Govardhan Puja is one of the most devoted celebrations on the second day of Diwali. The devotees of Lord Vishnu hold it at deep spiritual value. It is a largely celebrated festival wherein we worship the Lord Krishna (an incarnation of Vishnu). So, let us talk about the spiritualistic aspect of this festival and its connection with the Supreme Godhead Shri Vishnu.
Govardhan Puja 2024: Date and Timings
In the year 2024, the day of Govardhan Puja is on 2nd November. As a sacred festival for millions of devotees, it is celebrated in India, and also by ISKCON temples all over the world. Wheresoever this ritual is observed with much love and devotion for Shri Krishna (Lord Vishnu).
This entire time span, people perform puja and Aarti in the presence of Lord Vishnu and Govardhan Hill. This defines the importance of Govardhan Puja.
Significance of Govardhan Puja
Govardhan Puja is a rite and the celebrations in memories of divine avatar of Lord Vishnu as Lord Krishna. He is the protector and guardian of his devotees. According to the ISKCON, Lord Vishnu takes various manifestations. Therefore, when he became Shri Krishna, by lifting up Govardhan Hill, saved the people of Vrindavan from the anger of Lord Indra.
This festival reminds us of the divine act performed by Lord Krishna in protecting his devotees by raising the hill to shield them from the heavy rains sent by Shri Indra. The day represents the faith, devotion, and the eternal shelter provided by Lord Vishnu. It is a timely reminder of his boundless mercy and protection.
Story of Govardhan Puja
Govardhan Puja is an important part of the religious past of Vrindavan. Traditionally, villagers used to worship Lord Indra, the rain god, thinking he would ensure bountiful harvests. But the young Lord Krishna thought that Indra had become boastful. He convinced the villagers to worship the Govardhan Hill instead. It sustained their livelihood in two ways-water for the village and grass for cattle-and food both.
His anger at this ignited a flood-causing destructive storm to drench Vrindavan. However, Lord Krishna, being the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, raised Govardhan Hill with his little finger and covered every villager and animal under it. For seven days and nights, he kept lifting the hill to save the villagers, who were all underneath it as shelter. Seeing the mistake he had made, Lord Indra also submitted to Shri Krishna, knowing him as the Supreme Godhead.
What to Do on Govardhan Puja 2024
Govardhan Puja is the day to show gratitude to Lord Vishnu and appreciate nature that provides us food and oxygen. ISKCON devotees engage in a series of spiritual activities to strengthen their emotions with the Lord. Some of the important ones are here:
1) Govardhan Puja: Govardhan Puja is a sacred festival. On this festival, devotees prepare a miniature mountain by using cow dung. They worship that mountain and themselves remind, as Lord Krishna had carried one such hill on his little finger on one particular day.
2) Annakut (Offering of Food): Govardhan Puja consists of making a grand feast known as Annakut. In the context of this feast, devotees cook various dishes and arrange them in the form of a hill. Grains, vegetables, sweets, and fruits are presented in the form of a mountain to Lord Krishna. Then they are distributed as prasadam to everyone.
Much enthusiasm is found in ISKCON temples while performing Govardhan Puja because people sing and dance and offer food.
3) Chanting and Kirtan: During ISKCON temples, the sound of Hare Krishna and kirtans continue throughout the whole day. They gather in singing and dancing while remembering the divine pastimes of Lord Krishna. Chanting 16 rounds of Shri Hare Krishna Mahamantra on this day is of utmost importance.
Hare Krishna Mahamantra
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
They call into the heart of the living being the divine presence of Lord Krishna. The sacred mantra repeated again and again and has a direct communication with Lord Vishnu.
4) Vishnu Aaradhanam: This day strikes the minds and hearts of devotees on the glory of Lord Vishnu. They surrender themselves to his divine protection like that of Lord Krishna.
5) Bhagavad Gita Devotional Prayers: Devotees begin the day with suitable prayers as an offering to his Lord Krishna as Govardhan Giridhari. He held Govardhan Hill aloft for the protection of the people in Vrindavan.
6) Govardhan Parikrama: Parikrama is a word that means circumambulation (walk around). For the devotees of Vrindavan, walking around the hill Govardhan has the importance of receiving the blessings and spiritual merit. People who cannot visit physically make miniature reproductions at home or in the temple, and complete parikrama around those small hills.
This act shows the protection offered by Lord Vishnu, who is always there to shield his devotees.
Significance of Donations on Govardhan Puja
On Govardhan Puja, donations in ISKCON tradition are reverend. Giving and donating is considered to be an act of devotional service to Lord Vishnu. In other words, a return gesture toward the Lord to offer thanks for all the protection blessings received throughout life.
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9, Verse 27:
यत्करोषि यदश्नासि यज्जुहोषि ददासि यत्।
यत्तपस्यसि कौन्तेय तत्कुरुष्व मदर्पणम्॥
Transliteration:
yat karoṣi yad aśnāsi yaj juhoṣi dadāsi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya tat kuruṣva mad-arpaṇam
In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says, “Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform—do that as an offering to Me” (BG 9.27).
The above verse shows not only the importance of the food offering but also money or any form of charity in the name of Lord. In ISKCON temples, donations in Govardhan Puja are usually used to feed cows (Govardhan Hill also takes care of cows), giving food to the needy and so on;
Some of these important donations that can be made in Govardhan Puja are here:
1) Giving food to the Poor: The most sacred act of alms-giving is considered to be done on the sacred days and consists of feeding people.
2) Cow Protection: Govardhan Puja is essentially synonymous with cow protection. Any contribution made to the goshala or offering grains to the cows is considered very meritorious.
3) Making donations in temples: The process of preserving and driving growth of ISKCON temples or other temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu helps in spreading the message of Lord Vishnu to other people.
Govardhan Puja Conclusion
All this Govardhan Puja reminds us about the great power of Lord Vishnu and his love for the devotees. As he protected the residents of Vrindavan by holding up Govardhan Hill, similarly he protects his devotees who take shelter in him.
Govardhan Puja is also linked with the worship of the Govardhan Hill, Annakut food distribution, holy name chanting, and charity distribution. Therefore, it takes one closer to Lord Vishnu. Besides the rituals, the eternal bond between the Lord and his devotees must be presented to the world with a learning lesson.
