Garga Bhagavatham : Giriraj Khanda - Chapter 7
Description of holy places in Giriraj Govardhan
Bahulashwa asks:- Great Sage! You are endowed with divine sight, hence
please tell me how many important holy waters are there nearby and on the great
Giriraj?
Sri Narada says:- King! The entire Govardhan Mountain itself is considered
holier than all the holy places. Vrindavan is the Golok and Giriraj is esteemed
as it's crown. That mountain protects all the gopas, gopikas, and cows and is
greatly liked by Sri Krishna. Which other place can be holier than the place
which has become the parasol of the Supreme Lord? The Lord of the universe and
the Paripoornatam Bhagawan Sri Krishna, who is the Lord of innumerable
universes, Lord of Golok and the primordial Lord, Himself along with His tribe
defied the worship of Indra and worshipped Govardhan! Who else can be more
fortunate than Giriraj?
King of Mithila! Even the
four-faced Brahma is incapable of describing the greatness of the mountain upon
which Bhagawan Sri Krishna always plays with other cowherd boys. Who can
narrate the greatness of the mountain on which, Maanasi Ganga who can wash away
all the sins is present, holy Govindkund and the pure Chandra sarovar are
shining, where Radhakund, Krishnakund, Lalitakund, Gopalkund, and Kusum sarovar
are present. By the mere touch of Sri Krishna's crown, the rock got the emblem
of a crown on it, and by just seeing that rock humans can become divine. The
rock on which Sri Krishna carved designs is called 'Chitrashila', which is
considered very holy and is visible even today on top of Giriraj. While Sri
Krishna was engaged in playing with other boys He drummed on a rock rand the
rock on which He drummed is known as 'Vaadini Shila', which will clear all the
sins committed by human beings. King of Mithila! The place where Sri Krishna
played the game of Kundak with the cowherd boys is called 'Kundakshetra'. There
the ponds called 'Shakrapad' and 'Brahmapad' are present, and by having their
darshan and paying obeisance human beings can attain Indralok and Brahmalok.
Those who roll on the dust there will attain the Lotus Feet of Lord Vishnu. The
place, where Madhav stole the turbans of all the gopas, is on that mountain, and
in that place, is a pond is called 'Aushneesh', which destroys all the sins.
Once a group of Gopi girls came there
to sell curds. Hearing the sound of their anklets Sri Krishna came near them
and blocked their path. With a cane and flute in His hands and along with other
boys He surrounded the girls on all four sides and He Himself keeping His foot
in front of the girls told them ' In this path we collect tax, hence you all
pay us'
Gopis said:- You are very
mischievous and you are blocking our way along with other cowherd boys. You are
full of lust for milk. Get out of our way or else we will forcefully have you
and your parents put into the prison of King Kamsa.
Sri Bhagawan said:- Hey! You threatening me with the name of Kamsa! I swear
upon my cows that I shall slay Kamsa along with all his relatives and friends
or else I will drag him to the ravines of Govardhan from Mathura.
Sri Narada says:- King! Saying this, with the help of his friends, He got
all the pots of curds and set them on the ground. Gopis said among themselves,
"This son of Nand is very mischievous and fearless, and is uncontrollable.
We should not even talk to Him. He is very meek in the village and when he
comes to the forest He becomes fearless. Today itself we will go and complain
to Sri Yashoda and King Nand." Saying thus, the gopikas smilingly returned
to their houses.
Here,
Madhav made cups out of the leaves of Kadamba and Palaash trees and consumed
the smooth curds along with other Gopa boys. From that time, the trees there
started bearing leaves in the shape of cups. King of Kings! That most holy
place became famous by the name "Dron". Whoever donates curds in that
place or drinks curds out of the tree leaves and prostrates before the pond
will never be deprived of Golok. At the place where Madhav closed His eyes and
played hide and seek with the boys, a holy pond called 'Loukik' was formed. At
the holy place named 'Kadamkhand', which was full of His leelas, Sri Krishna
will always be present with His playfulness. Just by having darshan of this
holy place, one becomes Nar Narayan.
King of Mithila! The place
on Govardhan where Sri Radha was decorated during Raas became famous by the
name "Shringaramandal". King! The form in which Sri Krishna held the
Govardhan mountain, the same form of Him is there in the Shringarmandal. In
Kaliyuga after the lapse of four thousand eight hundred years, Sri Hari will
appear out of the middle caves of Girirraj at Shringarmandal, in His original
form in front of everyone's eyes. Pious men will call that form as
"Srinath", which will reduce all the pride of Devathas into dust. On
the Govardhan mountain, Srinath is always performing His leelas. In Kaliyug,
those who see the beauty of Srinath will become gratified.
Bhagawan is present in the
four corners of Bharath in the form of Jagannath, Sri Ranganath, Sri
Dwarakanath, and Sri Badarinath. In the middle of Bharath also, HE is there in
the form of Govardannath. In this way, in the holy Bharatvarsh, these five Gods
are the Gods of all other Gods. Those five Gods are the five pillars of the
pavilion of noble virtues and are always protecting the virtuous people. By
having a darshan of all the five Gods one becomes Nar Narayan. Those learned
men who visit all the Gods and do not have darshan of Govardhannath will not
obtain the fruits of their pilgrimage. Those who have the darshan of Srinath on
Govardhan mountain will get all the benefits of visiting the other four Gods on
the earth. King of Mithila! Even the most sinful person who pays obeisance at
the place where the footprints of elephant Airavat and cow Surabhi are present
will go to Vaikuntadham. Whoever has darshan of the impressions of Sri Krishna's
palm and feet will go to Sri Krishna's abode. King of Kings! These holy places
and ponds are parts of the temple of Giriraj, I have described them to you, now
what else do you want to know?
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