Garga Bhagavatham : Giriraj Khanda - Chapter 10
Redemption of a demon by the touch of Giriraj Govardhan and the subsequent praise of Govardhan by the divine form attained by the demon
Sri Narada says:-King! In this context, there is ancient history, by just
listening to it all the great sins will be forgiven.
On the banks of Gowthami Ganga (Godavari) a
well-known brahmana by the name of Vijay was living. To collect his dues, he
went to Mathura, by visiting which all sins are forgiven. When he completed his
work and started to go back to his home, he reached near Govardhan mountain.
King of Mithila! there he picked up a spherical stone. He slowly crossed the forest
region and emerged out of Vrajmandal, then he saw a macabre demon coming
towards him. The demon had his face on his chest. He had three legs and six
shoulders but had only three hands. His stomach was very big and his nostrils
were as big as hands. His tongue, which was as long as seven hands, was
wagging. His eyes were blood red, his teeth were uneven and scary. King! that
extremely hungry demon, making gurgling noises, came in front of the brahmana
who was standing there.
The brahmana hit him with the Giriraj's stone. At the touch of
the stone, the demon gave up his body and took the form of Shyamasundar. His
broad eyes were shining like fully blossomed petals of the lotus. Garland of
flowers, yellow dress, crown, and ear drops were enhancing His beauty. With
flute and cane in His hand, he was appearing like Kamadev. Being so divinely
beautiful, He paid respects to the brahmana with folded hands.
Sidhdh said:- Best Brahamana! You
are a blessed one because you are engaged in freeing others from their
troubles. Mahamate! today you have relieved me from the body of a demon. By the
mere touch of that stone, I have been blessed. None else other than you was
capable of redeeming me.
Brahmana said:- Good one! I am
surprised by your words. I do not possess any powers to redeem you. I do not
know what benefit can be got by the touch of that stone, hence you please tell
me.
Sidhdh said:- Brahmana! Sri Giriraj Govardhan is actually Sri Hari's form. By
the mere darshan of Him, humans will be gratified. The darshan of Giriraj is
one crore times more beneficial than doing pilgrimage of Gandhamadan. Learned
one! Whatever benefits humans get by doing penance in 'Kedarteerth' for five
thousand years, the same benefits can be got by doing penance on Govardhan mountain
just for a moment. The benefits of donating a heavy amount of gold on Mahyachal
can be obtained by donating a very tiny piece of gold on Giriraj. Those who
donate gold on Mangalprasth mountain attain the feet of Vishnu despite all the
sins committed by them. Man can attain the same feet of Lord Vishnu, just by
having darshan of Giriraj. There is no other holy place equal to the holy
places of Giriraj. Those who donate one crore cows with golden horns on Rishab
mountain, Kootak mountain, and Kolak mountain and also worship Brahmanas with
great devotion will become eligible for divine grace. One lakh times more of
such grace can be got easily by going on pilgrimage to Govardhan. One can
obtain a crore times more divine grace by going on a pilgrimage to Govardhan
than going to Rushyamook, Sahyagiri, Devagiri, and elsewhere in the entire
world. Hence there has been no holier place than Giriraj in the past or will
there be any in the future.
Those who live in Srishaila and
bathe in Vidhyadharkund every day for ten years, that person will get the
benefits of performing one hundred yagnas. However, by bathing for a single day
in Panchakund on Govardhan, they will get the benefit of performing one crore
yagnas and there is no doubt about this. Upon the mountains of Vaaridhaar,
Mahendra, and Vindhyachal, whoever performs 'Aswamedha Yagna' becomes the
overlord of heaven, but the one who performs Aswamedha Yagna on this Govardhan
mountain and gives good donations can step on the head of heaven and reach the abode
of Sri Vishnu. Benefits attained by doing good deeds like bathing, giving alms,
doing penance, etc are multiplied by crore times when performed upon the
Chitrakoot mountain on the day of Raam Navami, or in Mandakini river on the
third day of Vaishakha month, or upon Pariyatra Mountain and upon Kukuraachal
on the day of Pournami(full moon), or on the day of Dwadasi(12th Day) upon the
Neelachal mountain, or on Saptami(seventh day) upon Indrakeel mountain.
Brahmana! By doing the same good deeds here in Govardan's holy places, the
benefits get multiplied by many more innumerable times. In the Godavari when
Jupiter is in Simha Rasi and in Haridwar when it is in Kumbha Rasi, when Pushya
Nakshatra comes in Pushkar, at the time of Solar eclipse in Kurukshetra, at the
time of Lunar eclipse in Kashi, during Phalguni in Naimisharanya, on Ekadasi
day in Shukrateerth, on Poornima day in Gadamukteswar, in Mathura on
Janmashtami, in Khandavvan, on Poornima day in the month of Karthika in a great
forest called Vateswar, in Prayagteerth on Makara Sankranti day, in Barhishmati
when Vaidhrutiya yog comes, on the banks of Sarayu river in Ayodhya on
Ramnavami day, on Siva Chaturdasi day at the holy Vaidhyanatha Forest, when
Amavasya falls on a Monday at the place where Ganga merges with the Sea, on
Dasami day at Sethubhand and on Saptami day at Srirangateerth, the benefits
derived out of the donations given, meditation, bathing, penance, worshipping
of Gods and Brahmanas, will become crore times more. Best among brahmins! However,
a mere pilgrimage to Govardhan is equivalent to doing all these good deeds.
King of Mithila! Those who think only of Sri Krishna and bathes in the pure
Govindkund will attain Sri Krishna and there is no doubt about this. Performing
thousands of Aswamedha Yagnas and crores of Rajasuya Yagnas are equal to
bathing in Manasi Ganga on our Govardhan. Great Brahmin! You have actually had
darshan of Giriraj, touched Him, and bathed in the waters, hence there is no
one better than you on this earth. If you do not believe, look at me. I was
extremely ugly and crude and by the mere touch of the stone, have attained the
form similar to that of Sri Krishna.
In
this manner, Giriraj, actuated by Sri Krishna came to Vrajmandal. This is full
of all holy waters. This great mountain which is full of forests with creepers
is dark in color like the clouds and is liked by all Devatas. To the west of
Bharath, in the middle of 'Shaalmali' island, Govardhan took birth from the
womb of the wife of 'Dronachal'. Sage Pulasthya brought him to Vrajmandal. King
of Videha! I have already told you about the coming of Govardhan. If he grew as
he did in Golok, he would obstruct the whole world. For this reason, Govardhan,
the son of Drona was cursed that he will grow smaller day by day.
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