The Amazing Appearance of Govardhan Hill
29 September 2012--Today we were blessed with the most auspicious opportunity to do a parikrama of Govardhan Hill. As soon as Govardhan became visible we stopped at a suitable spot along the way and I explained to the devotees in my own words this history of how Govardhan appeared in this world:
While in Goloka Vrindavana Krishna informed Srimati Radharani that She should now appear on earth as it was time for Them to perform Their different pastimes within the material world. Srimati Radharani replied that unless Vraja Dhama, the Yamuna and Govardhan Hill were present there, She would not be very happy. Krishna told Radharani that She need not worry, and informed Srimati Radharani that Vraja Dhama, the Yamuna and Govardhan Hill had already made Their appearance on the earth planet.
In the Satya Yuga, in the land of Salmali dvipa, the wife of the great mountain Dronacal gave birth to a son named Govardhan. At the time of Govardhana's birth all the demigods appeared in the sky and showered flowers upon him. Great mountains, led by the Himalayas and Sumeru, came there to offer their respects. They performed parikrama of Govardhan and accepted him as their king. They offered prayers praising Govardhan for having descended from Goloka Vrindavana, describing him as the 'crown jewel of Vraja.
Some years later, at the beginning of Satya yuga, Pulastya Muni went to Salmali dvipa. Seeing the beautiful Govardhan Hill covered with many lovely creepers, flowers, rivers, caves and chirping birds, Pulastya Muni felt that that Govardhan hill was capable of giving liberation, so he went to King 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 and was on pilgrimage to all the holy places. He explained that even though the sacred river Ganges flowed through Kasi, there is no beautiful hill within the city. He asked King Dronacal to give his son, Govardhan, to him so that he could perform his tapasya while sitting on top of the hill.
Hearing Pulastya Muni's request, Dronacal, who was not willing to part with his son, started to shed tears in thought of separation from his beloved Govardhan. Not wanting to see Pulastya Muni become angry and curse his father, Govardhan 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. Govardhan then agreed to go with the sage on one condition: If Pulastya Muni put him down anywhere during the course of the journey, he would not be able to lift him again. Pulastya Muni agreed. Carrying Govardhan in his right hand he left for Kasi.
Pulastya Muni passed through Vraja on his way to Kasi. On arriving in Vraja, Govardhan decided that he should remain in Vrindavan. By his mystic power he was able to influence Pulastya Muni to attend to the call of nature. Pulastya Muni then put Govardhan down and went off to attend to his needs. In returning, he found he was unable to lift Govardhan again despite all of his efforts.
In great anger Pulastya Muni cursed Govardhan to sink into the ground by the measurement of one mustard seed every day, Govardhana's originally being 64 miles long, 40 miles wide, and 16 miles high when he first came to Vraja in the beginning of Satya yuga. It's explained that after 10,000 years of the Kali yuga, Govardhan will have completely disappeared."
After narrating this story of Giriraj Govardhan's appearance, Upananda explained to Nanda Maharaja, that as long as Govardhan Hill and the river Yamuna remained manifest, Kali yuga would not take its full effect. He also explained that anyone who is fortunate enough to hear the description of the appearance of Govardhan Hill would be freed from all sins.
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After I finished narrating this sublime history we continued our parikrama tasting the sweetest bliss of association with our beloved Lord Krishna by our parikrama of His dearmost Govardhan Hill.
What is the difference between two devotees who both practice Krishna consciousness seriously but one of them is not an initiate? Can both of them attain the highest perfection of life (Krishna prema)?
With deep gratitude, thank you very much.
Your servant,
Mohish
Practicing Krishna consciousness seriously means that one must take initiation because this is the order of the spiritual master. If one refuses to accept the order of the spiritual master, he is not practicing Krishna consciousness seriously and thus will not attain Krishna prema. This is confirmed by Lord Krishna in the Adi-Purana, in which he states that unless one is the devotee of His devotee he is not a devotee of Krishna.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
While in Goloka Vrindavana Krishna informed Srimati Radharani that She should now appear on earth as it was time for Them to perform Their different pastimes within the material world. Srimati Radharani replied that unless Vraja Dhama, the Yamuna and Govardhan Hill were present there, She would not be very happy. Krishna told Radharani that She need not worry, and informed Srimati Radharani that Vraja Dhama, the Yamuna and Govardhan Hill had already made Their appearance on the earth planet.
In the Satya Yuga, in the land of Salmali dvipa, the wife of the great mountain Dronacal gave birth to a son named Govardhan. At the time of Govardhana's birth all the demigods appeared in the sky and showered flowers upon him. Great mountains, led by the Himalayas and Sumeru, came there to offer their respects. They performed parikrama of Govardhan and accepted him as their king. They offered prayers praising Govardhan for having descended from Goloka Vrindavana, describing him as the 'crown jewel of Vraja.
Some years later, at the beginning of Satya yuga, Pulastya Muni went to Salmali dvipa. Seeing the beautiful Govardhan Hill covered with many lovely creepers, flowers, rivers, caves and chirping birds, Pulastya Muni felt that that Govardhan hill was capable of giving liberation, so he went to King 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 and was on pilgrimage to all the holy places. He explained that even though the sacred river Ganges flowed through Kasi, there is no beautiful hill within the city. He asked King Dronacal to give his son, Govardhan, to him so that he could perform his tapasya while sitting on top of the hill.
Hearing Pulastya Muni's request, Dronacal, who was not willing to part with his son, started to shed tears in thought of separation from his beloved Govardhan. Not wanting to see Pulastya Muni become angry and curse his father, Govardhan 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. Govardhan then agreed to go with the sage on one condition: If Pulastya Muni put him down anywhere during the course of the journey, he would not be able to lift him again. Pulastya Muni agreed. Carrying Govardhan in his right hand he left for Kasi.
Pulastya Muni passed through Vraja on his way to Kasi. On arriving in Vraja, Govardhan decided that he should remain in Vrindavan. By his mystic power he was able to influence Pulastya Muni to attend to the call of nature. Pulastya Muni then put Govardhan down and went off to attend to his needs. In returning, he found he was unable to lift Govardhan again despite all of his efforts.
In great anger Pulastya Muni cursed Govardhan to sink into the ground by the measurement of one mustard seed every day, Govardhana's originally being 64 miles long, 40 miles wide, and 16 miles high when he first came to Vraja in the beginning of Satya yuga. It's explained that after 10,000 years of the Kali yuga, Govardhan will have completely disappeared."
After narrating this story of Giriraj Govardhan's appearance, Upananda explained to Nanda Maharaja, that as long as Govardhan Hill and the river Yamuna remained manifest, Kali yuga would not take its full effect. He also explained that anyone who is fortunate enough to hear the description of the appearance of Govardhan Hill would be freed from all sins.
--------------------------------
After I finished narrating this sublime history we continued our parikrama tasting the sweetest bliss of association with our beloved Lord Krishna by our parikrama of His dearmost Govardhan Hill.
Answers by Citing the Vedic Version
Question: Can a Non-Initiate Attain Krishna Prema?
Could His Holiness please answer the following question?What is the difference between two devotees who both practice Krishna consciousness seriously but one of them is not an initiate? Can both of them attain the highest perfection of life (Krishna prema)?
With deep gratitude, thank you very much.
Your servant,
Mohish
Answer: Can a Non-Enrollee Get a University Degree?
What is the difference between these two students? One is studying independently, and the other is enrolled in the university. One will get a university degree, and the other won’t.Practicing Krishna consciousness seriously means that one must take initiation because this is the order of the spiritual master. If one refuses to accept the order of the spiritual master, he is not practicing Krishna consciousness seriously and thus will not attain Krishna prema. This is confirmed by Lord Krishna in the Adi-Purana, in which he states that unless one is the devotee of His devotee he is not a devotee of Krishna.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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