Lifting Govardhan Hill

To protect Vraja from the seven-day deluge sent by an angry Indra, Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill and held it like an umbrella over everyone.

Every year the cowherds of Vraja performed a grand sacrifice for Indra, the god of rain. One year Krishna asked Nanda Baba what all the preparations were for. Nanda explained that Indra sends the rain that makes grass and grain grow, so they worship him. Kanha then reasoned that they were cowherds whose lives depended on the cows, the forests and the hills. Govardhan Hill gave their cows grass, water and shade, so they should honour the cows, the brahmanas and Govardhan.

The people of Vraja agreed. They cooked many kinds of food, worshipped Govardhan and walked around it, and honoured the brahmanas and cows. Krishna assumed a huge form, declared "I am Govardhan," and accepted the offerings made with love. In memory of this, Annakut and Govardhan Puja are celebrated even today on the day after Diwali, with a mountain of food offered to the Lord.

Indra, his worship stopped, was filled with pride and rage. He commanded the clouds of destruction to drown Vraja. Torrents of rain, hail and fierce winds shook the land. Shivering people and cattle came to Krishna for shelter. Then, as playfully as a child picks up a mushroom, Kanha lifted Govardhan Hill. According to the popular tradition, he held it on the little finger of his left hand. All the people of Vraja came beneath it with their cows and belongings.

For seven days and nights the Lord stood holding the hill, without moving and without a thought for food or rest. At last Indra's pride was broken and he called back his clouds. When the sun shone again, everyone came out, and Kanha set the hill back in its place.

Later a humbled Indra came to Krishna with Surabhi, the divine cow, and begged forgiveness. Surabhi bathed the Lord with her milk, and Indra bathed him with heavenly Ganga water brought by his elephant Airavata. Because he is the protector of the cows, they hailed him by the name Govinda.

Source

Shrimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10, ch. 24–27

Place

Govardhan, Vraja

Lesson

The Lord himself bears the burden of protecting those who take refuge in him, and pride must finally bow.