Sri Govardhana

Giriraja-Govardhana is situated some fourteen miles west of Mathura. Sri Krishna protected Braja by holding the enormous Girirajaji on the little finger of His left hand for seven days, thus shattering the pride of Indra. Giriraja has descended from Sri Krishna's aprakrta Goloka Vrndavana Dhama to Braja on the earth planet. He came with secluded nikunjas, caves, pure sarovaras, and various minerals, like gairika (red ochre), that are useful in the seva of Sri Radha-Krishna Yugala. Giriraja-Govardhana is non different from Krishna in tattva, yet he is considered to be hari-dasa-varya, the best among all the servants of Hari. The gopis have addressed him as follows:

hantayam adrir abala hari-dasa-varyo
yad rama-krishna-carana-sparsa-pramodah
manam tanoti saha-go-ganayos tayor yat
paniya-suyavasa-kandara-kandamulaih
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.21.18)
"O my friends, this Giriraja is the topmost among Sri Hari's servants and is absorbed in supreme bliss, always being touched by Sri Balarama and Sri Krishna's lotus feet. Giriraja serves and satisfies Sri Krishna, Balarama, the cowherd boys and the cows by providing them with water from his pure sarovaras, lush grass, fruits, roots, and various minerals like gairika"

The Appearance of Sri Govardhana in Braja

According to the Adi Varaha Purana, during the advent of Ramacandra, the monkeys and bears all brought large rocks and stones from many places to construct a bridge across the ocean. On the order of Sri Ramacandraji, Hanumanji was carrying Govardhana to the ocean, having uprooted him from Uttarancala, when he heard a divine sound that announced, "The ocean bridge is now complete; therefore, no more rocks are required."

Hearing this, Hanumanji became sad and put Sri Giri-rajaji down here, where he stands today. Girirajaji also became very unhappy and said to Hanumanji, "You have deprived me of the touch of Sri Rama's lotus feet. I will curse you" Hanumanji replied, "Please forgive me. In the next Dvapara-yuga, your desire will be fulfilled. At that time, Svayam Bhagavan Sri Krishna will stop the worship of Indra and worship you instead. Angered, Indra will try to destroy Braja by unleashing his vajra (thunderbolt) and by sending torrential rains. At this time, Sri Krishna will hold you on His hand to protect Braja and thus fulfil your desire." Saying this, Hanumanji leapt into the air and arrived at Sri Ramacandraji side by the aerial pathways.

After narrating the whole incident to Him, Sri Ramacandraji said, "All these rocks, which 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 haridasa 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 from a different kalpa about the appearance of Govardhana in Braja.

As they reached Braja, thoughts of Sri Krishna's future lilas entered Govardhana's mind, and he became so heavy that the rsi could no longer carry him and was forced to put him down right there. After the rsi took bath, performed his sandhya-vandana, took food and rested, he tried to lift Giriraja again, but Giriraja refused to move ? remaining true to his previous condition. The rsi could not lift Govardhana, even when he employed all his power. Finally, in great anger, he cursed Govardhana, saying, "You will diminish in size by one sesame seed daily." Govardhanaji happily accepted this curse, because he knew about the coming descent of Svayam Bhagavan Sri Krishna. "Syama-sundara will perform various lilas 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 rsi's curse or due to separation from Sri Krishna?