The Govardhan Hill Story: Short Moral Stories for Kids

Young children have been told the mythical story of Lord Krishna lifting up the Govardhan hill on his pinky finger for a very long time. The beginning of the tale described how the people of Vrindavan would perform rituals for Lord Indra in order to bless their crops with rain each year. One year, Lord Krishna spoke to the locals and taught the meaning of "Karma." He advised the people to carry out their duties and not to worry about things beyond their control. He believed that Govardhan Hill, not Indra, was responsible for their excellent harvest. Everyone opted against carrying out the procedure after being convinced. Indra became enraged by this and sent a powerful storm, drowning the settlement.The peasants took refuge behind the Govardhan hill for days as a result of Sri krishna lifting Govardhan hill on his little finger to assure their safety.

The Govardhan Hill Story

Lord Indra was the king of the gods and controlled rain and thunderstorms. He lived in the sky on Mount Meru, where he ruled over all the other gods. However, Indra had several vices. He was easily pleased and enraged by the actions of individuals he regarded as beneath him (less powerful gods, mortals and demons). He was so drunk on power that he forgot that even gods had karma. Indra is an example of how power, if not used with humility, may corrode even gods, let alone people. The people of Vrindavan were dependent on agriculture and cattle for their living. Abundant and timely rains were crucial for their livelihood. And this made Indra an important god for the people of Vrindavan. In the years that witnessed good rains, they used to worship Indra for his generosity and hold a grand celebration to thank him. In the drought years, they used to perform offerings to appease him and plead forgiveness for any sins that they may have committed.

The rains were exceptionally heavy one year, and not a single inch of land in Vrindavan was barren. The villagers decided to have a festival to thank Indra after discussions among themselves. On the festival day, people got up early, cleaned their houses, and decorated the entire town with flowers and lights. Krishna was fast asleep in his house, oblivious to the preparations that were going on. When he awoke, he was pleasantly surprised to see that all of the villagers had been hard at work cleaning and decorating Vrindavan. He emerged from his house and asked about the festivities. He was astonished to find out that all the villagers were planning this festival to pay obeisance to Indra, as they believed him to be responsible for the rains. Calling out to all the villagers, he told them that it's not Indra but a nearby mountain-Giri Govardhan - that was responsible for the great harvest. He reasoned that the villagers should be praying to Govardhan, instead of Indra.

lndra, the King of Heaven, was furious with the inhabitants of Braj for listening to the young child Krishna and worshipping the Govardhan Hill instead of him, and he resolved to punish them by sending dreadful rain clouds to flood the area of Vrindavan. lndra commanded the Samavartaka clouds of devastation to lash out at Vrindavan with rain and thunderstorms, causing widespread floods that would devastate the residents' livelihood.

As tremendous rains and thunderstorms destroyed the land, submerging it beneath water, the terrified and helpless people of Vrindavan approached Lord Krishna for assistance. Krishna, who grasped the situation completely, lifted the entire Govardhan Hill with His left hand and held it up like an umbrella. All of Vrindavan's residents, along with their cows and other household possessions, took refuge under Govardhan Hill one by one. They stayed under the hill for seven days, safe from the torrential rains and surprisingly unaffected by hunger or thirst. They were also astounded to see the massive Govardhan Hill balanced perfectly on Krishna's little finger.

Stunned and astonished by the sequence of events, King Indra summoned the clouds of destruction, halting the thunderstorms and rainfall. The skies cleared up and the sun shone brightly over Vrindavan once more. Little Krishna lovingly returned the Govardhan Hill to its original location, allowing the residents to return home without fear. All the visitors welcomed Krishna with joy and embraced Him. This was how King Indra's false pride was smashed to bits. He approached Lord Krishna with folded palms and begged pardon. Shri Krishna, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, bestowed his grace on Indra and also informed him of his responsibilities.

Sri Krishna Lifting Govardhan Hill

Moral of the Story

Hatred, fury, arrogance, and ego only result in pain. Respect and affection cannot be attained via coercion or force. It is a reward for exhibiting real humility and kindness. The story emphasised how those in positions of enormous power also carry great responsibility and, as a result, higher Karma. Such people are unable to enjoy their position of strength while neglecting those who appear to be weaker.

Note to the Parents

It is suggested that parents use this tale to explain to their children the idea that with tremendous power comes great responsibility. Children will also learn that any decisions made out of ego or pride will only result in pain and negative experiences. These are some of the most crucial life skills that children need to learn from an early age.

Conclusion

This Story is related to the fight between Krishna and Indra. Indra is an example of how power, if not used with humility, may corrode even gods, let alone people. The people of Vrindavan were dependent on agriculture and cattle for their living. Abundant and timely rains were crucial for their livelihood. One year, the villagers decided to have a festival to thank Indra after discussions among themselves. Krishna lifted the entire Govardhan Hill with His left hand and held it up like an umbrella.

Vrindavan's residents, along with their cows and other household possessions, took refuge under the hill for seven days. King Indra summoned the clouds of destruction, halting the thunderstorms and rainfall. He approached Lord Krishna with folded palms and begged pardon. Shri Krishna bestowed grace on Indra and also informed him of his responsibilities.