Historical Geography of Ancient India c6.257

c6.257

*Govardhana* (*Govardhana*—*Jāt.*, IV, 80).—This hill is situated 18 miles from Brindaban in the district of Mathurā. In the village called Paitho Kṛṣṇa is said to have taken this hill on his little finger and held it as an umbrella over the heads of his cattle and townsmen to protect them from rains poured upon them by Indra (*Mahābhārata*, Udyogaparva, Ch. 129). It is also mentioned in the *Bhāgavatapurāṇa* (V. 19, 16; X. 11, 36; 13, 29) and *Harivaṃśa* (Ch. 55) that Govardhanagiri contains the temples of Harideva and Cakreśvaramahādeva and also the image of Śrīnāthaji, formerly known as Gopāla. Kālidāsa in his *Raghuvaṃśa* (VI. 51) mentions this hill. The *Yoginitantra* refers to it (1/14).