HAPPY DEWALI AND PROPEROUS NEW YEAR

[Guest guest]

Hare Krishna,

 

 

 

PAMHO, AGTSP

 

 

 

Once again we have reached the festival of Dewali and more important is the

Goverdhana Puja (Appearance of Goverdhana Hill). We wish all of you a very

HAPPY DEWALI AND PROPEROUS NEW YEAR. Kindly Glorify Sri Sri Giriraja Goverdhana

on 26th Oct. the auspicious appearance day and celebrate the Goverdhana Puja.

 

 

 

We wish that all of you would give us your mercy so that we will endeavour more

and more to serve the louts feet of Sri Sri GauraNitai.

 

 

 

NITAI GAURA HARIBOL!!

 

 

 

Your servant in the mission of Srila Prabhupada

 

 

 

Nanda Gopal Dasa

 

Mohan Priya Devi Dasi

 

Bhaktas Balarama & Krishna

 

 

 

 

THE APPEARANCE OF GOVERDHANA HILL

 

 

Lord Krishna's father Nanda Maharaja once inquired from His brother Upananda

how Goverdhana Hill appeared in the sacred land of Vrandavana. Upananda replied

that King Pandu, father of the Pandavas, had asked this question to Grandfather

Bhisma, who had narrated the following story from the Garga Samhita.

 

 

 

One day in Goloka Vrandavana Lord Krishna informed Srimati Radharani that She

should now appear on earth as it was time for Them to perform Their

transcendental pastimes within the material world. Radharani replied that

unless Vraja Dhama, the Yamuna and Goverdhana Hill were present there, She

would not be very happy. Krishna then told Radharani that She need not worry,

as Vraja Dhama, along with the Yamuna and Goverdhana Hill had already appeared

on earth.

 

 

 

Many years before this incident, in the land of Salmali dvipa, the wife of the

great mountain Dronacal gave birth to a son named Goverdhana. At the time of

Goverdhana's birth all the demigods appeared in the sky and showered flowers

upon Him. The great mountain, led by the Himalayas and Sumeru, came there to

offer their respects. They then performed parikrama of Goverdhana and accepted

Him as their king. They offered very nice prayers praising Goverdhana for

having descended from Goloka Vrandavana, describing him as the "crown jewel of

Vraja."

 

 

 

Some years later, at the beginning of Satay-yuga, the great sage Pulastya Muni

paid a visit to Salmali dvipa. Upon seeing the beautiful Goverdhana Hill

covered with many lovely creepers, flowers, rivers, caves and chirping birds,

the sage felt that this Hill was capable of giving liberation. He then went to

meet Dronacal, who immediately offered his respects and inquired from the sage

what service he could render. Pulastya Muni informed Dronacal that he was from

Kasi (Banares) and was on pilgrimage to all the holy places. And he said that

even though the sacred river Ganges flows through Kasi, there is no beautiful

hill. He then asked Dronacal to give Goverdhana to him so that he could perform

his austerities sitting on top of the hill.

 

 

 

On hearing the sage's request, Dronacal, who was not willing to part his son,

started to shed tears in thought of separation from his beloved Goverdhana. Not

wanting to see Pulastya Muni become angry and curse his father, Goverdhana

asked the sage how he would carry him all the way to Kasi. The sage replied

that he would carry him in his right hand. Goverdhana then agreed to go with

the sage on one condition - that if the sage put him down anywhere during the

course of the journey, he would not be able lift him again. Pulastya Muni

agreed. Carrying Goverdhana in his right hand he left for Kasi.

 

 

 

By the will of providence Pulastya Muni passed through Vraja, on his way to

Kasi. On arriving in Vraja, Goverdhana thought that now he was here, he should

remain in the holy dhama. By his mystic power he was able to influence Pulastya

Muni to attend to the call of nature. Unmindful, the sage put Goverdhana down

and went off to answer the call. But when he returned he was unable to again

lift Goverdhana. Trying with all his might, using both hands, he could not lift

Goverdhana even slightly.

 

 

 

In great anger Pulastya Muni cursed Goverdhana to sink into the ground by the

measurement of one mustard seed every day. When Goverdhana first came to Vraja

in the beginning of Satya-yaga, he was eight yojanas long (64 miles); five

yojanas wide (40miles) and two yojans high (16 miles). It is said that after

ten thousand years of Kali-yaga, Goverdhana Hill will have completely

disappeared.

 

 

 

After narrating the wonderful story of Goverdhana's appearance, Sunanda

informed Nanda Maharaja that as long as Goverdhana Hill and the river Yamuna

remained manifest, Kali-yuga would not take its full effect. Sunanda also said

that anyone who is fortunate enough to hear the description of the appearance

of Goverdhana Hill would be freed from all sins.

 

 

 

" O Goverdhana, O king of mountains, O hill whose nectarine name-the best of

Hari's servant - flows from the moonlike mouth of Sri Radha, O hill that the

Vedas declare to be the tilaka marking of Vraja, please grant me a residence

near to you."

 

>From 'Stavavali' by Raghunatha dasa Goswami

 

 

 

Sri Sri Giriraja Goverdhana Raja ki jay!