GOVARDHAN

Uttar Pradesh (179 m) – Sacred Hill of Lord Krishna

Govardhan Hill, located between New Delhi and Agra, is one of the most accessible of the major sacred Hindu mountains in India. It is believed to have been a sacred site going back to primordial times. In these early days, evidence indicates that the hill was once home to followers of Indra, the god of rain and storms. But he was supplanted in importance by the Lord Krishna.

As the story goes, the people living on and near the hill in ancient times were farmers, who worshipped Indra out of necessity. Indra, apparently quite demanding (at least in this story), regularly punished the local population by either providing to much rain (resulting in floods) or not enough rain (resulting in drought).

Eventually Krishna, who was appalled at Indra’s practices, decided to protect the villagers. He instructed them to ignore their worship of Indra and focus on their labors. Indra, furious, sent a great flood against the village. Krishna saved the villagers and their property by lifting up the Govardhan Hill thereby protecting them from the floods. Eventually, Indra stopped the punishing flood and withdrew. The people of the area have celebrated this great victory ever since.

Govardhan is a long hill that runs through the town of Jatipura in a northeast-southwest direction. It is covered and surrounded by small temples and shrines, the main ones celebrating Krishna’s victory over Indra. The hill is close to the center of Uttar Pradesh, approximately seventy miles south of New Delhi.