Govardhan

hantāyam adrir abalā hari-dāsa-varyo
yad rāma-kṛṣṇa-caraṇa-sparaśa-pramodaḥ
mānaṁ tanoti saha-go-gaṇayos tayor yat
Pānīya-sūyavasa-kandara-kanda-mūlaiḥ

“Of all the devotees, this Govardhana Hill is the best! O My friends, this hill supplies Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, as well as Their calves, cows and cowherd friends, with all kinds of necessities-water for drinking, very soft grass, caves, fruits, flowers and vegetables. In this way the hill offers respect to the Lord. Being touched by the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, Govardhana Hill appears very jubilant.” – CC Anta lila – 14.86

Mount Govardhana is best amongst the vaishnavas, facilitating Krishna and the cows to perform their wonderful pastimes. He is also called Giriraj because he is the best of the mountains.

The residents of Vrindavan were simple, their duty was agriculture. They had numerous of cows and bulls who would graze upon the grass provided by the fertile soils of the hill, their agricultural farms spanning over many acres would depend on Giriraj as a source of nourishment, just like a devotee depends on Krishna for mercy.

In Chaitanya Charitamrita it is found that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu referred to Govardhan as Haridev. So he never rose above Govardhana and did not visit Gopal Deva, little Krishna. That Gopal Deva is still living in the village of Annakut, installed by Madhavendra Puri on the mountain of Govardhana. Srila Rupa and Sanat Goswami following the footsteps of Mahaprabhu, also never went on top.

On this day, the cowherd men were gearing up for a big yagna, it was for Indra, the demigod responsible for providing the rains essential for a successful harvest. So much was getting offered, fruits,milk,varieties of food preparations all in abundance to please Lord Indra. Little boy Krishna however, convinced the residents of Vrindavan to transform their festival and celebrate Govardhana Hill instead, arguing that it was the hill that provide the grass upon which the cows and bulls grazed; and the cows and bulls who provide milk and plough the lands, should be worshiped. So when Krishna spoke he had so much potency that no devotee could refuse. He had a charming way of presenting ideas, and he was so logical.