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Govardhana Hill

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Jaganath.Bharadwaj • May 8, 1996 


The episode of the lifting of the Govardhana Hill shows how
surrendered the residents of Gokula and Nandgaon were to Krishna.
Dasaratha was heart broken at the thought of Rama having to go to the
forest for 14 years but was unable to break his word to Kaikeyi.

However Vasudeva was also known to be a Satyavaadi or one who always
speaks the truth.  He promised to give his eighth son to Kamsa.  He
even gave Kamsa his first son when it was born.  However when the
voice told him to take Krishna to Gokula, he obeyed instantly not
caring about his word to Kamsa.

The residents of Gokula were prevented by Yogamaaya from realizing
that Krishna was God.  However everytime there was an attack by an
asura and the asura was somehow killed, the residents would thank
Hari for having protected them and their beloved Krishna.  But as
they grew older, they realized that it was Krishna who was protecting
them in the case of Aghasura, Kaliya, Narakasura etc.

Inspite of this we can imagine how much of Mahavishvasam it would
take for all the residents to take shelter under a hill that was
lifted by an eight year old boy on His left little finger.  Even if
He carried it then, what was the guarantee that He will be able to
carry it until the rainstorm stopped]  After all He was not a
gigantic Nrsimhadeva or Hayagriva, by one glance at whom all the
asuras would flee.  He was their darling, mischevous butter thief,
who got scared of His mother everytime she scolded Him]

Water is always compared to materialism - such as the ocean of
samsara etc.  The storm sent by Indra was no ordinary storm by clouds
that only come at the time of pralaya.  For seven days and nights
these clouds poured incessantly.  This means that one can take
shelter of Krishna wherever one might be and be protected not only
from materialism, but from all worries over how to provide for food,
shelter, clothing etc.  They will all come automatically without
asking.  Protection from all danger comes without asking as well.
One only needs to have the mahavishvasam which comes from the
anugraha of the Acharya.

Even though the gopis and gopas dressed and lived very simply, they
were very rich, because for Vaishyas the wealth was measured in terms
of the number of cows one owned.  They had not only a very large
number of cows, but also all kinds of gems and jewels.  They were
rich spiritually because Krishna who was born to Devaki and Vasudeva
lived with them in Vrindavan throughout His childhood.  The residents
remembered these pastimes throughout the rest of their lives and were
sustained by it.

In the same way we can also be sustained both materially and
spiritually by meditating on these pastimes either through Azhwar
Pasurams or by reading the Bhagavatam.

Again it was only during the time that Krishna was with them that the
residents were visited by asuras.  Similarly we will be tested when
we attempt to surrender and shortly thereafter.

Thus the Govardhana episode tells us that Mahavishvasam is the single
most important anga of Prapatti.  (Of course Mahavishvasam is
bolstered by the other angas).  It starts with the faith that our
scriptures are true, that they are revelations from Narayana, and
that He will give us Moksham if we do prapatti at the lotus feet of
the Divya Dampatis, and that their service is the Purushartha to be
attained.

Sri Lakshmi Mukunda swami saranam.
Sri Lakshmi Nrsimha swami saranam prapadye.
Jaganath.