krishnagovardhangovardhan-pujaannakut

Govardhana Dharam Vande (Govardhan Puja Mantra)

गोवर्धनधरं वन्दे

🕉️ hindu·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 On Govardhan Puja / Annakut day (Kartik Shukla Pratipada, the day after Diwali)·📜 Govardhan Puja / Annakut tradition (rooted in the Bhagavata Purana, Canto 10)

Also known as: govardhan puja mantra · govardhana dharam vande gopalam · annakut mantra · govardhan mantra · govardhana dhari mantra · govardhana dharam vande

📜 Complete Lyrics 📖 Word-by-Word Meaning ✨ Benefits & How to Chant ⬇️ PDF Download

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

This is a beloved invocation for Govardhan Puja (Annakut), worshipping Krishna as Govardhana-Dhari, the lifter of Mount Govardhana. It adores him as Gopala, Govinda and the life-breath of the Gopis, recalls how he held the mountain aloft like Mount Meru to shelter Vraja from Indra's storm, and prays to Govardhana to be the eternal protector of the cowherds and their cattle. It is chanted on the day after Diwali while offering the Annakut (mountain of food) to Krishna.

Origin & Story

Govardhan Puja / Annakut tradition (rooted in the Bhagavata Purana, Canto 10) · Unknown (devotional invocation of the Vaishnava tradition) · Puranic / classical

The lifting of Govardhana is one of the most celebrated episodes of Krishna's Vraja-lila, told in the tenth Canto of the Bhagavata Purana. To curb the pride of Indra and to establish devotion to the hill and the cows that nourished Vraja, the boy Krishna raised Mount Govardhana on a single finger and sheltered all the people and cattle beneath it through seven days of storm. In memory of this, the day after Diwali is kept as Govardhan Puja, and this invocation — 'Govardhana-Dharam Vande' — is sung while offering the Annakut to the Lord.

✦ As told in scripture

The Bhagavata records that a seven-year-old Krishna held the entire mountain effortlessly upon the little finger of his left hand for seven days and nights, neither tiring nor letting a drop of rain touch his people, until the humbled Indra withdrew the storm and bowed to him. Devotees hold that those who worship Govardhana are likewise sheltered from every calamity of life.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

गोवर्धनधरं वन्दे गोपालं गोकुलोत्सवम्। गोविन्दं गोकुलानन्दं गोपिकाप्राणवल्लभम्॥

Govardhana-Dharam Vande Gopalam Gokulotsavam. Govindam Gokulanandam Gopika-Prana-Vallabham.

Meaning:I bow to the lifter of Mount Govardhana — the cowherd Lord who is the festival of Gokula, Govinda, the bliss of Gokula, the very life-breath beloved of the Gopis. O Govardhana, lifted like the great Mount Meru upon the hand of Govinda — be forever the protector of the cowherds and of their cattle-wealth.

Verse 2

गोवर्धनो महामेरुर्गोविन्देन धृतः करे। गोपानां गोधनानां च रक्षको भव शाश्वतम्॥

Govardhano Maha-Merur Govindena Dhritah Kare. Gopanam Go-Dhananam Cha Rakshako Bhava Shashvatam.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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गोवर्धनधरम्🔊Govardhana-DharamThe bearer (lifter) of Mount Govardhana

वन्दे🔊VandeI bow to, I worship

गोपालम्🔊GopalamThe protector of cows; the cowherd Lord (Krishna)

गोकुलोत्सवम्🔊GokulotsavamThe festival (delight) of Gokula

गोविन्दम्🔊GovindamGovinda — one who gives joy to cows and the earth

गोकुलानन्दम्🔊GokulanandamThe bliss of Gokula

गोपिकाप्राणवल्लभम्🔊Gopika-Prana-VallabhamThe beloved who is the very life-breath of the Gopis

गोवर्धनो महामेरुः🔊Govardhano Maha-MeruhGovardhana, (lifted as though it were) the great Mount Meru

गोविन्देन धृतः करे🔊Govindena Dhritah KareHeld aloft by Govinda upon his hand

गोपानाम्🔊GopanamOf the cowherds (the people of Vraja)

गोधनानाम्🔊Go-DhananamOf the cattle-wealth (the cows)

रक्षको भव शाश्वतम्🔊Rakshako Bhava ShashvatamBe the eternal protector (of us all)

Benefits of Chanting Govardhana Dharam Vande (Govardhan Puja Mantra)

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The traditional mantra for Govardhan Puja and the Annakut offering after Diwali

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Invokes Krishna as Govardhana-Dhari, protector of all who take his shelter

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Recalls the lifting of Govardhana — the supreme assurance of divine protection from calamity

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Prays for the safety and prosperity of livestock, livelihood and the household

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Deepens devotion to Krishna as Gopala, the sweet cowherd of Vraja

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Fosters gratitude to nature — the hill, the cows and the land that sustain life

How to Chant Govardhana Dharam Vande (Govardhan Puja Mantra)

Repetitions11times

Best TimeOn Govardhan Puja / Annakut day (Kartik Shukla Pratipada, the day after Diwali)

On Govardhan Puja morning, make a small hill of cow-dung (or earth) representing Govardhana, decorate it with flowers, grass and figures of cows and cowherds, and place Krishna's image upon or beside it. Offer the Annakut — a mountain of varied cooked foods and sweets — to Krishna. Recite this mantra with folded hands while offering, then circumambulate (parikrama) the Govardhana model. Conclude with aarti and distribute the prasada.

Frequently Asked Questions

Govardhan Puja (Annakut) is celebrated the day after Diwali, on Kartik Shukla Pratipada. It commemorates Krishna lifting Mount Govardhana on his little finger to shelter the people and cattle of Vraja from the torrential rains sent by Indra. Devotees build a model of the hill and offer Annakut, a great variety of food, to Krishna.

It means 'I bow to the lifter of Mount Govardhana.' The verse salutes Krishna as Gopala, Govinda, the joy of Gokula and the beloved of the Gopis, honouring the form in which he held the mountain aloft to protect his devotees.

When the people of Vraja, on Krishna's advice, worshipped Govardhana hill and the cows instead of Indra, the offended Indra unleashed a deluge. Krishna lifted Govardhana on the finger of his left hand and held it like an umbrella for seven days, sheltering all beings — teaching that surrender to God is the truest protection.

Annakut means 'mountain of food'. On Govardhan Puja a large assortment of cooked dishes, grains and sweets is arranged before Krishna in the shape of a hill, symbolising the abundance of Govardhana, and offered to him with this mantra before being shared as prasada.