The Story of Goverdhan Lila of Shri Krishna

When Balkrishna was seven years old, he did Govardhan lila (play). “Go” means wisdom and bhakti. Every year, Nand baba was performing Indra yajna. Balkrishna asked Nand Baba about the Indra Yajna and its purpose. Nand Baba replied, Indra is deity of rains. He gives rains which grow grains and cereals. They perform the yajna to make him happy. Balkrishna said, performing yajna of Indra is good but he cannot be termed as almighty. Anybody who performs one hundred yajna attains the post of Indra. Balkrishna asked Nand Baba whether he is aware about Indra’s Indra. Nand Baba asked who that is. Balkrishna said, Goverdhannath. Goverdhannath is deity of all the four directions. Jagannath Puri is in the east direction, Rameshwar is in the south, Dwarkanath is in west, Badrinath is in north and in the center is Goverdhannath. Balkrishna asked Nand Baba to worship Goverdhan. For so many years, everybody does Indra’s worship but he has not given his vision. It means he is egoistic. Goverdhan could be seen and it protects us so it should be worshipped. Balkrishna decided to erase the pride of Indra. Nand baba asked the procedure to worship Goverdhan. Balkrishna said, caring of poor, cows and virtuous Brahmins is worship of almighty. Food items were collected from all houses and Annakut (mixed vegetable dish) was prepared. 

All virtuous Brahmins were invited. Brahmins started chanting Mantras and Abhishek (consecration) of Balkrishna. Children got tired of bringing water from Yamuna for Abhishek. It required a large quantity of water for Abhishek. Balkrishna said to Goverdhan that his friends are tired and prayed to reveal Ganga-Yamuna from its foothills. Ganga appeared which is called as Mansiganga. Abhishek of Goverdhan was completed. Balkrishna entered in his another form into Goverdhan. He was worshipped like a living deity. Balkrishna asked to offer food to Goverdhannath. Braj people asked whether Goverdhannath would consume food. Balkrishna said in affirmative. Balkrishna in form of Goverdhannath started consuming food. Entire Braj was very happy. Later, Braj people got worried as Goverdhannath appeared to consume everything. Balkrishna dispelled their fear and said, Goverdhannath would give equivalent amount of food as Lakshmi ji has arrived. After worship and aarti of Goverdhannath, all Braj people sat to take food. Balkrishna served it to everybody. Everybody enjoyed food and rested in the foothills of Goverdhan.
 
Meanwhile, Narada went to Indra and informed him about the worship of Goverdhan. Indra felt insulted and asked all the twelve clouds to rain over Braj and to destroy everything. Due to heavy rains, there was outcry of Braj people. Everybody was terrified. Balkrishna said Goverdhannath would protect us. Believe him. He informed that Goverdhan appeared in his dream and said, he is happy with them. It would rain for seven days and he will stand weightlessly on his finger. Balkrishna asked the help of everybody to take Goverdhan on his finger. Goverdhannath became light. Balkrishna took Goverdhannath on his little finger. There were heavy rains for seven days. Gapals thought that Balkrishna must be tired and asked to place Goverdhannath on the wooden sticks. As soon as Balkrishna removed his finger, the weight of Goverdhan became unbearable. Gopals cried Balkrishna to put his finger. Ultimately, base is almighty. To see the divine form of Balkrishna, Braj people forgot their body requirements and hunger for seven days.
 
Now, Indra realized the original form of Balkrishna. He lost pride. He ordered clouds to stop raining. Indra did Abhishek of Balkrishna with milk. Milk was collected in a furrow which is called as Surubhikund. Braj people was surprised with the powers of Balkrishna and surmised that he is almighty. They asked Nand baba, who is father of Balkrishna. Nand baba told them that he is his son. Gargacharya rishi informed them that he has attributes of almighty. In Goverdhan episode, Shri Krishna is worshipping and worshipped.
 
Spiritual Significance:

1. Goverdhan mount, Mansi Ganga and Surbhikund can be seen today also as an evidence of Goverdhan lila.
2. Goverdhan lila was to erase the pride of Indra.
3. Caring of poor, cows and virtuous Brahmins is worship of almighty.

 
Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapuran by Shri Ramchandra Keshav Dongra ji Maharaj