Krishna Lifts Govardhan Hill: The Protector of His Devotees

Another famous episode from Krishna’s childhood is the story of Govardhan Hill. Every year, the people of Vrindavan would worship Indra, the king of the gods, for bringing rain to their lands. However, Krishna taught them that they should instead honor Govardhan Hill, which provided them with the fertile land for their cattle to graze upon.

Angered by this, Indra unleashed a torrential storm on Vrindavan, hoping to destroy the village and punish its people. The storm raged for seven days, and the people sought shelter from the unrelenting rain.

In response, Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill with his little finger, holding it up like an umbrella to protect the villagers and their cattle from the storm. For seven days, Krishna stood firm, shielding everyone from Indra’s wrath. Finally, Indra, realizing Krishna’s divine nature, stopped the storm and bowed before the young god.

This act of lifting Govardhan Hill symbolized Krishna’s role as the protector of his devotees. He stood as a guardian against arrogance and false pride, teaching the importance of self-reliance and devotion to the divine.

Moral: The Lord protects those who take refuge in him. Pride and arrogance, no matter how grand, are ultimately powerless in the face of divine will.