Lessons From The Govardhan Puja Pastime

Radhanath Swami

In this way, Krishna transformed what was apparently a catastrophe into the sweetest festival of love, personally appeared as Govardhan to give shelter. Similarly, ‘kali kale nama rupe krishna avatar’, Krishna has manifested with his full potency in his holy names. Just as Krishna gave shelter as Goverdhan to those who are in the storms of the rain of Indra, kali kale nama rupe krishna avatar, kaler doṣa-nidhe rājann asti hy eko mahān guṇaḥ kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya mukta-saṅgaḥ paraṁ vrajet, In this age of Kali, there's constant rains of problems. Mahaprabhu Sri Chaitanya taught us ‘param vijaya te Sri Krishna sankirtanam, all glories to the Holy Names of Krishna, because it is in this age giving us shelter. All the vrajavasis they wholeheartedly with total faith, they took shelter of Krishna under Govardhan. Similarly, Krishna’s holy names give us shelter to the degree we seek shelter with faith. When we chant with concentration, with a very sincere intent to please Krishna and take shelter of Krishna then Krishna’s name gives us shelter. Draupadi when she cried “He, Krishna, he Govinda” She did it with all her heart, “Krishna, you're my only shelter, I'm yours.” And Gajendra was all of his efforts like Draupadi failed, he cried out for Krishna in a prayerful mood and he was given shelter. Maya is like a crocodile that is keeping us all in such a state. We can't get out of this crocodile of Maya. But if we seek shelter of Krishna, his past times, his devotees, then we will find shelter in his holy names. Little Prahlad was only five years old, Hiranyakashipu was the most powerful man in the universe and he had massive armies and they were all trying to destroy Prahlad. Little Prahlad, in a natural and innocent childlike way, he simply took shelter of Krishna.