translated by devotees of Krishna as ‘that which increases the senses’–in their attraction to Krishna. In this connection it is believed that the personality of Govardhan blesses the devotee by increasing his/her devotion. Thus by residing in the foothills of Govardhan Hill, all the senses are more inclined to perform eternal service to Krishna.

Krishna, Gopas and cows on Govardhan;

       It is said that Giriraja has descended from Sri Krsna’s transcendental abode Goloka-Vrndavana to Vraja on this Earth planet. He came with secluded bowers, caves, pure lakes and ponds, and various minerals, like red ochre ( gairika), that are useful in the service of the Divine Couple Sri Radha Krishna. Giriraja-Govardhana is non-different from Krishna in tattva, yet he is considered to be hari-dasa-varya, the best among all the servants of Hari.

       Krishna lifted the Govardhan Mountain in order to curb the pride of Indra, the king of the heavens, when he was just a seven year old boy. Sri Krishna   held the enormous Govardhana Hill on the little finger of His left hand for seven days.

Descent of Govardhan

Govardhan Hill and cows;

       According to Garg samhita, one day in Goloka Vrindavan Lord Krishna informed his eternal consort Srimati Radharani that she should now appear on earth as it was time for them to perform their pastimes within the material world. Radharani replied unless Vraja Dham, the Yamuna, and Govardhan Hill were present there, she would not be happy. Krishna then informed that she need not worry, as Vraja dham, along with the Yamuna and Govardhan Hill had already appeared on earth.

       When Govardhan took birth all the mountains understanding their good fortune that the very playground of Lord Krishna has appeared amongst them, worshipped Govardhan Hill. And the demigods showered flowers upon Giriraj. One day Pulatsya Muni was traveling and he came upon this Govardhan Hill. He requested Giriraj’s father Dronachala that, “In my place of Bhajan, Varanasi there are no mountains, but this Govardhan is such beautiful mountain, I desire to take Govardhan to Varanasi to do my worship”. So with the very heavy heart of imminent separation Dronachala gave his permission. But Govardhan made a condition that, “I will go with you, but anywhere you place Me to the ground, I will not move from that place”.

       A view of Govardhan Hill So Pulatsya Muni began his journey. By Govardhan’s blessings and by his mystic powers he was able to carry him. But Govardhan came to this world only to assist Krishna in his divine pastimes in Vrindavan. So, therefore as Pulatsya Muni was passing by Braj Bhumi by the will of the Supersoul within his heart he had an unbearable urge to respond to the call of nature. Thus he had to place Govardhan down. And he performed his duties, he washed his hands, then he went to lift Govardhan, but he would not move! So he tried with all of his strength, but Govardhan would not move. He became very upset and he cursed Govardhan that, “Everyday You will reduce in size the length of a mustard seed”. This took place in Satya Yuga. At that time Govardhan Hill was miles and miles high. But actually Govardhan was very happy to receive this curse as a blessing, because for Krishna to perform his pastimes on such an immense mountain with snowcap peaks in the clouds would have not been very pleasing.

       So he very graciously reduced His size so that at the time of Lord Krishna, Govardhan Hill at places was about two miles high. And now it's highest point it is about 80 feet tall.

The importance of Govardhan Parikarama

Sacred parikrama;

       Performing parikarama of the sacred Govardhan hill is most auspicious because it is an offering of worship to Radha and Krishna.

       In the Srimad Bhagavatam it is mentioned how Lord Krishna ordered to the Vrajvasis that they worship Govardhan Hill. And a very important part of that worship was that all the gopas and the gopis circumambulated the Govardhan Hill, and in this way they could greatly, greatly please Lord Sri Krishna.

The real path of perfection is to follow in the footsteps of the great souls. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, when he came to Vrindavan, performed this Govardhan Parikrama. He saw every single stone of Govardhan Hill as non-different from the very body of Lord Sri Krishna. Even Madhavendra Puri performed the Govardhan Parikrama. Ishwar Puri, Nityananda Prabhu and Adwaita Prabhu, they all with great devotion circumambulated Sri Govardhan. The six Goswamis considered this Govardhan Parikrama as an integral part of their bhajan. Raghunath Das Goswami resided near Radha Kund at Govardhan Hill. Sanatana Goswami, while he was living here at Manasi Ganga at Chakleshwar  Mahadev temple, he would do the Govardhan Parikrama every single day, even in his very old age. Similarly, other great Vaishnavas like Narottam Das Thakur and Srivas Acharya performed the Govardhan Parikrama. And then Vishwanath Chakravarty Thakur resided near Govardhan Hill. Srila Bhakti Siddahanta Sarasvati, Bhaktivinode, they had homes near Govardhan Hill and they would regularly do the Govardhan Parikrama. The Founder Acharya of ISKCON, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, his last desire was that he wanted the devotees to take him on a Parikrama of Govardhan. In this way he established the most important and sacred nature of this worship.

       The dust at the foot of Govardhan Hill that we walk upon, it is not only the sanctified dust of Braja, but it is also decorated with the dust of the lotus feet of all of these great incarnations and acharyas. It is said that in Vrindavan there are three items that are especially powerful to purify the heart: the dust of Braja, the river Yamuna and the Govardhan Hill.

Manasi Ganga;

       The parikrama according to the advice of Srila Rupa Goswami should start by taking a bath in the beautiful Manasi Ganga Lake. One should commence the worship of Sri Giriraj by offering one's body, mind and words during this Govardhan Parikrama.

       Places to visit:

       1. Kusuma Sarovara
       2. Manasi Ganga
       3. Govind Kund
       4. Uddhava Baithak
       5. Radha Kund and Shyama Kund