Worshiping Govardhana Hill 171

to play. Each is to work in cooperation for the total benefit of all society,
which includes not only animate objects but also inanimate objects like
hills and land. The vaisya community is specifically responsible for the
economic improvement of the society by producing grains, by giving
protection to the cows, by transporting food when needed, and by banking
and finance.

From this statement we learn also that the cats and dogs, although not
so important, are not to be neglected. Cow protection is actually more
important than protection of cats and dogs. Another hint we get from this
statement is that the cdnddlas or the untouchables are also not to be
neglected by the higher classes. Everyone is important, but some are
directly responsible for the advancement of human society, and some are
only indirectly responsible. However, when Krsna consciousness is there,
then everyone’s total benefit is taken care of.

The sacrifice known as Govardhana Pija is observed in the Krsna
consciousness movement. Lord Caitanya has recommended that since
Krsna is worshipable, so His land, Vrndavana and Govardhana Hill, are also
worshipable. To confirm this statement, Lord Krsna said that Govardhana
Pia is as good as worship of Him. From that day, the Govardhana Puja has
been still going on and is known as Annakita. In all the temples of
Vrndavana or outside of Vrndavana, huge quantities of food are prepared
in this ceremony and are very sumptuously distributed to the general
population. Sometimes the food is thrown to the crowds, and they enjoy
collecting it off the ground. From these instances, we can understand that
prasddam offered to Krsna never becomes polluted or contaminated, even
if it is thrown on the ground. The people, therefore, collect it and eat
with great satisfaction.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, therefore advised the
cowherd men to stop the Indra-yajiia and begin the Govardhana Puja in
order to chastise Indra who was very much puffed up at being the supreme
controller of the heavenly planets. The honest and simple cowherd men
headed by Nanda Maharaja accepted Krsna’s proposal and executed in
detail everything He advised. They performed Govardhana worship and
circumambulation of the hill. (Following the inauguration of Govardhana
Paya, people in Vrndavana still dress nicely and assemble near Govardhana
Hill to offer worship and circumambulate the hill, leading their cows all
around.) According to the instruction of Lord Krsna, Nanda Maharaja and
the cowherd men called in learned brahmanas and began to worship
Govardhana Hill by chanting Vedic hymns and offering prasddam. The
inhabitants of Vrndavana assembled together, decorated their cows and
