Garga Bhagavatham : Giriraj Khanda - Chapter 2
Gopas celebrate the great festival of Govardhan Puja
Sri Narada says:- Listening to the son of Nand himself, Sri Nand, Sannand
and other people of Vraj were surprised. Then giving up their original
decision, prepared for the worship of Giriraj. King of Mithila! King Nand along
with both of his sons Balaram and Sri Krishna, taking the materials for the
worship and accompanied by Sri Yashoda started for the worship of Giriraj very
ardently and with great happiness. Sri Garg also was with them. Nand ascended
on an elephant decorated with multi-colored shining cloth and golden ornaments
and along with cows went near the Govardhan mountain. It seemed as if Indra
accompanied by Indrani was riding on Airavata along with the white clouds of
Sharad Ritu (fall season). Nand, Upanand, a group of Vrishabanu along with
their children, grandchildren, and wives, carrying the requisite items for
performing the yagna came near Govardhan mountain.
Shining like a thousand early morning Suns, sitting on a
palanquin, divinely dressed and adorning ornaments studded with precious gems,
Sri Radha along with a host of sakhis came there, just like the Moon shines
with queen bees. King! On both sides of Sri Radha, the two moonfaced best friends
Lalita and Vishaka who were gorgeous with different types of ornaments were
fanning her and were looking very charming. Best among Kings! in the same
manner, Ramaa, Viraja, Madhavi, Maya, Yamuna and Ganga, and other twenty-two
sakhis, eight sakhis, sixteen sakhis, and their group including innumerable
sakhis came there. Gopikas residing in Mithila, Kosal, and Ayodhya, those who
were reincarnations of Shruti, Rishis, Yagnasita, and those who reside in
forests also were present there. Devis like Ramaa who reside in Vaikunta,
Divine girls who reside in the universe above Vaikunta, girls residing in the
most shining Shwetadweep, polar universes, and divine looking girls from
Lokachal also came there. The divine virtuous sakhis(friends) of Lakshmi who
emerged from the ocean, undivine girls who fly around in the sky, those in
medicinal form, those women from the harem of Jaalandhar, those who were
sea-girls, and those who were residents of Barhishnati, Sutal and other worlds,
the entire community of divine and beautiful girls were present near Govardhan.
In the same manner Apsaras, entire Naagakanyas(snake girls), and also the girls
residing in Vraj, adorning beautiful dresses and carrying materials needed for
the worship arrived near Giriraj.
Boys, youths, and elderly men were wearing yellow dresses and
headgear with peacock feathers and with necklaces, Gunjaa flowers, and shining
with garlands of forest flowers. They were carrying new cases and flutes and
came there with enhanced brightness. Gangadhar Shiva upon learning about the
celebration from Himalay, tying His hair in a knot on His head, holding a skull
in His hand, smearing ash of firewood on His body, wearing a garland of
serpents around His neck and wearing armlets and being intoxicated by Bhaang,
Dhatur and Visha(poison) along with the daughter of Giriraj, Uma came riding on
His original carrier, Nandi and surrounded by His first important group and
arrived at Giriraj mandal. Prominent sages of kings, sages of Brahma, sages of
Devas, Siddeswar, Yogeswar, Hams, and thousands of Brahmana community came
together to have darshan of Giriraj. Every stone on Giriraj turned into a
gemstone, King! that mountain was shining with intoxicated bees and waterfalls,
and was graceful like a very tall bodied elephant. At the same time the kings
of Himalaya mountain and Meru mountain, carrying gifts and other auspicious
materials in their hands paid oblations to the majestic Govardhan mountain.
According to the advice given by Sri Krishna, the worship of
Govardhan was conducted by people with self-realized souls and after the
worship of Brahmanas, Agnis(flames of fire), and cows, King Vraj Nand presented
a lot of wealth and very precious gifts to Giriraj. Nand, Upanand, Vrishbanu,
and groups of gopis and gopas danced and sang accompanied by the playing of
musical instruments. Along with all of them, Sri Krishna filled with happiness
did parikrama around Giriraj. Devatas rained flowers from the sky and people
living on the earth sprinkled rice. In that yagna, the emperor of mountains,
Govardhan who was surrounded by people was graceful like a Maharaj. Sri Krishna
who was among the people of Vraj, took a second huge form and emerged from the
middle of Govardhan and saying " I am Giriraj Govadan", started consuming
all the food offered there. The important people who were there among the gopas
and gopis witnessed this effect of Giriraj with their own eyes and seeing
Giriraj keen to give a boon, became awestruck. Everyone's heart was filled with
happiness.
Then Nand, Upanand, Vrishabanu, Balaram, King vrishbanu Suchandra, Sri Nandraj, Sri Hari and all the gopas and gopis along with their cows moved from that place. Brahmanas, Yogeswar groups, Siddasand, Shiva, and other devatas after paying oblations and worshipping Giriraj, happily went back to their places. King! i have described to you the great account of the extraordinary celebration of Giriraj. This holy discourse will destroy all sins.
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