Giridhari — Holder of the Mountain

Krishna, who held up Govardhan hill for seven days to shield Vraja from Indra's storm, is called "Giridhari" or "Girdhar". He is the "Girdhar Gopal" of Meerabai's devotion.

"Giri" means mountain and "dhari" means one who holds or bears. Giridhari, Girdhar and Giriraj-dharan all recall the leela in which the child Krishna lifted Govardhan hill.

According to the Shrimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10, the people of Vraja used to hold a yearly sacrifice for Indra. Krishna gently persuaded them that Govardhan hill, which gave grass and water to their cows, was their true support and deserved their worship instead. Furious, Indra sent a devastating storm. Then the seven-year-old Krishna, as if playing, raised Govardhan with one hand like an umbrella, on the little finger of his left hand as popular tradition says, and for seven days and nights sheltered all the cowherds, gopis and cows beneath it. In the end Indra admitted defeat and begged forgiveness.

In memory of this leela, Govardhan Puja and the Annakut festival are celebrated on the day after Diwali, when a mountain of many dishes is offered to the Lord. The Rajasthani saint-poet Meerabai called her beloved Lord "Girdhar Gopal" all her life. Shrinathji of Nathdwara, too, gives darshan in this very Giridhari form, with one arm raised.

Name Sa

गिरिधारी

Name Roman

Giridhari

Meaning

holder of the mountain (Govardhan)

Source

Shrimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10 (Govardhan leela)