Govardhan

Govardhan / Goverdhana / गोवर्धन

According to the Adi-Varaha Purana, during the advent of Shri Ramachandra, monkeys and bears all brought large rocks and stones from many places to construct a bridge across the ocean. Hanuman also received the order from Shri Ramachandra to help build the bridge. Hanuman uprooted Govardhana from Uttaranchal, but while carrying him to the ocean he heard a divine sound that announced, "The ocean bridge is now complete. No more rocks are required."
Hearing this, Hanuman became some sad and put down Shri Giriraja here, where he stands today. Giriraja also became unhappy and said to Hanuman, "You have deprived me of the touch of Shri Rama's lotus feet. I will curse you."
"Please forgive me," Hanuman replied. "In the next Dvapara-yuga, your desire will be fulfilled. At that time, the Supreme Lord Shri Krishna will stop the worship of Indra and worship you instead. Angered, Indra will try to destroy Vraja by unleashing his thunderbolt and by sending torrential rains. At this time, Krishna will hold you on His hand to protect Vraja. In this way He will fulfil your desire." Upon saying this, Hanuman leapt into the air and arrived at Shri Ramachandra side by the aerial pathways.
After narrating the whole incident to Him, Shri Ramachandra said, "All the rocks that have been assembled to build the bridge have been delivered by the touch of My feet. But I shall fulfil the desires of Govardhana by holding him on My hand and touching him with My whole body. At the close of Dvapara-yuga, I shall take birth in the dynasty of the Yadus and make Govardhana famous as the best servant of Hari by herding the cows with My sakhas on his slopes and by enjoying with My beloved gopis in his kunjas."

The Garga-samhita relates the following history of the appearance of Govardhana's in Vraja in another age:Once, in the course of his wanderings, Pulastya Rishi reached Dronacala Hill. The son of Dronacala, Govardhana, was very beautiful, fragrant, smooth, and full of luxuriant, green trees and creepers. Pulastya Rishi desired to bring this Govardhana's to his place of residence, Kasi, because there was no such hill there on which he could peacefully perform his sadhana-bhajana. He asked Dronacala to give his son Govardhana to him for this purpose. Dronacala could not refuse, as he feared being cursed. Govardhana agreed to go, on the condition that if Pulastya put him down somewhere along the way, he would remain there and not move again. The sage accepted his condition, and by mystic power kept Govardhana on his palm as he proceeded to Kasi.
As they reached Vraja, thoughts of Krishna's future pastimes entered Govardhana's mind. Govardhana became so heavy that the sage could no longer carry him and was forced to put him down right there. After the sage bathed, chanted his regular mantras, sung his prayers, ate and rested, he tried to lift Govardhana again, but remaining true to his word, Giriraja refused to move. With all his strength the sage tried to lift Govardhana, but could not do so. Finally, he angrily cursed Govardhana, saying, "You will diminish in size by one sesame seed daily." Govardhana happily accepted this curse, because he knew about the coming descent of the Supreme Lord Krishna. "Syamasundara will perform various pastimes on me, and I shall be blessed," he thought.
Giriraja does, in fact, diminish in size every day, but who can say whether this is due to the sage's curse or due to Giriraja's feelings of separation from Krishna?