Insights from the Govardhan Lifting Pastime
7 Lessons from the Festival that led to Krishna lifting the Govardhan Hill for 7 days
1. We should go deeper into our rituals to know its meaning
When Krishna observed that Nand Baba was doing a sacrifice for Indra, He questioned its authenticity. He asked whether it is mentioned in the scriptures or is being practiced just because it has been practiced in the family for long. We should also try to go deeper into the rituals and try to understand the logic behind it.
2. Grateful Heart is a Happy Heart
Lord Krishna led everyone to worship Govardhan Hill, which was supplying the Vrindavanvasis all necessities of life, including grazing ground for cows, timber for houses, minerals, recreation ground and medicines. While Indra forgot that he was appointed the King of Demigods by Lord Krishna. When we forget to pay gratitude for what we have got, we invite problems.
3. Ego deludes us from seeing the reality
Indra, the chief of the Demigods went to Lord Krishna, asking him to take birth to save mankind from the atrocities by Kamsa. But when his position was challenged, Indra forgot that Lord Krishna is the Supreme Lord and under the madness of anger, attacked Vrindavan (Krishna’s home) and Vrindavanvasis (Krishna’s devotees).
4. Why worry when we have Lord Hari!
All Vrindavanvasis were in trouble, their lives, property, cows at stake. But they were helpless. In such estranged times, they turned to Lord Krishna for shelter. Krishna lifted the Govardhan Hill itself, providing shelter to all devotees, cows and the whole of Vrindavan itself.
5. Krishna is the Supreme Lord
The Supreme Lord must be supremely powerful from the beginning. Krishna proved that by lifting the whole Govardhan hill on the little finger of his left hand for 7 days 7 nights at the tender age of 7. Can even the Strongest Man on this planet lift a small stone for a day continuously?
6. When Krishna protects, no force in the world can harm
When Indra got angry, he ordered the Samvartaka clouds (responsible for drowning the earth at the time of Annihilation) to attack and immerse Vrindavan. But with Lord Krishna protecting, not even a single blade of grass was harmed in Vrindavan.
7. Begging Forgiveness is Intelligence, not Weakness
When Indra realised his mistake, he selected a suitable time, place and circumstances to ask forgiveness from Lord Krishna. He surrendered to the Lotus feet of Lord Krishna and humbly prayed. He could have otherwise been exterminated from his post, for he committed such a heinous offence.
