It was Lord Krishna who had lifted Mt. Govardhan on his little finger to save the people of his village from the floods. But did you know it was Pulsatya Rishi, who had lifted the same mountain many years before him, to take it to a sacred place for Yagnas?
Let’s read the story of Rishi Pulastya.
Lineage of Rishi Pulsatya
When Brahma was given the complex task of creating, spreading, and preserving the divine knowledge of the universe, he knew he needed divine beings to propagate it. Hence, being a divinity himself, he created mind-beings, known as Saptarishi, from the different parts of his body, to aid him. Thus was born Pulsatya Rishi from his ear.
Being a Saptarishi, Pulsatya was a very revered sage in ancient India. He was transmitter of the Vedas. Putsatya Rishi was the chosen one for taking the learnings from the divine and teaching them to humans. He was bestowed with the Vishnu Puran by Brahma, and conveyed it to mankind. He devoted his life to the teachings of balancing the good and the bad, and how to lead a balanced life following Dharma.
Pulsatya Rishi was the grandfather of Ravana (the evil antagonist in Ramayan), as well as Kuber (the god of wealth), thus proving that, though being divine, there remains duality of good and bad within the same lineage.
Pulsatya and Mt. Govardhan
Once, when Rishi Pulsatya was visiting various pious places for pilgrimage, he came across the beauty of Mt. Govardhan. He was in awe of its magnificent beauty, its flora and fauna, and the serenity that it possessed. He wished to take the Mt. to Kashi, to perform various yagnas, and other Tapasyas as well.
Those days were divine and pious. Nothing could be taken or touched without asking permission. Hence, Pulsatya approached Mt. Govardhan’s father, Mt. Dronacala.
Mt. Dronacal was fearful of Pulsatya’s rage and worried that he would be cursed if he denied permission. Hence, he agreed, albeit on one condition. He said, “Oh, learned sage, you may carry Mt. Govardhan to Kashi. But please be aware that if you happen to drop or put him down in the middle for any reason, he will remain there and not move”. Pulsatya agreed to this, knowing that he would not let go of Mt. Govardhan before reaching Kashi.
So off went Rishi Pulsatya with Mt. Govardhan, carrying it on his back, with joy and eagerness.
Rishi Pulsatya’s Curse
While on the way, Mt. Govardha saw the Vraj Mandala (presently known as Vrindavan, where Krishna spent his young, precious days). He started to experience a divine pull towards the place and desired to be there. He started to get heavier and heavier.
Pulsatya started feeling the heaviness and had to let it drop. It dropped and placed itself on the land of the Vraj Mandala. As per the condition, once he was dropped, he did not move. Pulsatya recognized this as foul play by Mt. Govardhan and angrily told him to come back on his back as before to reach Kashi, but Mt. Govardhan did not budge.
This enraged Pulsatya, and he cursed him that, “Oh Govardan, as you dare not follow my wishes, you shall reduce in size as time goes by, and will not remain as magnificent in size”.
Hence, Mt. Govardhan started to reduce in size. In the present time as well, it is seen and believed that it is getting smaller in size with each passing year.
