Hare Krsna,
Srila Prabhupada is eternal Vrajavasi. He took what was originally a sweet and intimate līlā in a rural setting of Vṛndāvana—Kṛṣṇa worshiping Govardhana Hill—and made it accessible to people across continents. A celebration once known only in Indian villages is now lovingly observed in cities from New York to Nairobi. Through Govardhana Pūjā, Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasized Kṛṣṇa’s teaching to the Vrajavāsīs—that pure devotion (bhakti) surpasses ritualistic worship of demigods. In this way, he taught the essence of Vedic culture to a global audience: that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the ultimate shelter.
Govardhan Puja is a joyous festival. In all the temples of Vṛndāvana or outside of Vṛndāvana, huge quantities of food are prepared in this ceremony and are very sumptuously distributed to the general population. (Krsna book). Devotees make Govardhan hill replicas made of sweets. Devotees also offer simple offerings of vegetarian food such as rice, dahl, halavah, pākorā, puri and all kinds of milk preparations like sweet rice, sweetballs, sandeśa, rasagullā and lāḍḍu. After the Govardhan Puja, devotees circumabulate the Govardhan Hill with kirtana. Prabhupāda showed the world that spiritual practice could be both deeply philosophical and joyfully accessible.
By celebrating Kṛṣṇa as Govardhanadhārī, Śrīla Prabhupāda subtly corrected impersonalist misconceptions and reminded the world that God is not abstract—He is a playful, loving cowherd boy who lifts mountains to protect His devotees.
“But, today Kṛṣṇa lifted this hill; therefore His name is Giridhārī. Giridhārī means who held the hill. Giri means the hill, and dhārī means one who holds up. So today is that, is the annual ceremony of today, this Govardhana-pūjā. So we follow that principle. Because we are devotees of Kṛṣṇa, we are trying to follow His instruction.” (Govardhana Pūjā Lecture; Nov. 14, 1966; New York)
Govardhana Hill is very dear to the Vaisnavas. In Sri Caitanya Caritamrta (Madhya Lila), there is a beautiful pastime of Sri Madhavendra Puri rediscovering Gopala and establishing Him on top of Govardhana Hill.
“I offer my respectful obeisances unto Mādhavendra Purī, who was given a pot of sweet rice stolen by Śrī Gopīnātha, celebrated thereafter as Kṣīra-corā. Being pleased by Mādhavendra Purī’s love, Śrī Gopāla, the Deity at Govardhana, appeared to the public vision.” (CC Madhya 4.1)
“Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura annotates that this Gopāla Deity was originally installed by Vajra, the great-grandson of Kṛṣṇa. Mādhavendra Purī rediscovered Gopāla and established Him on top of Govardhana Hill. This Gopāla Deity is now situated at Nāthadvāra and is under the management of descendants of Vallabhācārya. The worship of the Deity is very luxurious, and one who goes there can purchase varieties of prasādam by paying a small price.” ((CC Madhya 4.1 Purport)
There is also a sweet pastime of Lord Caitanya and His loving exchange with Sri Raghunath Dasa Goswami.
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu instructed Raghunātha dāsa, “This stone is the transcendental form of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Worship the stone with great eagerness.” (CC Antya 6.294)
Purport: Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura writes in his Anubhāṣya that in the opinion of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the govardhana-śilā, the stone from Govardhana Hill, was directly the form of Kṛṣṇa, the son of Mahārāja Nanda. The Lord used the stone for three years, and then in the heart of Raghunātha dāsa the Lord awakened devotional service to the stone. The Lord then gave the stone to Raghunātha dāsa, accepting him as one of His most confidential servants…
Srila Raghunath Das Goswami composed Govardhana-vasa-prarthana-dasakam to glorify Sri Govardhana. There is a nice verse (and one of my favorites):
nirupadhi-karuṇena śrī-śacīnandanena
tvayi kapaṭi-śaṭho ‘pi tvat-priyenārpito ‘smi
iti khalu mama yogyāyogyatāḿ mām agṛhṇan
nija-nikaṭa-nivāsaḿ dehi govardhana tvam
“Although I am a cheater and a criminal, unlimitedly merciful Lord Sacinandana, who is very dear to you, has given me to you. O Govardhana, please do not consider whether I am acceptable or not, but simply grant me residence near you.”
All glories to Srila Prabhupada for connecting us with Sri Govardhana who is dear to all the Vaisnavas!
Krsna Katha 