Monday, April 27, 2015

The unknown story of Govardhan Parvat

The story of Govardhan
The story of Govardhan mountain is a moving one. It's a story that shows the power of devotion and also how the concept of sentiency is not limited to humans only.
The scene of building the bridge
In the Ramayana, the scene was that Rama's army had to cross the ocean. They were building a bridge by throwing stones. Nala and Nila had this curse (boon) that stones thrown by them will not drown.
Need of stones
The whole army of monkeys and bears were transporting mountains and boulders from across India to replenish the supply.
Stones no more needed
As the bridge got completed, a word was sent to the whole transportation chain that they could drop whatever they were carrying wherever they presently were.
Govardhan was also on its way
It's said that this mountain plucked from the Himalayas was traveling with high hopes that it will be used in a just cause and Lord Rama himself will bless him. However, as destiny would have it, it was dropped because more stones were not needed.
The devotee felt left out
Govardhan mountain started lamenting that why it was left out--why to pluck it from the original place if it were not to be used?
It was a strange occurrence
Without doubt, it was a strange occurrence and not many could believe that a mountain would lament. They were surprised and amused.
The word reached Lord Rama
The incident was related to Lord Rama and his counsel was sought. Lord Rama was pleased with the devotion of Govardhan and he sent his assurance that he will bless him.
Govardhan got his blessings in the next avatar
As we know the story, in the next avatar, Lord Krishna held the mountain on his little finger to save the whole village from Indra's wrath.
This was the same mountain
Govardhan was the same mountain who had lamented that it could not be used by Lord. But Lord, out of his infinite compassion, does not disappoint his devotees. He blesses them with appropriate opportunities.
God gives to them who seek
One lesson from this incident people tend to get is that you have speak, ask and tell it to God what really you want. You will get it of course based on your own sincerity.
There were others too
To give credit to the devotion of Govardhan mountain, I will say that it is dependent on your own feelings. There were other stones and boulders too. But only he felt left out. And what a reward he got!
Every thing is full of life
One prominent lesson we get from this incident is that we should not call some things as sentient while other as non-sentient. In God's creation, everything is full of life.
Govardhan is etched in history
The one who has true feelings in his heart gets the due reward in due time. God does not overlook anybody, be it a human being or a rock.

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