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Govardhan Pooja: The Significance of Exclusive Devotion

Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat
11 November 2026
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(A discourse delivered by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj during Govardhan Pooja celebrations)

Today is the day of Govardhan Pooja, the day we worship Giridhari. Why do we observe this festival? It has great significance, and we need to understand its true purpose.

The Importance of Exclusive Devotion

Throughout the Vedas, Puranas and scriptures, God and Saints have instructed us to love God alone. Our mind should be exclusively surrendered and attached to Him, and not to anything else. Anything other than God belongs to the realm of Maya. There are only two possibilities: we can attach our mind either to God or to the world of Maya.

The Bhagavat describes four destinations to which the mind can become attached: the hellish planets, the mortal world, the celestial abodes and the Divine abode of God. The first three belong to the realm of Maya, while the fourth is beyond it. We have experienced attachment to these material realms countless times. Yet what do we truly seek? Eternal bliss and freedom from misery. These can be attained only by loving God. That is why the Lord repeatedly instructs us: “Love only Me. Surrender to Me alone.”

We make one fundamental mistake. We welcome everyone into our hearts. We love our parents, spouse and relatives, worship the celestial gods, and also claim to love the Supreme Lord. Our mind becomes attached in every direction. But God asks for exclusiveness. This does not mean that we should hate or disrespect anyone. God resides in all, so we should pay respect to everyone. But the attachment of our mind should remain confined to God and Saints alone.

If you really had faith in God, you would not leave Him to beg before numerous celestial gods and goddesses. Don’t you know that the celestial gods themselves beg before the Supreme Lord? They are beggars themselves. How, then, could they grant you Divine bliss? They too are under the control of Maya.

Only God and Saints are pure; all others are under the control of Maya. It is as simple as this: if you attach your mind to impure things, your mind will become increasingly impure.

Suppose there is a dirty cloth that has not been washed for thousands of years. It has accumulated layer upon layer of dirt. When you wash it in clean water, it becomes clean. But if you immerse it in dirty water again, it becomes dirty once more. Similarly, you may chant Hare Ram Hare Krishna in Guruji’s association, but as soon as you return home, you start attaching your mind to your parents, spouse and other worldly relationships. The mind that had become somewhat purified in the association of Guruji becomes impure again.

Consider a tree. If you water its roots, you do not need to water each individual leaf. But if you neglect the roots and water only the leaves, the tree will eventually dry up. God is the root. The one who has pleased God is considered to have worshipped everyone, including the rajasic, tamasic and sattvic personalities. Why, then, should we abandon Him and seek favours from so many others?

The Govardhan Leela: A Lesson in Exclusive Devotion

This very mistake existed even in Dwapar Yug, when Shri Krishna descended to Braj. The residents of Braj worshipped Lord Narayan, but they also worshipped Indra, the celestial god associated with rain. Whenever there was a drought, fire sacrifices were performed to please Indra, and Indra was also offered oblations during regular fire sacrifices.

Shri Krishna thought, “I have descended to propagate My devotion, but the residents of Braj are worshipping Indra as well. My Saints have explained this principle many times, but people do not seem to listen. So I must demonstrate it through a practical example.”

He therefore stopped Indra’s worship throughout Braj. Naradji went to Indra and informed him that a little boy had stopped his worship. Enraged, Indra unleashed torrential rain upon the land of Braj. The entire region began to drown.

To protect the residents, Shri Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill on His little finger and called everyone to take shelter beneath it. He challenged Indra to continue pouring rain for months and years if need be. Indra continued to pour rain, but Shri Krishna remained standing there for seven days and seven nights, without eating or drinking, protecting all the residents of Braj.

Eventually, Indra came to his senses and realised that this little boy was no ordinary child. He begged for forgiveness, and God forgave him. After this, the worship of God spread everywhere. But when God returned to His abode and Kaliyug arrived, these practices began once again. Such is the nature of our minds. They keep fluctuating.

The names, forms, qualities, pastimes and abodes of God, along with His Saints, are all Divine. Our mind remains exclusive when it dwells in these alone. If it becomes attached to any personality or object in the material world, it is no longer exclusive. God says, “I don’t have a problem if any of My family members reside in your mind. But Maya’s family should not enter your mind, not even slightly.”

Therefore, the significance of Govardhan Pooja is to reaffirm our exclusive devotion to God. We must strengthen our resolve through repeated contemplation: we will not attach our mind anywhere else except to God, His Saints and His Divine family. We will respect everyone, but our love and attachment will remain exclusively for Him.

This is the practice we should undertake on Govardhan Pooja.

All glories to Giriraj Maharaj!

A brief introduction of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj*

(Known by His devotees as Shri Maharaj Ji)

The original title of Jagadguruttam (Greatest Spiritual Teacher of the World) was bestowed upon Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj on January 14, 1957, by Kashi Vidvat Parishad (a council of 500 greatest scholars saints of India). He composed divine texts like Prem Ras Madira, Prem Ras Siddhant, and Radha Govind Geet to lead us on the right path of devotion. He also gave priceless monuments as gifts to the world which include Bhakti Mandir located in Bhakti Dham, Mangarh, Prem Mandir located in Vrindavan Dham, and Kirti Mandir located in Barsana Dham. Shri Maharaj Ji also built hospitals for the impoverished, the Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya in Vrindavan, Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya in Barsana, and another one in Pratapgarh. All three help millions of underprivileged to gain free access to medical care. His Kindergarten, School, and College for impoverished girls Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat Education is located in Kunda and provides completely free education. To stay updated with all the news and events of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat, visit www.jkp.org.in/jkpwhatsapp.