Govardhana

It's been awhile since I've last logged onto the interwebs, due to me being in hiatus at Govardhana. At Govardhana there is a hill, cleverly named "Govardhana Hill," which according to Hindu mythology/scripture, Krsna lifted by his left pinky finger to save the people of Vrindavana during a torrential rainfall (he used the hill as an umbrella, to give you a better picture). Govardhana Hill is a strange giant rocky hill, stuck seemingly out of nowhere and surrounded by the town of Govardhana.

While at Govardhana, I had the privilege to stay at the Govardhana ISKCON ashram, which was essentially the Eastern version of a monastery. There was only one other white person at the ashram, he was from South Africa, and the only one who spoke English fluently. Therefore, it was a quiet stay. However, the quietness and peacefulness of the ashram facility was a delight after the madness of Indian streets. It was wonderful just to sit on top of my room (yes, on top. It was a really cool set-up where you could climb stairs onto your room and sit on the roof and look at Govardhana Hill) and read, or nap in the sun or sit in meditation and not be pestered by every small child for a few rupees or by rikshaw men insisting you get a ride from them.

The story of my arrival at Govardhana, however, is a humorous and thought-provoking tale. I had received word that an ISKCON bus was leaving from Krishna Balarama Mandir (the ISKCON temple) for Delhi to attend the Ratha Yatra--the Ratha Yatra is a big festival where people pull GIANT (I mean stories tall giant) statues via ropes. It was supposed to be an incredible sight, so I asked around and was informed to arrive at the Prasadam Hall at Krishna Balarama Mandir at 6AM. I did so, found a bus and hoped on. The drive to Delhi is approximately 4.5 hours. My bus stopped after only 1 hour. Something was not right.... Everyone started walking and I, in my confusion and inability to communicate efficiently with anyone, started following them. However, I realized that I had left my pack on the bus (my pack which contained all of my money, clothing, passport, etc, due to the Ambrose group leaving therefore rendering me homeless again) and seeing as how I was unsure whether the same bus would be at the end of this mysterious walk I was starting on, I figured I'd play it safe and just carry my pack. I was still under the foolish impression that we were going to Delhi. So I started walking, carrying my pack of approximately 50 lbs.

Soon enough, I discovered I was actually at Govardhana and that I was with a group of devotees who were going on the Govardhana parikrama that day. In Hinduism, people often walk around (circumabulate) particular holy places, such as temples, shrines, etc. In this case, the Govardhana parikrama is around the entire Govardhana hill which is 14 miles. Also, as one of the men informed me, it's supposed to be performed barefoot (I've done a LOT of barefoot walking since arriving in India. Ouch). I knew there was the ISKCON ashram at Govardhana, and I also had been told I could stay there, but I had no idea how to actually get there. I assumed the ISKCON group would eventually be ending there and probably taking prasadam (lunch) there, so I had to follow along this veteran group of devotees with a 50 lbs. pack strapped to my back, barefoot. It was probably the most horrible walk/hike I've ever done and I've currently got blisters the size of golfballs on my feet. However, it got me thinking and reflecting. A lot of Hindu philosophy, as with Buddhist philosophy, revolves around the renunciation of materialism and material living--and there I was, at one of the most auspicious places in Vaishnavan Hinduism with ALL of my material goods I had brought with me on my back, causing me immense pain and suffering. It was as IF Govardhana was trying to show me plain and simple the foolishness and suffering which comes with materialism. Quite the interesting, thought-provoking and PAINFUL situation.

However, now I'm back in Vrindavana after my escape in Govardhana. Not entirely sure what the plan is, but I'm either heading south to Mysore to meet some Iowa City friends, east to Mayapur to visit the samadhi (grave) of Carl's, my professor-friend, brother or north to Rishikesh to see the foothills of the Himalayans.

Until then, Radhey Radhey!
Dylan