ISKM Govardhan Puja 2022 celebrations

Devotees all over the world in different ISKM centers celebrated Govardhan Puja grandly last week.

Giri Govardhana is addressed by the gopis as Hari-dasa-varya, the best of the servants of Hari, and that we are followers of the gopis. Govardhana can be worshiped as Hari, and he can also be worshiped as Hari-dasa. However, Hari, Krsna, cannot give krsna-prema in the same way as those who possess it. Those who have krsna-prema can easily give it. The servants of Krsna have krsna-prema, and our prayojana, our goal, is only that krsna-prema. Our goal is not Krsna. Kamsa’s goal was Krsna,

To protect his dear vrajavasis from Indra’s wrath, Sri Krishna held the Hill on the small finger of His divine hand for seven days. The area of Govardhan is full of wonderful forests, lakes, caves, waterfalls, jeweled paths, platforms and pavilions. Lord’s most intimate pastimes’ places – Sri Radha-kunda and Sri Syama-kunda are located at the foot of the Hill. The Vaishnava acharyas and saints left us a great treasure of scriptures, describing the wonderful pastimes, which are going on eternally in the shade of Giriraja. Here are but a few drops of this nectar.

Rupa Gosvami describes:

The holy place known as Mathura is spiritually superior to Vaikuntha, the transcendental world, because the Lord appeared there. Superior to Mathura-Puri is the transcendental forest of Vrndavana because of Krsna’s rasa-lila pastimes. And superior to the forest of Vrndavana is Govardhana Hill, for it was raised by the divine hand of Sri Krsna and was the site of His various loving pastimes. And, above all, the superexcellent Sri Radha-kunda stands supreme, for it is overflooded with the ambrosial nectarean prema of the Lord of Gokula, Sri Krsna. Where, then, is that intelligent Person who is unwilling to serve this divine Radha-kunda, which is situated at the foot of Govardhana Hill?
(Sri Upadesamrita, verse 9)