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In the epic Ramayana, a fascinating tale connects the famous Govardhan Hill, which Krishna later lifted, with the mighty Hanuman. This story intertwines the divine events of both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, revealing a profound link between Hanuman’s devotion and Krishna’s divine play.
Characters in the story:
Hanuman: Hanuman is a revered deity in Hinduism, known for his unwavering devotion to Lord Rama and his incredible strength, symbolizing courage, loyalty, and selflessness.
Lord Rama: Lord Rama is one of the most revered deities in Hinduism and is the seventh avataar of Lord Vishnu. He is known for his virtues of righteousness, courage, and devotion, and is considered a symbol of ideal human behavior and the victory of good over evil.
Lord Krishna: Lord Krishna is one of the most popular and revered deities in Hinduism. He is worshiped as the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu and is known for his divine teachings in the Bhagavad Gita and for his role in the epic Mahabharata.
Goverdhan Hill: Govardhana Hill also called Giriraj, is a sacred site in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh. It is the sacred centre of Braj and is identified as a natural form of Krishna, the Govardhana Shila.
In the Ramayana, there is a fascinating tale that links the famous Govardhan Hill, which Krishna later (in Dwapara Yuga) lifted to save the people of Gokul, with the mighty Hanuman.
In the Treta Yuga, during the epic battle preparation to rescue Mata Sita from Ravana in Lanka, the Vanara Sena needed to construct a bridge across the ocean. They required massive stones to build this bridge, and so they brought mountains from various regions. By the fourth day of construction, the peaks in South India had been leveled, and the need for more stones became urgent.
Hanuman took it upon himself to find additional stones. He flew to the Himalayas and soon encountered the mighty Dronachala Mountain. Impressed by its grandeur and size, Hanuman decided to lift Dronachala and carry it to the southern tip for the bridge construction.
However, despite his immense strength, Hanuman found himself unable to lift the mountain. Intrigued and puzzled, he examined it closely and soon realized that the mountain was made of Salagrama, a holy black stone with striations associated with Lord Vishnu.
Respecting the sanctity of the mountain, Hanuman prayed to Dronachala, explaining his mission and intent. He told the mountain that he wished to carry it to Sri Ram, who would bless it by stepping on it while crossing to Lanka. Moved by Hanuman’s devotion and the divine purpose, Dronachala readily agreed.
Meanwhile, as Hanuman was away in the Himalayas, the diligent Vanara Sena had managed to gather enough stones from other mountains, and the bridge to Lanka was completed. Sri Ram, aware of Hanuman’s mission and efforts, requested the members of the Vanara Sena to return.
While flying back with Dronachala, Hanuman learned that the bridge was already finished. He found himself in a dilemma; he had promised Dronachala that it would be part of the bridge, and now he couldn’t fulfill that promise. With a heavy heart, Hanuman gently placed the mountain down in the Braj region of North India.
Dronachala, aware of the situation, reminded Hanuman of his promise. Seeking guidance, Hanuman flew back to Rama and explained the predicament. Rama, ever compassionate and wise, reassured Hanuman. He revealed that in his next avatar as Krishna, he would play around and lift Dronachala, transforming it into Govardhan Hill. He foretold that the hill would become a revered site of worship for generations to come.
Relieved and joyful, Hanuman returned to Dronachala Mountain and conveyed the auspicious news. Dronachala, honored and content, awaited the day it would be blessed by Krishna.
Years later, in the Dwapara Yuga, as foretold by Rama, Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill to protect the people of Gokul from the wrath of Indra, fulfilling the divine promise and linking the epic tales of the Ramayana and Mahabharata in an eternal bond of devotion and divinity.