GOVERDHAN DHARI KRISHN: THE STORY BEHIND COW WORSHIP AFTER DIWALI DAY

HOW GOVERDHAN - DHARI KRISHN KILLS EGO AND GIVES RESPECT TO NATURE

                                          Thakur Ranjit Singh

We grew up learning about how a child Krishn lifted up Goverdhan hill to save his people from the wrath, anger of rain god Indr.

The people of the forest of Vrindavan had a custom of offering elaborate meals to Lord Indr, the Rain (and storm) God. They did so to please him enough to be blessed with timely rainfall and good harvests.

Goverdhan -Dhari Krishn - when Indr showed his anger at people who rejected him to pray to Goverdhan, Krishn used the hill as a shelter to protect his devotees.

One year, a young Krishn questioned this by saying that was a burden on poor people. As food for people and grass for cows were given by Goverdhan hill, so why should they pray to Indr. And hence the villagers, on advice and logic of Krishn, offered food and offerings to Goverdhan Parvat (hill) instead of Indr, as they had done as a past custom.

This angered Indr and he sent down torrential rain and thunderstorms to the region of Vrindavan. The storm went on for days and the village soon started drowning in the ensuing floods. It is then that the people begged for Krishn’s help, who advised them to move towards the Goverdhan hill. Once there, he lifted the whole hill with his little finger, urging everyone to come under the hill to take shelter from the storm, and thus saving them from the wrath of Indr.

This incident is seen to represent how God will protect all devotees who take singular refuge in him. Bhagwan ke sharan mein jaao, Rakscha karenge.

Hinduism and Lord Krishn always loved nature - its landscape, rivers and creatures. And Cow is something he is very fond of and this love for cows today is the cheapest source of protein to mankind-with its milk, and bullocks to plough the field. And hence Krishn is called GOPAL, a protector of cows.

It also shows our love for nature, the hills, the mountains, the greeneries that sustain life. 

But most importantly, it depicts defeat of EGO, ghamand, self-importance, pride, conceit and snobbery over love, logic, compassion and humbleness of a child Lord. 

Indr accepted defeat and even pleaded safety of his son, Arjun, and Krishn was true to his vow to always protect Arjun, who was deemed to be Indr’s son, and Krishn’s Bahnoi, married to Krishn’s sister, Subhadra.

The other important aspect of Goverdhan Parvat is its link to Ramayan in Treta Yug. According to another folklore, this mountain was in fact first lifted by Hanuman. 

When Devtas abused their position and powers, like powerful and rich humans, it needs the action of the Almighty to shatter their pride-and EGO. The Goverdhan Parvat episode reveals this.

The incident dates back to the days of Ramayan. When Ram had to cross the sea to reach Lanka, a bridge had to be built. The bridge which later came to be known as Ram Setu needed a great deal of stones to be built.

Hearing this, Hanuman who was bestowed with special powers, flew to the Himalayas and plucked out a huge hill. However, on his journey back, he learnt that the bridge had already been constructed.

So, he left the hill, the Parvat in Vrindavan. Hearing this, the mountain was deeply saddened thinking that he will be of no use to Lord Ram. Sensing his condition, Hanuman told the hill (which was Goverdhan Parvat) that in the Dwapar Yuga, when Ram would incarnate as Krishn, the mountain will be lifted by Krishn, and would serve God by sheltering Krishn’s loved ones.

Goverdhan hill was initially carried by Hanuman for building the bridge (Setu) during Treta Yug, but it was abandoned in Vrindavan when it was not needed. Upon boon and advice of Hanuman that Lord Krishn would use it in Dwapar, the hill awaited arrival of Gopal.

So, after Hanuman had first lifted the hill, and left it in Vrindavan, Lord Krishn lifted it again and today it is a revered place that it is worshiped by hundreds of people every day. 

And this day is especially marked as Goverdhan Pooja after Diwali Day every year. Such small tales from Krishna Lila give us immense knowledge and lessons to be better human beings.

LESSONS FROM GOVERDHAN POOJA

1) Be the medium of change to remove outdated or thoughtless practises we regard as tradition, parampara. Ram did that to stop the tradition of killing Ashvamedha horse in Ajodhya (before marriage). Krishna stopped this outdated and meaningless ritual. Hindus need to embrace change, as lessons from our scriptures promote.

2) Stop abusing your positions, either as a politician or as a normal person. Indr did that by abusing his rainmaking powers to flood Gokul for his personal revenge. He was taught a lesson that there are others more powerful than the abuser.

3) Don’t take bribes for doing what you are supposed to do. Indr is to provide rainfall, as God of Rain, and should not take bribe of Pooja from people to do what he should do as a duty. Like Indr, one should not mistake obligation for a right to demand bribe from people to undertake your normal obligations.

4) Control your ego,(ahankaar) or self-importance, have compassion (kindness), and perform your tasks loyally, without abuse of position or power. Krishn shattered Indr’s ego - self-importance.

5) God will protect all devotees who take singular refuge in Him. Bhagwan ke sharan mein jaao, Rakscha karenge.

6) Love and respect nature, the hills, the mountains, the rivers, the forests, and the greeneries that sustain life. Please do not pollute rivers and waterways.

Wish you a Happy Goverdhan Pooja, and hope you will be wiser with lessons and teachings from this episode of Lord Krishn.

[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is a journalist and a media commentator, and runs his blog FIJI PUNDIT. He is originally from Fiji and is based in Auckland, New Zealand. E-mail: thakurjifj@gmail.com]