Lifting Mount Govardhan

Once Krishna saw that great preparations were under way in Vraj. He asked Nand Baba: whose worship is this? Nand Baba said: Lord Indra's, who gives the rain. Every year we perform a yajna for him.

Krishna said: Baba, we are cowherds. Our life depends on the cows, the forest and this Mount Govardhan. The mountain gives our cows grass and water. Why not worship Govardhan, the cows and the Brahmins this time? Everyone liked the idea, and Vraj cooked mountains of food, worshipped Govardhan and walked around it.

Seeing this, Indra was furious. Stung by the insult, he ordered the clouds of dissolution to flood Vraj. Torrential rain, storms and hail began to fall. The cows trembled and the people ran to Krishna for shelter: Kanha, save us!

Smiling, Krishna uprooted Mount Govardhan and, as if in play, lifted it on His left hand like an umbrella. All the cowherds, gopis, cows and calves came under it. For seven days and seven nights Krishna held the mountain without moving, and not a drop of water touched Vraj.

At last Indra's pride broke. He called back the clouds, came to Krishna and asked forgiveness. Kamadhenu the divine cow bathed Krishna with her milk, and He was given the name Govind, protector of cows. In memory of this, Govardhan Puja and Annakut are still celebrated the day after Diwali.