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GOVARDHAN PARIKRAMA
Kamlesh Tripathi
The Parikrama that starts from Govardhan Daan Ghati Mandir via Anyur, Puchhari, and Jatipura, and returns to Govardhan, is called Badi Parikrama and covers a distance of 12 km. The Parikrama from Govardhan via Uddhav Kund, Radhakund, and Kusum Sarovar, and then back to Govardhan, is called Chhoti Parikrama, which is 9 km long. The majority of the 21 km circumambulation takes place in the Mathura district. The parikrama path crosses into the Deeg district of Rajasthan, notably near the Poonchri Ka Lautha temple and the surrounding areas.
Badi Parikrama:
1. Daan Ghati Mandir
Danghati Govardhan Temple is the starting point of the Govardhan Parikrama. It is said that through this place all the Gopis of Braj used to go to pay the butter tax to King Kansa, and it was here that the butter thief Kanha used to take donations of butter and curd along with his cowherd hair. It was Kanha’s love that forced him to ask for Daan from his devotees. Due to this reason for taking Daan, it is known as Daanghati. This beautiful Leela has been described in the book Danakeli Kaumudi.
2. Sankarshan Kund
Sankarshan Kund is a sacred water body located in Anyor village near Govardhan Parvat, in Uttar Pradesh, along the Parikrama Marg, dedicated to Lord Balarama (Sankarshan), the elder brother of Krishna. It is considered a crucial heritage site in Braj, where a deity of Balram was reportedly found 5,000 years ago, and bathing here is believed to absolve one of his sins. It is situated in Anyor village, near Govardhan Giri, Uttar Pradesh. Named after Lord Balarama (Sankarshan), representing his role as a source of strength and companionship to Krishna in Braj. It is believed that the deity of Dauji (Balarama) was found in this kund and installed by Sri Vajranabh, the great-grandson of Lord Krishna.
3. Poonchari ka Lautha
Poonchari ka Lautha (or Punchari Lotha) is a highly revered temple on the 21-kilometre Govardhan Parikrama marg. Poonchari ka Lotha is said to be the friend of Lord Shri Krishna. This place is small, but its importance is very high. There is a belief in this place that every devotee must come here. Otherwise, the Goverdhan Parikrama is not considered complete. It is believed that whoever comes here for the Parikrama of Goverdhan ji, all his wishes are fulfilled.
4. Shri Nath Ji Temple
The next place in the Goverdhan Parikrama is the Shri Nath Temple. This temple tells the story of Radha and Krishna’s divine love. To reach here, you will have to go over the hill of Giriraj Ji.
5. Indraman Bhang
This is the place where Devraj Indra came with his elephant Airavat, and as its name suggests, this is the same place where Indra Dev’s honour was brought down. The footprints of the Airavat elephant are still visible here. You can see these signs near the Maan Bhang temple.
6. Jatipura Temple
The next stop in the Goverthan Parikrama is the Jatipura Temple. It is believed that the face of Lord Krishna can be seen here. After reaching Jatipura, devotees offer Prasad because the Prasad of this temple is said to be of great importance during the parikrama. Here you can see the faces of Shri Krishna and his elder brother Balram at the mouth of Lord Giriraj ji. That is why there is a tradition of offering Chhappan Bhog here.
This was the Govardhan Parikrama route of the Badi Parikrama (Daan Ghati Mandir to Jatipura Temple) of Govardhan Parvat, along with the religious beliefs related to it.
Chhoti Parikrama
The Chhoti Parikrama of Govardhan Parvat is 9 km long. It starts after Jatipura Mukharbind. The first point of Chhoti Parikrama is the Laxmi Narayan Mandir, Govardhan.
1. Laxmi Narayan Mandir
After the fulfilment of a wish, Dhudh ki Parikrama is undertaken from the Lakshminarayan Govardhan temple. The Deity present in the temple is considered a symbol of wealth, happiness and prosperity. All the devotees coming for the Govardhan Parvat Parikrama start the puja at the Lakshmi Narayan temple before the parikrama.
2. Uddhava Kunda
On the Chhoti Parikrama route, the next place is Uddhava Kunda, which is situated on the right side of the Parikrama Marg, just west of Govardhan. This Kunda (pond) has been described in detail in our Puranas. According to religious belief, Uddhav ji comforted the Mahishis of Dwarka at this place.
3. Radha Kund
The next spot on the Chhoti Parikrama is Radha Kund. The story of Radha Kund is related to Shri Krishna’s cow grazing. When demon Arishtasura came to know that Kanha comes here often, he reached there in the guise of a calf. And when Arishtasura, in the guise of a calf, came forward to attack Shri Krishna, he killed the demon disguised as a calf.
4. Shyam Kunda
After Radha Kund comes the Shyam Kund. Shyam Kund is the same place where the Pandavas came during their exile. When Shri Krishna dug a pond with his flute and took a bath in it to be free from the sin of cow slaughter, Radha ji also dug a pond nearby with her bracelet, which is called Shyam Kund.
5. Kusum Sarovar
Shyam Kund is followed by Kusum Sarovar. It is located 2 km away from Goverdhan in Mathura. It is 60 feet deep and 450 feet long. There are many mythological stories attached to Kusum Sarovar, one of which is related to Radha and Krishna. It is said that Lord Krishna used to come to this place secretly to meet Radha Rani. Radha Rani and her friend used to go to Kusum Sarovar to pick flowers for Shri Krishna. The beauty of Kusum Sarovar is exceptional. There are stairs around Kusum Sarovar, Govardhan. Its beauty itself attracts people to this place. The people residing here believe that this lake contains Paras stone and Nagmani, due to which this lake is mysterious.
6. Kaan Wale Baba
The temple of Kaan Wale Baba, which is on the way to Chhoti Parikrama, is very famous. Stories of the miracles of this temple are famous throughout Braj. This temple is home to Giriraj Ji, who has a remarkable stone ear. Devotees come to this temple while doing parikrama and whisper their wishes in the ears of Giriraj Ji Maharaj.
7. Mansi Ganga
The Chhoti Parikrama ends at Mansi Ganga Mukharbind. Mansi Ganga is situated in the middle of Govardhan village. While doing Parikrama, Mansi Ganga falls on the right side, while returning from Poonchari, we see it on the left side. The story of Ganga becoming Mansi Ganga is such that once Nand Baba, Yashoda and all the Braj residents decided to take a bath in the Ganga, they started their journey. By the time everyone reached Goverdhan, it was already evening. Nand Ji thought of making it his resting place and spending the night there.
While spending the night here, the thought came to Shri Krishna’s mind that all the places of pilgrimage reside in Braj Dham, but the people of Braj are unaware of its great glory. As soon as such a thought came to Shri Krishna’s mind, Ganga Ji appeared in her mortal form at the foothills of Giriraj Ji. In the morning, when the people of Braj saw Ganga Ji in the Giriraj foothills, they were all surprised.
Seeing everyone surprised, Shri Krishna said that all the pilgrims from the three worlds come here to serve Brajbhoomi, and that you all are leaving Braj to bathe in the Ganga. This is why Mother Ganga herself has arrived here in the form of Mansi Ganga on the Amavasya of the Kartik month.
Rules of Govardhan Parikrama (17/5/26)
You need to know the rules of performing Govardhan Parikrama.
- Before starting the Parikrama of Govardhan, first offer respects to Mount Govardhan and end the Parikrama at the same place from where you started.
- It is believed that anyone who wants to start the parikrama must bathe in the Mansi Ganga.
- Also, keep in mind that you should never leave the parikrama incomplete, midway.
Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi
Author, Poet, & Columnist
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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com
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