Divine Conceptions: The Three Identities of Mount Govardhan: Journal of Vaishnava Studies

Abstract

Mountains are conceived of in an astonishing variety of ways worldwide. This essay examines the manner in which Mount Govardhan is conceived within the Vaishnava religious culture of northern India.1 Mount Govardhan is the most distinguishing feature of the
sacred landscape of Braj, the region in northern India mainly associated with Krishna, and has long been worshiped as an embodied form of divinity. Three major related identities define the primary conceptions held by worshipers of this sacred mountain: it is variously identified as an embodied form of Krishna (Sakshat Bhagavan Krishna), as the best of Krishna’s devotees (Haridasavarya), and as Radha (Svamini Svarupa). Although Mount Govardhan is quite small compared to other sacred mountains, it has a big story. To better understand its religious conceptions it will be helpful to begin with an exploration of some of the more significant narratives associated with this mountain.