GOVARDHANA POOJA - SIGNIFICANCE

 (गोवर्धन पूजा)

जय गॊवर्धनधर वत्सारॆ धॆनुकभंजन जय कंसारॆ ।

रुक्मिणिनायक जय गॊविंद सत्यावल्लभ पांडवबंधॊ ॥

ಜಯ ಗೋವರ್ಧನಧರ ವತ್ಸಾರೇ ಧೇನುಕಭಂಜನ ಜಯ ಕಂಸಾರೇ

ರುಕ್ಮಿಣಿನಾಯಕ ಜಯ ಗೋವಿಂದ ಸತ್ಯಾವಲ್ಲಭ ಪಾಂಡವಬಂಧೋ

Bhagawan Sri Krishna lifted Govardhana Parvatha (hill) and protected the cowherds and cattle from the thunder and rain created by Lord Indra. Thus, Lord Sri Krishna suppressed the pride and vanity of Indra.

According to an excerpt from the भागवत पुराण (Bhagavata Purana), Lord Sri Krishna lifted Govardhana Parvatha on the little finger of His left hand when He was 7 years old and held it for 7 days.

Commemorating this glorious event, Govardhana Pooja is performed on the day of Bali Padyami. This was the day when Lord Sri Krishna taught the people the need to respect and worship Nature. Devotees symbolically create an icon of Govardhana Parvatha using cow dung or cooked rice and worship it alongside Sri Krishna with Shodashopachara Pooja. Gau Pooja and Brahmana Bhojana are also performed on this day.

Govinda is one of the popular names of Lord Vishnu, meaning the Lord of Cows, the Protector of Cows, and the Protector of the Earth. Lord Sri Krishna is popularly called Govinda, and He is also known as Gopala (the protector of cows) and Gau-Vatsala (the one who shows Vatsalya, or tender affection, toward cows).

"Govindo Govidam Patih"

(Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram)

Through this divine act, Lord Sri Krishna exemplified Gorakshana (the protection of cows).

ಗೋವರ್ಧನಧರಂ ವಂದೇ ಗೋಪಾಲಂ ಗೋಪರೂಪಿಣಂ |

ಗೋಕುಲೋತ್ಸವಮೀಶಾನಂ ಗೋವಿಂದಂ ಗೋಪಿಕಾಪ್ರಿಯಂ ||

govardhana dharam vande, gopalam gopa rupinam

gokulutsava me isanam, govindam gopika priyam

गोवर्धनधरं वंदे गोपालं गोपरूपिणं ।

गोकुलोत्सवमीशानं गोविंदं गोपिकाप्रियं ||

The Govardhana episode is widely viewed as an ancient lesson in environmental stewardship, emphasizing that mountains, rivers, trees, and animals are sacred and deserve gratitude and protection.

naaham karta harih karta