Govardhan Pooja We celebrated/performed Diwali, Govardhan Pooja and Baiya Dooj respectively on 3.11.2013, 4.11.2013 and 5.11.2013. I have already made a write-up about Diwali. Now I proceed to do so about Govardhan Pooja, Baiya Dooj and Chhath. Before beginning to do so I would like to reiterate that, by producing a brief write up about the cultural festivals, fasts, rituals, the birth/ Nirvan days of the great leaders, scientists, luminaries, great personalities etc., I make an endeavor to revive, even at a miniscule level, the relevance and significance of all of them. I, therefore, request my face book friends to help me in this endeavor by suggesting correction in the matter contained in the write up. I also request them to make such endeavor on their own individual level to make the people around them aware of our rich old traditions, cultures, heritage etc. and thereby instill self respect and self confidence in the mind of the people. I will personally feel obliged to such face book friends. Today, I proceed to make a write up about Govardhan Pooja. Govardhan Pooja is celebrated on the first lunar day of Shukla Paksha (Bright fortnight) in the Hindu calendar month of Kartika. It is believed that this Pooja has been performed for the last about 5000 years. Govardhan is a small hillock situated at Braj, near Mathura. The legends in Vishnu Puraan say that the people of Gokul used to worship and offer prayer to Lord Indra for the rains because they believed that it was Lord Indra who caused rain fall. Lord Krishna, however, told them that it was Mount Govardhan (Govardhan Parvat) and not Lord Indra who caused rains. Therefore, they should worship the former and not the latter. Following the advice of Lord Krishna, the people of Gokul did the same. This made Lord Indra so furious that the people of Gokul had to face very heavy rain fall as a result of his anger. Then Lord Krishna came forward to ensure their security. Lord Krishna performed Pooja of Mount Govardhan and, after performing Pooja, lifted it as an umbrella on the little finger of his right hand so that everyone could take shelter under it. After this event, Lord Krishna was also known as Giridhari or Govardhandhari. For the people who are pseudo- modern, the legend is merely a tale having no scientific basis. It may be reasoned that a mountain cannot be lifted on finger tip. It may also be reasoned that mountain is the part of the earth and hence it cannot be dismantled. Yes, such arguments cannot be countered. I am, however, of the opinion that ‘Chamatkar’ is added to the act of great personality so that people could be attracted, aligned and perform the noble functions which are beneficial for the people and the society. I remember the impression which the Haldighati Poem composed by Shri Shyam Narain Pandey had created on me when I was in primary school. As per my understanding of the poem, the horse of Rana Pratap flied with Rana Pratap in the sky. It would not run on the ground like horses do. At that time, it did not come to my mind that it was impossible. The poem of Shri Shyam Narain Pandey made the Rana Pratap for us bizarre. Because of this poem, I believed that Rana Pratap was not a human being like us. In order to create such an impression on the people in general, bizarre event is attached to the legend. Therefore, I urge rationalists to think about the sprit of the legend and not technicality. So far as I understand, Indra was the symbol of Monsoon. However, Monsoon alone cannot bring the rains. Mountains play vital role in changing the direction of the Monsoon as well as causing rain. The students of geography know that at the mountain top, temperature is low. The higher the altitude, the lesser is temperature. Therefore, when Monsoon comes in contact with the mountain top, the vapor condenses and turns into rain. Further, in the formation of Monsoon, the role of vegitation is also important. The mountains usually have dense vegetation. Therefore, for the people, mountains are more important than the Monsoon and, perhaps, this is the reason that Lord Krishna had advised the people of Gokul worship the Mountain (Govardhan) and not the Monsoon. The purpose of the legend so far as I understand is to inculcate the feeling among the people that we should feel obliged to the mountains. Needless to mention that no one would like to cause any damage to the obligor. Therefore, we feel grateful to the mountains, we would not like to do any thing that would lower the staus and prestige on mountain. By performing Pooja, we vow that we would keep the mountains in high esteem and would not do anything that would lower the head of the mountains. Thus this ritual is, in fact, aimed at protecting environment. Today the world has turned into a village and environmental issues are on the top of the world agenda. We should feel ourselves very proud that all such issues have already been agitated in the minds of the people of India in one form of the other. Another aspect of Govardhan Pooja is protection and development of cows. The word, Govardhan is made up of two words, ‘Go’ and ‘Vardhan’. Go means cow and Vardhan means increase. In the ancient times, cow was like currency. In those days cows played the pivotal role in economy. Cow dung and urine was used for many purposes. Cow’s urine is considered even today as having medicinal value. It has also scientifically proved. Research on this is still going on. Cow dung as such or in combination yellow clay was used for coating of the mud wall or even the Kunchcha floor of the mud house or the court yard. Cow dung was also used as the manure. Cow milk being low fat is easily digestible and ideal for children. Cow calf when fully grown up into a bullock is used for tilling of land, in Rahat, Kolhu, Cart, cane crusher, thrashing of crops etc. Thus, it can be said that cows were considered to be backbone of the economic. In those days, the person having more cows were considered to be more prosperous. Therefore, cow considered as the most sacred animal so much so that the people used to worship cows. On Diwali, we worship Lord Ganesh and Goddess Laxmi with prayer they make us prosperous. On Govardhan, we worship, Govardhan mountain who is associated with Shri Krishna. Shri Krishna was the protector of cows. On Janmashtami, we had worshipped Shri Krishna. Now if Govardhan is pleased Shri Krishna would also be pleased and if Shri Krishna is pleased he would bestow us with cows the symbol of prosperity. He would cause rains for agriculture. Thus, it can be said that without performing Govardhan Pooja, Diwali is incomplete.
Posted on: Wed, 06 Nov 2013 17:12:40 +0000
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