Shri Govardhan is decorated with gems in the abode of Golok. There Lord Shri Govardhannathji, Swamini Shri Radha, and the maidens of Braj perform pastimes in the caves of Govardhan. These are eternal pastimes. There Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya Ji always serves the Lord.
Once Shri Krishna ordered Shri Vallabhacharya Mahaprabhu to appear on earth for the salvation of living beings. Shri Radha Krishna assured to appear in Braj themselves along with the eternal associates. As per this assurance, Shri Krishna appeared on Govardhan at the time of sunrise on the third day of the dark fortnight in the month of Shravan in 1409. This was the same form of Lord Krishna which destroyed the pride of Indra and accepted the worship of the residents of Braj and the ingredients of Annakoot. The complete form of Shri Govardhannathji did not appear at once, first, the left arm appeared, then the face, and later the complete form appeared.
On the 5th day (Nagpanchami) of the bright fortnight in the month of Shravan in 1466, a cowherd went to Govardhan Hill to find his lost cow, he saw the raised left arm of Shri Govardhannathji. Then an old cowherd said that Lord Krishna had protected the residents of Braj, Braj's cows, and Braj from the wrath of Indra by lifting Govardhan on the finger of his left hand. Then the people of Braj started worshiping His left arm. This is the same left arm of Lord Krishna. He is standing in a cave and now only the left arm is visible. After this, for about 69 years, the residents of Braj used to anoint this upraised left arm with milk, worship it, offer food, and pray for their desires to be fulfilled. Every year on the day of Nagpanchami, a fair was held here.
In 1478, during the afternoon of Ekadashi (11th day) of the dark fortnight in the month of Vaishakh, a supernatural event took place. One of the thousands of cows of Saddu Pandey of Aanyor village in Govardhan belonged to the cow dynasty of King Nand Ji, which was called Dhumar. She used to reach the place at the third hour every day, where the left arm of Shri Govardhannathji had appeared. There was a hole in which she used to pour milk from her udders and would return. Saddu Pandey suspected that the cowherd milks the cow in the afternoon, that's why this cow does not give milk in the evening. One day he went after the cow and wanted to know the situation, he saw that the cow stood at a place on Govardhan Hill and milk started flowing from its udders. Saddu Pandey was surprised. When he went close to her, he had darshan of Shri Govardhannathji's Mukharvind (Lotus Face), on the same day Mahaprabhu Shri Vallabhacharya Ji appeared in the Champaranya forest of Chhattisgarh. Shri Govardhannathji himself told Saddu Pandey that his name is Devdaman and his other names are Indradaman and Nagdaman. From that day the residents of Braj started to know Shri Govardhan Nathji by the name of Devdaman. Saddu Pandey's wife Bhavani and daughter Naro Bai used to go to Devdaman daily to offer the milk of Dhumar cow to the Lord.
In 1493, on the day of Ekadashi (11th day) of the bright fortnight in the month of Phalgun on Thursday, Shri Govardhannathji ordered Mahaprabhu Shri Vallabhacharya ji in the forests of Jharkhand that "my appearance has happened in Govardhan's cave. First, my left arm appeared and then the Mukharvind (Lotus Face), now I wish to manifest my full form. You come to Braj soon and reveal the methods of my service." Hearing this command, Mahaprabhu Shri Vallabhacharya changed the direction of his journey and reached Anyor village near Govardhan in Braj. There Mahaprabhu sat on a platform in front of Saddu Pandey's house. Impressed by the supernatural radiance of Shri Acharya Mahaprabhu, Saddu Pandey along with his family became servants of Mahaprabhu. Saddu Pandey narrated the whole story of Shrinathji's appearance to Mahaprabhu. Shri Mahaprabhu ji expressed his desire to visit Govardhan early in the morning for the darshan of Shrinathji.
On the second day in the morning, Shri Mahaprabhu Ji along with his servants and the residents of Braj went to Govardhan for the darshan of Shrinathji. First of all, Mahaprabhu bowed down to Govardhan Hill considering him as the form of God and after taking permission from Him, started climbing the Hill slowly. When Saddu Pandey told the place of Shrinathji's appearance from a distance, tears of joy flowed from Mahaprabhu's eyes. It seemed to him that the pain of separation from the Lord, which was there for years, is now going away. His speed of climbing the Hill increased.
At the same time, the residents of Braj saw Lord Shrinathji in golden attire, wearing a peacock crown coming from the front. Then Shri Vallabhacharya ran and reached Shrinathji. Today Shri Vallabhacharya has got his everything on earth. Shrinathji and Shri Acharyaji both got tied in each other's embrace. The residents of Braj also became blessed after seeing this divine glimpse.
Acharya Shri Mahaprabhu was overjoyed to have the darshan and embrace of Shrinathji. At the same time, Shrinathji ordered - "Shri Vallabh, build a temple here and establish me and reveal the method of my service." Shri Mahaprabhu Ji pleaded with folded hands "Lord! Your order is supreme." Shri Mahaprabhu without delay got a small grass temple built and made Shri Govardhannathji sit in it and decorated Him with a peacock crown and garland. Mahaprabhu ordered Ramdas Chauhan to serve Shrinathji and assured him that don't worry, Shrinathji himself will tell you the method of His service. Later, with the permission of Shri Mahaprabhuji, Purnamalla Khatri built a huge temple of Shrinathji. Then in 1519, on Akshay Tritiya (the third day) of the bright fortnight of Vaishakh, Shrinathji came to the new temple and Patotsav (re-consecration ceremony) took place. Then Madhavendra Puri and some Bengali Brahmins were assigned the responsibility of serving Shrinathji.
At present Shrinathji in the form of Govardhan is seated here, Who is served by the devotees of the Pushti sect.
Location :
Shrinathji's manifestation place is located near Govind Kund in Anyor village, Govardhan.