Govardhana Pūjā and Govinda Abhisheka

In Vraja the gopas were getting ready for their yearly festival of Indra. Bhagavān Kṛshṇa asked them to honour Govardhana Parvata instead, the mountain that gave their cattle grass and shelter. Indra was furious and sent the storm-clouds of the end of the world against Vraja for seven days and nights. Kṛshṇa lifted the whole mountain on his left hand and held it as a shelter for the cows and the gopas. Indra gave up, came down to earth, and performed the Govinda abhisheka. From then on Kṛshṇa was called Govinda.

The Indra festival and Kṛshṇa’s question

After two months of wandering in the forest, Kṛshṇa and Balarāma came back to Vraja. There Kṛshṇa saw the gopas busy preparing the yearly festival of Indra. He went to one of the elders among the gopas and asked what the festival was for.

The elder explained that Indra is the king of the devas and of the clouds. By his will the rains fall, the crops grow and the cows give plenty of milk. So it was the custom among all peoples, the gopas too, to honour Indra with a great utsava (festival), so that he would keep sending rain and plenty to the land. (Hari Vamśa Purāṇa, Vishṇu Parva, Chapter 16)

Kṛshṇa’s instruction: the giri-yajña

Dāmodara knew well how great Indra truly is, yet he spoke with a clear purpose. He said: “We are gopas who live in the forests, and we always live on the wealth of cattle. For us the cows, the mountains and the forests are our devatās. Know this well. For the brāhmaṇa, the mantra is his yajña. For the farmer, the plough is his. For us gopas, the mountain is our yajña. We should honour Govardhana Parvata in Vṛndāvana. So let the giri-yajña (the yajña to the mountain) be done! Do not waste this good season. Dress the cows with garlands of flowers and have them walk around Govardhana Parvata. Then let them go free in the forest as they please.”

Kṛshṇa also described the beauty of the coming śarat (autumn) season: the cloudless sky, the blossoming priyaṅgu trees, the clear moonlit nights, and the cows’ milk doubling. He said: “The devas honour Indra. Let us honour the mountain. I say this out of love for you all. If you trust me, begin this yajña for the good of the world.” (Hari Vamśa Purāṇa, Vishṇu Parva, Chapter 17)

The Govardhana Pūjā

The gopas were glad at Kṛshṇa’s advice. They gave up the Indra-mahotsava and made ready for the giri-yajña. A huge amount of food was gathered, with mountains of cooked rice and heaps of meat. At the place of pūjā they set out fires for the yajña, carusthālis (pots for the offering), sweet-smelling herbs, garlands of flowers and incense.

At a good muhūrta, the gopas, together with brāhmaṇas, began the pūjā of Govardhana. When the yajña was finished, Bhagavān Kṛshṇa took the form of Govardhana Parvata itself, through his māyā, and began to eat the great offering of food. In his second form he stood among the gopas as one of them.

Kṛshṇa in the form of the mountain ate and drank his fill. He laughed aloud and said to the gopas: “Honour me regularly, and I shall give you all that you wish.” The gopas made pradakshiṇā (a walk around) the mountain, and dressed the cows with flowers and garlands. Thousands upon thousands of cows crowded the place. When the nīrājana rites (waving of lamps) were done, the form of the devatā of Govardhana vanished. Kṛshṇa, as himself, led the gopas back to Vraja. (Hari Vamśa Purāṇa, Vishṇu Parva, Chapter 18)

Indra’s anger and the great flood

The Indra festival had been stopped, and the gopas had turned their pūjā to the mountain. Indra was filled with rage. He called the Saṃvartaka and the other chief storm-clouds, the same clouds that come at the time of the dissolution of the world. He ordered them: “The gopas of Vṛndāvana have insulted my festival. Pour rain on them for seven days and nights without stopping, with fierce winds, so that the cows die and the settlement of Vraja is destroyed. I shall come myself on Airāvata, and together we shall wreck them.”

The clouds obeyed. The sky went completely dark, with no sun, no stars and no moon. The rain fell in torrents like the trunks of elephants. Rivers overflowed their banks. Trees shook as if struck by thunder. Animals ran away. The earth became a sheet of water. The cows could not move under the weight of the flood. They grew thin, their udders dried up, and their calves shivered without food. Some died. The gopas and the calves all looked to Dāmodara’s face. Their own faces were thin with distress, and they begged him for protection. (Hari Vamśa Purāṇa, Vishṇu Parva, Chapter 19)

Kṛshṇa lifts Govardhana

Kṛshṇa saw the suffering of the cows and of Vraja and made up his mind. He said: “Today I shall pull up this mountain, with its forests and its ridges, and hold it up as shelter from the rain. In this way I shall save the cows and Vraja.”

With this thought, the mighty Kṛshṇa, standing like a second mountain himself, pulled Govardhana up with both arms. Held on his left arm like a great umbrella, the mountain took the shape of a house raised above them all. As it came up from the earth, rocks slid, trees fell, snakes came out of the cracks, and birds fluttered in fear.

Beneath it, safe from wind and rain, was a wide space, five krośas long and one krośa wide. All the gopas, cows, calves, carts and the whole settlement of Vraja went in and rested in safety. Kṛshṇa stood under the mountain like a pillar, holding it on one arm with a smile on his face. All said he was like Prajāpati himself, sheltering the world. (Hari Vamśa Purāṇa, Vishṇu Parva, Chapter 19)

Indra gives up

Indra saw what no deva had ever done. Govardhana had been lifted, and Vraja was fully protected. He understood that his plan had come to nothing. After seven nights of unceasing rain, his pride was gone. He called back the clouds and the storm. The sky cleared and the sun shone brightly again. The cows, no longer tired, came out and went back the way they had come. Vraja itself returned to its old place. Kṛshṇa, full of joy, put Govardhana back where it had been. (Hari Vamśa Purāṇa, Vishṇu Parva, Chapter 19)

Indra surrenders and the Govinda abhisheka

Indra had seen the mountain lifted and Vraja saved. He was filled with wonder and a deep wish to see Kṛshṇa. He mounted his white elephant Airāvata, still drunk with pride, and came down to the world of mortals. He found Kṛshṇa seated on a rock on Govardhana Parvata, shining with the śrīvatsa mark on his chest. Garuḍa’s wings, unseen, hovered above him and gave him shade. Indra, with his thousand eyes, looked at him with endless wonder and respect, and spoke in humble words.

“O Kṛshṇa, mighty-armed! Out of love for the cows you have done what even the devas could not do. I sent the Saṃvartaka clouds, the clouds of dissolution, and still you sheltered the cows. I am full of joy. You lifted the mountain by the power of yoga and held it as a home for the people of Vraja. Who would not be amazed? O Kṛshṇa, I poured terrible rain for seven days, and you stood against it. Even the devas could not have done this. You have hidden your Vishṇu-tejas under the form of a mortal. I take this as the fulfilment of the devas’ purpose. You are the leader of the devas and always at the front of every task. The devas have no refuge other than you.”

Indra went on: “This whole universe rests in your body. Even Brahmā, great in wisdom and age, cannot know you. Among mountains the Himavat is greatest, and among birds Garuḍa. Among the devas you are the greatest. Gauloka is the highest of all the worlds, and yet your tapomaya movement goes beyond even that. I have come for the cows who are pleased with you, and on the instruction of Brahmādeva. O Kṛshṇa, I am Indra, king of the devas, your elder brother. I caused you great suffering with the clouds. Forgive that wrong.”

Then Indra performed the Govinda abhisheka. He poured divine waters from a golden vessel over Kṛshṇa’s head. The cows saw the abhisheka and bathed Kṛshṇa from their udders with streams of milk. The clouds poured water on him from the sky. Flowers rained down, and the deva drums (dundubhis) sounded. The ṛshis praised him. Gentle winds blew, and the sun and moon shone brightly. All troubles ended. Trees put out new leaves and flowers. Elephants flowed with mada (the fluid of excitement). The animals in the forests rejoiced. (Hari Vamśa Purāṇa, Vishṇu Parva, Chapter 20)

The name Govinda

Indra said: “I am Indra, the lord of the devas. You have now become Indra for the cows. From today you shall be known in the world as Govinda. The cows have named you an Indra greater than me. From this day you shall also be called Upendra in svarga.” He added: “Those who offer namaskāra to us both, to Indra and to Upendra, will have health and well-being.” (Hari Vamśa Purāṇa, Vishṇu Parva, Chapter 20)

Indra’s further request

After the abhisheka, Indra spoke to Kṛshṇa about what was to come. He said: “There is another reason I have come. Destroy Keśi and Arishṭa quickly. One who was born of your aunt by a part of me is like me in nature. Protect him and honour him as a friend. He will win great fame by following your conduct. The great archer of the Bharata line is worthy of you. Without you he has no spirit. The Bharata war depends on you both. By your union, kings will fall.”

Indra was speaking of Arjuna, his own son, and he begged Kṛshṇa to protect him in war. Kṛshṇa answered kindly and agreed to stand by Arjuna in battle. Indra was satisfied and went back to svarga. (Hari Vamśa Purāṇa, Vishṇu Parva, Chapter 20)

Sources

• Hari Vamśa Purāṇa, Vishṇu Parva, Chapters 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20