Govardhan
Information – Govardhana was made by Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarawsati Thakur in memory of these holy places in Vrindavan.
The same spiritual blessings obtained from performing the Parikrama of Govardhana in Vrindavana can be received in Mayapur with much less effort. In Vrindavana, the Govardhana Parikrama takes 8-14 hours, depending on one’s walking speed. However, in Mayapur, this Parikrama can be completed in just a few minutes. Additionally, if one seeks full mercy and performs a dandavata Parikrama, many months of severe austerities are condensed into just 15 minutes.
On top of this Giri-Govardhana, there is a small blue Deity of Lord Sri Krishna.
âOf all the devotees this Govardhana Hill is the best! Or my friends this Hill supplies Krishna and Balarama, along with their calves, cows and cowherd friends, with all the necessities: water for drinking, very soft grass, caves, fruits, flowers and vegetables. In this way the Hill offers respects to the Lord. Being touched by the lotus feet of Krishna and Balarama, the hill appears very jubilantâ.
(SB 10.21.18).
When ĹrÄŤ Caitanya MahÄprabhu instructed that the govardhana-ĹilÄ, the stone taken from Govardhana, is nondifferent from the body of ĹrÄŤ KášášŁáša, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He indirectly advised such foolish persons that one should not be envious of a Vaiᚣášava who belongs to a different caste or sect. One should accept a Vaiᚣášava as transcendental. In this way one can be saved; otherwise, one is surely awaiting a hellish life.
(CC Antya 6.294 purport)
Thus Govardhana is always in touch with the lotus feet of the Lord. And because Govardhana Hill is so obliged to Lord KášášŁáša and BalarÄma, it is supplying different kinds of fruits, roots and herbs, as well as very pleasing crystal water from its lakes, in presentation to the Lord. The best presentation offered by Govardhana Hill, however, is newly grown grass for the cows and calves. Govardhana Hill knows how to please the Lord by pleasing His most beloved associates, the cows and the cowherd boys.
(KášášŁáša Book, Chapter 21)
When KášášŁáša was present, although He was playing like an ordinary human child or human being, still, when there was need, He manifested His godly power. That is God. When it was needed to protect the inhabitants of VášndÄvana, He lifted a big hill, and since then His name is Giri-vara-dhÄrÄŤ. Giri-vara-dhÄrÄŤ means that hill, and He sustained that hill. He was at that time seven years old from material calculation.
(720930 â Lecture â Laguna Beach)
Our specific relationship is with Govardhana Hill and VášndÄvana forest and nothing more. I therefore request you, My dear father, to begin a sacrifice which will satisfy the local brÄhmaášas and Govardhana Hill, and let us have nothing to do with Indra.
(Krsna Book, 24)