Govinda Pattabishekam:

In Ramayana, there are three pattabhishekams, namely, Paaduka pattabhishekam, Vibheeshana pattabishekam and Sri Rama pattabhishekam whereas in Srimad Bhagavatham there is only one- GOVINDA PATTABISHEKAM

"It is very difficult, rather absolutely impossible, to escape the clutches of 'Vishnu' Maya. Escape from the nets of maya is possible only with the Lord's help. ..." --- thus began Sri Swamigal's crisp explanation of 'Govind pattabhishekam' on 26th August, 2000, Dwadasi, Saturday, on the hillock Govardhana Giri, opposite Madhurapuri Ashram.

"Bhooma Devi (mother earth) unable to endure 'Bhoo Bharam' (the 'weight'of the earth) sought Lord Brahma's help, who in turn approached Lord Narayana, the highest power, for guidance in the matter. In the order of hierarchy Lord Brahma stands second to Narayana. Lord Narayana, though the highest, does not initiate any activity by Himself but does so only at the request of Lord Brahma. Therefore, it is Lord Brahma who is approached by one in need. Since Lord Brahma takes all round responsibility of the world, Lord Narayana blesses Lord Brahma with His kadaksha (blessing through the eyes/sight) whenever the world needs His blessings.

Lord Narayana declared to Lord Brahma that He would soon be born in the house of Vasudeva to lift the burden off Goddess Bhooma Devi. The devas requested Lord Brahma to explain the Lord's reply as it had been passed on in 'Silence' (Samadhi - the language of the Gods and Mahaans). Lord Brahma explained to Bhooma Devi ,the Devas and the Rishis, "It is the Will of the Lord to be born in the house of Vasudeva.('Vasudeva Grihe sakshath Bhagavan purusha parah' - Srimad Bhagavatham -10: 1) Those of you desirous of enjoying His company and 'lilas' may take the form of gopis and gopas in Gokulam."

AND LORD NARAYANA was born as Sri Krishna in the house of Vasudeva and overnight moved over to the Yadava Chieftain Nandababa's home at Gokulam.

Though the name Gokulam has come to be known more as Nandababa's village it was customary in those days for any kingdom to allot a certain piece of land for the grazing of the cattle. This place was known as Gokulam.

The Yadavas observed the custom of offering food to Lord Indra and performing Indra yagna, every year, in gratitude to the rains sent by him. One morning Sri Krishna found the whole village in full festivity and enquired of Nandababa, "Why has our village been decorated so? And varieties of food cooked? For whom are all these to be offered?" Nandababa explained, "Every year we conduct puja for Lord Indra in which we offer to him all these naivedyas." Sri Krishna, asked surprisingly, "Why is this puja for Indra?" Nandababa explained further, "We cowherds need fresh pastures for our cattle which is dependent on the rains. It is Lord Indra (God of rain) who blesses us with ample rains without fail. So in gratitude we offer these to him." Sri Krishna, mockingly pointed out, "We vysyas have four dharmas to observe, namely, 'Krishivaannijyagoraksha Kusidam' ( Srimad Bhagavatham - 10:24) agriculture, trade, protection of cows and money lending. It is this Govardana Giri here that provides us with the grass required for our cattle and also protects us. Why then offer Indra all these? This year we shall offer all these to Govardana Giri." The whole village, in one voice, agreed to little Krishna's choice of the recipient of their offerings that year. The food offerings were made to Govardana Giri and Sri Krishna, taking a huge form, consumed the offerings. No sooner had this been done than Indra, to whom the news about the change had reached, retaliated with thunderstorms. He used the best of his weapons to teach the gullible villagers and the blind followers of Sri Krishna a lesson. The whole village, undaunted by the repercussion, looked up to Sri Krishna who lifted the huge Govardana Giri with His little finger as one lifts a simple umbrella. He protected His people from Indra's wrath through all the seven days. ('tasmaath macharanam ghoshtam mannatham mathparigraham' - Srimad Bhagavatham - 10:25 - which means I protect those who have surrendered unto me and look up to me for their protection) It is to be noted here that the Gokula vaasis had accepted Sri Krishna's verdict to make the offerings to Govardhana, unquestioningly, and had no complaints whatsoever to the repercussions faced. Instead, they only looked up to Him in whom they had their placed everything - love and faith. It is unto such devotees that the Lord gives full protection.

For seven days Sri Krishna did not just stand holding the mountain on His little finger but softly swayed, as if dancing, to remove any doubt on the part of His people that they had made their Lord suffer. There are three kinds of mental attitudes while performing 'kainkarya' (offering services)

• those who desire their services to be noted by all

• those who desire only the 'kartha' to note the services rendered and,

• those who do not even entertain the thought of the service rendered.

And, Sri Krishna's Nardana (dance) fell into the last category.

When Indra found all his weapons useless against the one who was the cause of everything he surrendered to Sri Krishna in repentance of his vanity. The Lord destroys the wicked as in the case of Kamsa, Sisubalan, Trinavartan, Sakatasuran, etc. whereas those who are egoistic but are otherwise endowed with good qualities, He humbles them and protects them, as in the case of Bali, Kaaliya. Similarly, Sri Krishna took Indra aside and advised him, "Hey, Indra! blinded by aishwarya (wealth) and power you failed to think about Me who controls everything. ('Mamaishwaryasrimadandho Dandapanim na pashyathi' - Srimad Bhagavatham - 10:27). It is only to give you back the right vision have I stopped the Indra Yaga."

Meanwhile, Surabhi (the daughter of the celestial cow Kamadhenu) disowned Indra as her leader for his attempt to destroy the cows of Gokulam and addressed Sri Krishna, "Oh! Krishna, You protected the cows from Indra's wrath and have thus become our saviour. Henceforth, I look upon you as our Indra - the protector. Surabhi alongwith Devarishis performed abhisheka with her own milk and waters'akasha' Ganga. "

The humbled and repentant Indra gave the title "Govinda" to his saviour, Sri Krishna, and performed "GOVINDA PATTABISHEKAM".

"Let there be ample rains and good harvest. Let the wishes of all those present here be fulfilled. Let all of us have more and more Satsangam, Theertha yaatra and Brindaavana Vaasam. Let us all be blessed with more and more Bhagavat and Guru Bhakthi.

Let this be the prayer today - on the auspicious day of 'Govinda Pattabishekam' to our Lord Sri Premika Varadhan. Gopika Jeevana Smaranam ... Govinda! Govinda!"

This celebration, like the whole Brahmotsavam derives its authority from Srimad Bhagavatham itself. In the eleventh canto Sri Krishna tells His most beloved disciple Uddhava to celebrate His Avatar and His other lilas. Sri Swamigal has always said that a Utsavam should be celebrated as prescribed by our scriptures and not as per our whims and fancies. Sri Swamigal celebrates Brahmotsavam strictly in accordance with the prescribed scriputural norms. 'Govardhana Uddharanam' is one of the important, wonderful and multi-faceted lilas of Lord Krishna. (10th canto: Srimad Bhagavatam) Sri Swamigal elucidated its many facets in his 'Pravachanam' on 'Govardhana Giri' (Govinda Pattabhishekam)
On the 26th, Dwadasi, the sky was overcast. Around 6.00 a.m. Sri Swamigal moved towards the hillock with the enthusiastic devotees at His heels! A drizzle on the previous day had made the grass on the hill a cool green carpet and the only respite to the small pebbles which tore the sole.
By 6:30 a.m the group had reached the hill top. The hillock is pretty unique and the Lord has made this an ideal place to celebrate Govinda Pattabishekam. It is gently sloping offering the right challenge to the young and old to climb and has a round flat peak to accommodate devotees and Thakurji (Madhuri Sakhi sametha Premika Varadan) to celebrate the Utsavam. Soon Thakurji arrived in a palanquin with all his royal accessories. He found about a hundred devotees eagerly awaiting his arrival. Sri Swamigal received Thakurji and Sri Madhuri Sakhi and prepared the divine couple for Thirumanjanam.
	The sky was still overcast as the Thirumanjanam started. Amidst the chorus chanting of Vedas, Sri Swamigal performed the Thirumanjanam with sacred Ganges, Cauvery water, milk, turmeric and sandal water and tender coconut water.
Then the curtain fell and Sri Swamigal prepared Thakurji and Sri Madhuri Sakhi for the Pattabishekam. The couple was bedecked with glittering jewels, sahasranaama necklace, 'tiger-tooth' chain and silver horn.
	A silver umbrella, a huge coloured traditional umbrella, a blue umbrella fringed with sweet sounding trinkets, samaram and two 'Tiruchinnams', surrounded Madhuri Sakhi - Premika Varadan.
Sri Swamigal along with the Veda Patasala Adhyapakar, Sri Mallikarjuna Sarma, started reading out from Srimad Bhagavatham. The chapters covering Govardhana lila was read out. At Sri Swamigal's behest Sri Mallikarjuna Sarma gave a brief lecture on the Govardhana lila.
	Sri Swamigal, Himself, then gave a brief discourse on Govardhana Lila. The illuminator of this world, may be a little curious, peeped out from the dark flakes of clouds in the sky which made the air pleasantly warm.
Sri Swamigal sang the 'Govardhana Giridhara' tharangam and started the 'Govinda' Govinda' Naamavali. All the devotees joined in and chanted their hearts out and the local villagers joined in, too. Amidst the loud chanting of 'GOVINDA! GOVINDA!' Sri Swamigal showered baskets and baskets of flowers on Thakurji. This went on for nearly an hour!
	Banana Leaves were spread out in front of Madhuri Sakhi - Premika Varadan and delicious varieties of food spread on the leaves. This 'Annakutotsavam' was celebrated in Brindavanam ages back and Sri Swamigal made everyone virtually relive this great lila.
The food was offered to Madhuri Sakhi - Premika Varadan and mangalam sung to mark the end of this unforgettable morning. Sri Swamigal distributed the Thirumanjanam prasadam and devotees distributed the 'Annakutotsavam' food to the village kids who had joined in the chant of 'Govinda' Naama .
Evening: 4:45 - 6:00 p.m Sri Swamigal discoursed on the life history of JayaDevar. 7:00 p.m. - Yaanai Vaahanam Purappadu of Madhuri Sakhi - Premika Varadan to Manimangalam village on Yaanai Vaahanam.
Sri Swamigal left for Manimangalam, along with Madhuri Sakhi - Premika Varadan, in a motorcar. The Bhajan group and devotees followed suit. The ancient Manimangalam* village is much bigger than the earlier two villages visited by Sri Swamigal viz. Malaipattu and Maahaanyam. The people of Manimangalam village enjoy higher social and financial status. In this village also Sri Swamigal stopped at each and every door falling in the procession route. Sri Swamigal accepted the villagers' offerings and Paada Puja. Sri Swamigal, together with His devotees, visited the ancient Sri Rajagopala Swami temple here. Standing just outside the sanctum sanctorum, Sri Swamigal chanted the Sri Rajagopala Swami Ashtotram while the 'archagar' conducted archana. He sang "Rajagopalam..."and made some offerings to the deity here. He then sat awhile in the outside praharam. Here, Sri Swamigal mentioned that there were only two Rajagopala Swamy temples - this and the other at Mannargudi. Sri Swamigal also mentioned that Manimangalam was the gateway to Kancheepuram while travelling from Mamallapuram. The whole party returned to the Ashram around 11:00 p.m. and dolotsavam was conducted. *Manimangalam is an ancient pilgrimage center. It has been found from old records that this village had borne this name 'Manimangalam' even in the 7th century Pallava period. 'Mani' means gem.