The day after Diwali is called Annakuta, or Govardhana Puja. On this
day the inhabitants of Vrindavan (Lord Krishna’s abode on Earth) used to
hold a festival to honor King Indra, the demigod responsible for
providing the rains essential for a successful harvest.
One day, however, sensing that Indra had become overly proud of his
position as king of heaven, Lord Krishna convinced the residents of
Vrindavan to modify their festival and celebrate Govardhana Hill
instead, arguing that it was the fertile soils on the hill that provided
the grass upon which the cows and bulls grazed; that the cows and bulls
who provided milk and ploughed the lands should be worshiped. This turn
of events naturally upset the mighty Indra, who retaliated with
terrifying rains and thunderstorms. Seeing this, Lord Krishna, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, calmly lifted Govardhana Hill with the
little finger of His left hand and held it up like a giant umbrella,
providing a shelter for the people and animals of Vrindavan from the
torrential downpours. The rains intensified. Indra's fury raged.
Finally, after seven days, beholding the wonder of the situation and
realizing the futility of his own actions, King Indra surrendered. He
came down from the heavens and bowed before Lord Krishna with folded
hands, offering prayers and asking for forgiveness. He realized his true
position as servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this way
Lord Krishna demonstrated that He is Deva Deva, the Lord of the
Demigods, and that any purpose for which demigods might be worshiped
could easily be served by worshiping Him, the supreme cause of all
causes.
Several thousand years later, on this same day, Srila Madhavendra Puri established a temple for the self-manifest Gopala Deity on top of Govardhana Hill.
To celebrate this festival, devotees build a replica of Govardhana Hill made of various opulent foods, worship Lord Krishna as the lifter of Govardhana Hill, worship the hill as His incarnation, and worship the cows and bulls who are dear to the Lord. At the end of the festival, the hill of prasada (sanctified food) is distributed to the public. All Vaishnava temples in India and throughout the world observe this ceremony, and hundreds of people are fed prasada according to the capacity of each temple.
Several thousand years later, on this same day, Srila Madhavendra Puri established a temple for the self-manifest Gopala Deity on top of Govardhana Hill.
To celebrate this festival, devotees build a replica of Govardhana Hill made of various opulent foods, worship Lord Krishna as the lifter of Govardhana Hill, worship the hill as His incarnation, and worship the cows and bulls who are dear to the Lord. At the end of the festival, the hill of prasada (sanctified food) is distributed to the public. All Vaishnava temples in India and throughout the world observe this ceremony, and hundreds of people are fed prasada according to the capacity of each temple.
Se denomina "Govardhana Puja"al festival conmemorando la adoración de la Colina de Govardhana realizada por los residentes de Vrndavan, y el pasatiempo cuando
el Señor Krishna levantó dicha Colina.
el Señor Krishna levantó dicha Colina.
..."Cuando el señor Indra vio que su sacrificio fue detenido por Krishna, él se enojó mucho. Indra llamó a la terrible nube Samvartaka y dijo: “Anda sobre Vrindavana y cubre todo con una gran tormenta . Yo también iré montado sobre mi elefante. Usaré toda mi fuerza para castigar a la gente en Vrindavana”. Ordenado por el rey Indra, todas las nubes peligrosas fueron sobre Vrindavana y empezaron a derramar agua con toda su fuerza y poder. Había constantemente truenos y relámpagos, vientos severos y lluvia. Cada hombre y animal en Vrindavana estaba temblando de frío y buscaron a Krishna para tomar refugio. En ese momento, viendo el peligro en que se encontraban todos, el pequeño Krishna levantó la colina de Govardhana con una mano, exactamente como un niño coge un hongo del suelo. El miró a todos los devotos y dijo: “Mis queridos hermanos, mi querido padre, mis queridos amigos, ahora vengan bajo el paraguas de la colina de Govardhana que he levantado. No teman de que la colina se caerá de mi mano”. Todos los vaqueros y sus animales permanecieron allí por una semana sin sentir hambre ni sed. Estaban simplemente sorprendidos de ver como Krishna levantaba la montaña con el dedo pequeño de la mano izquierda.
Viendo el maravilloso poder de Krishna, Indra, el rey del cielo, llamó a todas las nubes y pidió que se detuviesen. El sol salió nuevamente y los fuertes vientos se detuvieron. Ahora Krishna era conocido como el levantador de la colina de Govardhana. El dijo: “Mis queridos amigos, ahora pueden irse de regreso a sus casas porque el peligro a pasado.” Después que todo volvió a la normalidad, el Señor Krishna muy suavemente puso la montaña en su lugar. Luego el con sus amigos y animales regresaron al hogar."...
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