(THE RAINY SEASON AGAIN.)
*SKANDHA X. CHAP. 24-27.*
There were great preparations for Yajna in honor of Indra. "What is this
all about, father?" asked Krishna of Nanda. "What is the outcome of this
sacrifice? In whose honor is it to be performed and how?"
Nanda replied -- "Child, Indra is the Cloud-God. He will give us rains.
The rains give life to all beings. Therefore people worship Indra by
these sacrificial offerings. The enjoyment of that only which remains
after sacrifice conduces to Dharma, Artha and Kama."
Krishna replied: -- "The birth and death of men are shaped by their own
Karma. Happiness, misery, fear, well-being, these are all the effects of
Karma. If there be any god who dispenses the fruits of Karma, he must
also follow that Karma and not act independently of it. When people are
governed by their own Karma, where does Indra come in? He can not undo
what follows from Svabhava (Svabhava is Karmic tendency). Karma is the
Lord and Karma is to be worshipped. It is Rajas that works the clouds.
What can Indra do? We do not live in towns or villages but we live in
the forest. Therefore let us make Yajna offerings to our cows, our
Brahmanas and our hills. The preparations that you have already made
will serve the purpose." Nanda and other Gopas approved of what Krishna
said. They made offerings to the cows, the Brahmanas and the Hill. They
went round the Hill to shew respect. Krishna said "I am the Hill" and
assumed some form which created faith in the Gopas. He then partook
himself of the offerings to the Hill.
Indra became highly incensed. He sent forth his clouds and winds and
there were rains and thunder-storms and hail-stones at Vrindavana.
Krishna carelessly lifted up the Govardhana hill with one hand and the
people of Vrindavana with their cows took shelter in the cave.
For seven days it rained incessantly and for seven days Krishna held the
hill aloft without moving an inch.
Baffled and surprised, Indra withdrew his clouds and winds. The people
of Vrindavana went to their own places and Krishna replaced the hill.
The Gopas struck with wonder approached Nanda. They related all the
previous deeds of Krishna and then referring to the last incident said:
-- "Look here this boy only _seven years_ old and there the holding
aloft of this big hill. We wonder whether your son may not be the Atma
of all beings." Nanda related to them what he had heard from Garga and
they all ceased to wonder. Indra and Surabhi came down from the heavens.
Indra fell at the feet of Krishna and glorified Him.
Krishna said to him: -- "To favour you, Indra, I caused a break in your
Yajna, that, maddened as you were by your position and powers, you might
not forget me. It is only when one is blinded by powers, that one does
not see me sceptre in hand. I take away the powers of him whom I want to
favor. Therefore go now, Indra. You are to keep to your own station and
do your duties as enjoined by me void of all pride." Surabhi, the divine
mother of cows, thanked Krishna for the services done to her children.
She said: -- "O Krishna, O thou great Yogin whose form is this Universe
and who art the root of this Universe, we have found our Lord in Thee.
Thou art our Supreme Deva O Lord of the Universe, thou shalt be our
Indra, for the good of cows, Brahmanas and Devas, and of all that are
good. By the command of Brahma, we shall install thee as our Indra."
So saying, Surabhi poured her milk over Krishna's head and Indra and
other Devas, by the command of the Deva mothers, bathed Him with the
waters of the Akasa Ganga. They all called him "GOVINDA." (He who
attains (_Vinda_) as Indra the _Cows_ or _Svarga_ (Go) Sridhara.) The
Rishis, Gandharvas, Vidyadharas, Siddhas and Charanas all joined the
Inauguration ceremony. The Deva girls danced and sang. The three Lokas
became full of joy. The cows wet the earth with their milk. The rivers
bore streams of milk and other drinks. The trees poured honey. The
cereals bore grains without culture. The hills brought forth their
precious stones. Even the wild animals became mild.