On the Slopes of Mount Govardhan
This chapter introduces some of the foundational stories related to Mount Govardhan and describes the physical features of the mountain as well as the sacred terrain that surrounds it. For instance, the story of the origin of Mount Govardhan, as told in the Garga Samhita, is a narrative widely known by worshipers of this sacred mountain and central to many theological conceptualizations of its deeper meanings. Perhaps most significant for the latter initiative is that Govardhan consists of the consolidated form of supreme love that emerged out of the bliss-filled hearts of the divine couple Radha and Krishna. There are also stories on how Mount Govardhan came to be situated in Braj. They are narrated in texts and recounted by numerous knowledgeable people residing near the sacred mountain today.