Pastimes at Govardhana

Giriraja-Govardhana is situated some fourteen miles west of Mathura. Sri Krsna protected Vraja 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 Krsna’s transcendental Goloka Vrndavana Dhama to Vraja on the earth planet. He came with secluded nikunjas (groves), caves, pure lakes, and various minerals, like gairika (red ochre), that are useful in the service of the Divine Couple Sri Radha-Krsna. Giriraja-Govardhana is non-different from Krsna in tattva (philosophical truth), yet he is considered to be hari-dasa-varya, the best among all the servants of Hari, or Krsna. The gopis have addressed him as folloes (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.21.18):

hantayam adrir abala hari-dasa-varyo
yad rama-krsna-carana- sparsa-pramodah
manam tanoti saha-go-ganayos tayor yat
paniya-suyavasa-kandard-kandamulaih

“O Sakhi! This Giriraja is the topmost among Sri Hari’s servants and is absorbed in supreme bliss, always being touched by Sri Balarama and Sri Krsna’s lotus feet. Giriraja serves and satisfies Sri Krsna, Balarama, the cowherd boys, and the cows by providing them with water from his pure lakes, lush grass, fruits, roots, and gairika other minerals.”