Giri Govardhan
Srila Raghunatha Dasa Goswami
Of the many exalted places spread all over the holy land of Vraja, why did Srila Ragunatha Dasa Goswami choose to reside near Govardhan?
Srila Ragunatha Dasa Goswami, offers his deepest personal prayers to Giriraj Govardhana through his timeless composition, Govardhana Vasa Prarthana Dasakam. He prays to Giri Govardhan, why would I stay in any other place? Please grant me residence near you – nija nikata nivasa dehi govardhana tvam – because you are the tilaka of Vraja. The land of Vraja is considered the body of Lord Krishna and Giri Govardhan, the tilaka on His forehead.
Vrajavasis call Giri Govardhan, Giriraj Baba, the most benevolent fatherly shelter. All Vrajavasis, even Lord Krishna and Shrimati Radharani come to visit Giriraj. Giriraj is Krishna himself but also the supreme servant most dear to Krishna. He has assumed this magnificent form where Radha and Krishna can perform and relish their various loving pastimes. Giri Govardhan expands himself to serve Radha and Krishna, their cows, calves, cowherd boys, gopis, by providing roots, fruits, fresh water, caves and everything required for Their pleasure pastimes. This is no ordinary hill but an extraordinary servant of the Supreme Lord.
Giri Govardhan can fulfill everyone’s desires, be it material or spiritual. Srila Ragunatha Dasa Goswami´s lifelong desire manifests as an outpouring of his heart in the form of his prayer, nija nikata nivasa dehi govardhana tvam begging for residence in Govardhan so that one day he may eventually have darshan of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna during one of Their many visits here. Anyone who resides in Govardhan following in the footsteps of Srila Ragunatha Dasa Goswami and subservient to his devotional mood can have darshan of the divine couple even today by the mercy of Giri Govardhan who is Hari Dasa Varya – Lord Hari’s best servant.
ISKCON Govardhan Bhaktivedanta Ashram also known as Srila Prabhupada’s Palace is a wonderful facility at the service of the countless devotees who come to Giri Govardhan throughout the year from all over the world for darshan, worship, parikrama, or simply deep contemplation and sadhana – all to seek but a drop of His boundless mercy.
