Govardhan dandavat Parikrama ~ கோவர்த்தனமென்னும் கொற்றக் குடையே.

 

 

அட்டுக் குவி  சோற்றுப் பருப்பதமும் தயிர்வாவியும்  நெய்யளறும் அடங்கப்

பொட்டத் துற்று  மாரிப்பகை புணர்த்த பொருமா கடல்வண்ணன்  பொறுத்த மலை

.. .. .............கோவர்த்தனமென்னும் கொற்றக் குடையே.

 

ஸ்ரீகிருஷ்ணாவதாரம் ஒரு அற்புதம்.  எம்பெருமான் இடையனாக, பலப்பல கஷ்டங்களுக்கு நடுவே நாளொரு மேனியும் பொழுதொரு  அற்புதலீலைகளுமாய் திருவாய்ப்பாடியிலே வளர்ந்தான்.  யசோதாபிராட்டியும் மற்றைய ஆயரும் கொஞ்சி குலாவி பாலூட்டி சீராட்டி கண்ணனை வளர்த்தனர்.  கண்ணனும் பலராமனும்   “காடுகளூடுபோய்க் கன்றுகள் மேய்த்து மறியோடி” என்கிறபடியே ஒன்றிரண்டு காடுகளன்றிக்கே, காடுகள்தோறும் திரள்திரளான கன்றுகளை மேய்த்து ஒரு மத்தகஜம் உலாவுமா போலே சென்று வந்தான். 

Govardhana (गोवर्धन) is a 8km long hill located near the town of Vrindavan, in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh – it is the sacred hills of Braj.   Lord Krishna was born in Mathura, brought up in Gokulam, played in Vrindavan and surroundings and thus many of His Leelas were in and around these areas ~ ‘lifting of the Govardhana Giri’ is a very important event.  The greatness of the hills of Govardhan is appreciated by Periyazhwar in 10 hymns.  

          Govardhan giri (hill) is among the holiest of holy places for the the worshippers of Lord Krishna. Its history and legends are steeped in ancient scriptures that have ties to the ancient Sanskrit language.  There is  mention in the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, and by putting Govardhan Hill as none different from Lord Krishna in the Bhagwat Purana.  Bhagwan Krishna instructed  the inhabitants of Braj except to worship Lord Krishna, they needed to worship Govardhan Hill instead, along with his many other impersonal forms, in replace of Indra because the Govardhan Hill and Krishna were non-different in the eyes of Lord Krishna .

Deep within the lush forests of Vrindavan lies the sacred Govardhana Mountain peak. Legend has it that Govardhana manifested from the heart of Krishna in Goloka to fulfil the divine desire of Śrī Radha for an exquisitely beautiful setting for their pastimes. Famous as the supreme servant of Krishna, Govardhana provides a fairy-tale-like playground for the Lord and His companions. Here, cows, gopas, and gopis find limitless joy. Once, to shield the Vrajavasis from the anger of Lord Indira, Seven-year-old Krishna lifted Govardhana like an umbrella and held it up in the air for seven days.

Since then, devotees have walked around this sacred mountain as an act of worship. The Govardhan Hill is built of sandstone and wide spread in perimeter of 38 Kilometers with height of 80 feet. Govardhan Hill located in Aanyor, Mathura  

Govardhan Parikrama is a 21-kilometer circumambulation (pradakshinam) around the sacred Govardhan Hill in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, performed as a spiritual journey of devotion to Lord Krishna. Devotees walk barefoot, chanting "Radhe Radhe" or "Jai Shri Giriraj Maharaj," to commemorate how Lord Krishna lifted the hill with his finger to protect devotees from a torrential downpour. The parikrama  would o remove sins and bring peace, and can take 5-7 hours on foot.

Govardhan Parikrama is one of the most cherished spiritual practices in the Vaishnava tradition. Every year, lakhs of devotees walk barefoot around the sacred Govardhan Hill in the Braj region of Vrindavan-Mathura (Uttar Pradesh). The parikrama, or circumambulation, covers a distance of about 21 kilometres and is performed with chants of Radha and Krishna, remembering the pastimes of the Lord and a deep sense of surrender.   With every step, devotees express their gratitude to Krishna for his protection, wishing for his guidance and strength in their own lives. This ritual isn’t just about faith; it’s also about looking for direction. For centuries, saints and seekers have walked this sacred path, leaving behind stories of devotion that inspire people even today.

Pradakshinam – circumambulation (from Latin circum around and ambulātus to walk) is considered holy in Hindu tradition.  Doing pradakshinams in Temples is a devotional practice.  AT holy Govardhana, the Hill is considered Emperuman and devotees do parikrama (Pradakshinam) – a full 21km walk – not thinking of the heat or rain or any other hindrance.

Among the various types there is Milk parikrama (carrying a milk pot on the head and milk is poured all along the way) and Dandavat Parikrama -  devotees prostrate at each step.  They completely fall down, get up and again fall at the next step.

Here is a devout couple offering combined Dandavat Parikrama – video taken with their permission.  My pranams to them and to all devotees of Bhagwan Sree Krishna  : https://youtu.be/HU-ddFQsQPU

adiyen Srinivasa dhasan
Mamandur Veeravalli Srinivasan Sampathkumar
10.10.2025