Govardhan Puja – The Legend Behind it!

Govardhan Puja is celebrated all over the India as a remembrance to Lord Krishna. In many places, it is also known as Annakut Puja. Govardhan was a hill that Krishna lifted with his little finger to shelter all the people of the village.

Lord Krishna defeated Lord Indra’s arrogance by protecting the village people, and hence to celebrate this victory of Lord Krishna, we commence Govardhan Puja every year. This year’s Govardhan Puja will take place on 15th November on Sunday when people would show immense gratitude and happiness toward the rituals that are important to perform on this auspicious day.

As per the Hindu calendar, the celebration happens on the fourth day of Diwali. In the Puja, people take the heap of grain that symbolizes the Govardhan mountain, and they worship it. In states such as Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Mathura, Vrindavan, and Bihar, the Puja holds the utmost significance.

The Legend Behind Govardhana Pooja

Govardhan is a small hill situated at 'Braj', near Mathura. As per the legends, the people of Gokul used to worship and prepare a sacrifice for Indra. They believed that doing so pleases Indra and that it makes the rainfall happen. They believed that if they do not perform the Puja, Indra would get angry, and there would be no rain which would lead them to lack of food.

Lord Krishna once told the people not to make any rituals just blindly, and that year, people did not perform any Puja to please Indra. Krishna further explained that the Govardhan mountain is the one that helps in bringing the rain and not Indra.

Indra after listening to the words of Krishna and seeing the people agreeing with him got fumed. He in anger and arrogance brought heavy rainfall that created a situation like a flood. He thought that this would give the villagers a lesson as well as Krishna. Lord Krishna knew about Indra and his arrogance, he made sure that the safety of these people is primary.

Lord Krishna did the immense act of kindness and superiority by lifting the Govardhan mountain on his little finger. The rain did not stop for seven days and nights, but Krishna became in the same position, and the mountain gave shelter to all those people. After this incident, Indra agreed that Krishna is supreme and he is the almighty. He stopped the rain, and since that day, Krishna also got a name as Giridhari means the one who holds a mountain as Giri means Mountain and Dhari means Holder.

From that day to celebrate the victory of Lord Krishna as well as the significance of Govardhan mountain, people started doing Govardhan Puja, and the ritual is still in existence in Hinduism.

Another legend tells that there was a King Bali who once fought with Lord Vishnu when he was in the “Vamana” avatar. Mahabali conquered Paathaala and Earth and was about to win Swarga too. People of Paathaala and Earth were happy with his ruling, but the Devas of Swarga only wanted Indra to rule there.

Seeing this, Indra approached Vishnu for help. Mahabali had this habit of granting boons easily, so Vishnu asked him for three steps of land which Bali granted happily. Later Vishnu in Vamana avatar expanded his size and two of his steps covered everything in space and Earth. There was no space left for the third step, and thus Mahabali offered Vishnu his head.

The time Vishnu placed his step on his head which made Bali go in Paathaala, and hence he didn’t rule the Swarga. It is said that King Bali visits Earth every year to visit his kingdom on the day of Govardhan Puja.

How is it Celebrated in India?

In some parts of India, people make hillocks of cow dung which symbolize the mountain Govardhan. People then decorate these hillocks with flowers and garlands. They then worship these hillocks and pray to Lord Krishna to be their protector in life. In some parts, it is also celebrated as Bali Pratipada to remember King Bali.

On the day of Puja, people prepare food to offer to Lord Krishna. They present this Annakoota to show gratitude to Krishna, and to worship the mother nature. This mountain worship signifies that one should protect the natural resources that nature provides us.

Read more : https://www.astroved.com/astropedia/en/festivals/govardhan-puja