Mount Govardhan in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, is best known for the Dwapar Yuga legend of Krishna lifting it on a single finger to shield the people of Braj from Indra's fury. But according to Harshvardhan Kaushik, the priest at the Govardhan Dan Ghati Temple, a lesser known episode connects this very mountain to an earlier era, the time of Lord Rama in the Treta Yuga.
Krishna's Iconic Rescue Sets the Stage
Devotees across Braj grow up hearing how Krishna raised Govardhan Parvat on his fingertip to protect the villagers from Indra's wrath during the Dwapar Yuga. That lila remains the most celebrated story tied to the mountain. Yet, as Kaushik explains, an older tale from the Treta Yuga, involving Hanuman and Lord Rama, is far less talked about, even though it shaped why Krishna later chose to worship this very peak.
Rama's Army Goes Hunting for Mountains
When Lord Rama needed to build a bridge across the ocean to reach Lanka, his forces required trees, boulders and mountains to overcome the barrier the sea presented. Rama ordered his vanar sena to spread out in every direction and bring back mountains for the construction. As the army dispersed, Hanuman too set out on his own search for suitable peaks.
Govardhan Asks Hanuman Who He Is
During his search, Hanuman arrived at Govardhan and spotted the mountain. He attempted to lift it, at which point Govardhan Parvat itself asked him who he was and why he wanted to carry it away. Hanuman folded his hands and narrated the entire purpose to the mountain, telling it that he was taking it to serve Lord Rama and to grant it the Lord's darshan. On hearing this, Govardhan Parvat lightened its own weight so Hanuman could lift it with ease.
The Bridge Is Finished, and the Mountain Is Set Back Down
Just as Hanuman began carrying Govardhan Parvat toward Lanka, word reached him that construction of the bridge across the ocean was already complete. With no further need for the mountain, Hanuman placed Govardhan Parvat back exactly where he had picked it up.
Girraj Parvat's Warning of a Curse
Once set back down, Govardhan Parvat questioned Hanuman again, reminding him that he had promised to take it along for the Lord's darshan. The mountain insisted that Hanuman now carry it with him, warning that if he failed to grant it a sight of the Lord, Hanuman himself would be cursed as a liar. Troubled by this warning, Hanuman turned to Lord Rama in prayer, asking to be spared from the curse.
Rama's Promise That Would Be Fulfilled in Dwapar
Lord Rama reassured Hanuman that there was nothing to worry about. He promised that when he took avatar in the Dwapar Yuga, he himself would worship Govardhan, or Girraj Parvat, and personally grant Girraj Maharaj his darshan. According to belief, it was to fulfil this very promise that Krishna went on to worship Govardhan Parvat in the Dwapar Yuga and lifted it on his finger to protect the people of Braj.
This is why Govardhan Parvat is considered a witness to two ages, tied both to Rama's word and to Krishna's devotion. Pilgrims who circle the mountain during parikrama today are, in effect, retracing a promise made across two yugas.
