Govardhana Hill

[Guest guest]

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.