In the pastoral lands of Vraja, the cowherd villagers gathered to perform a grand sacrifice to the sacred mountain, Govardhana. They offered curds, rice pudding, meat, and a variety of delicious foods to the mountain, honoring it with deep reverence. Hundreds and thousands of Brahmins were fed generously, and after the mountain was worshipped, the cows themselves circled it in respect. The bulls bellowed loudly atop the mountain, their voices resonating like thunderous rain clouds. At that moment, Govinda—Krishna—manifested as the mountain itself and declared, “I am the mountain.” In this divine form, Krishna joined the cowherds and Brahmins in partaking of the foods brought by the leading villagers, enjoying the feast atop Govardhana. After the first form of Krishna vanished, he ascended and worshipped his second form, then, having received boons from the cowherds, returned to his own pasture. Meanwhile, in the heavens, Indra, the lord of rain, was furious that his own great sacrifice had been thwarted. Filled with intense anger, he summoned the mighty rain-bearing clouds known as Samvartaka. “O clouds,” he commanded, “listen to my words. At my command, act swiftly and without hesitation. Nandagopa, lacking judgment, and the other cowherds have caused disruption, relying on Krishna’s strength. Their livelihood depends on cowherding; let their cows suffer under heavy rainfall by my command. I too shall ascend a lofty peak, resembling an elephant’s tusk, and assist you, joining forces with the winds.” Obeying Indra’s words, the clouds unleashed a fierce storm of wind and rain, intent on destroying the cows. In an instant, the earth, the directions, and the sky were filled with a single, massive torrent. The cows, battered by the storm, lost their lives and lay with their heads turned sideways. Some cows pressed their calves tightly to their sides, while others were separated from their young by the floodwaters. The calves, their faces pitiful and necks trembling from the wind, cried out softly, “Save us, save us!” as if calling to Krishna in their distress. Seeing all of Gokula—filled with cows, cowherd women, and cowherds—in extreme distress, Hari, Krishna, pondered how to protect them. He recognized Indra’s mighty opposition and resolved, “Now I must protect this entire pasture. With my strength, I will uproot this mountain with its vast rocky surface and hold it above the pasture like a broad umbrella.” With playful resolve, Krishna uprooted the great Govardhana mountain and lifted it aloft with a single hand. Addressing the cowherds, he said, “All of you, come together and enter here; the rain has been stopped. Settle where the wind is gentle, and enter without fear, for there is no danger from the mountain’s fall.” Encouraged by Krishna’s words, the cowherds entered beneath the mountain with their cattle, bringing their possessions loaded on carts. The cowherd women, afflicted by the downpour, followed. Krishna held the mountain perfectly steady, watched by the residents of Vraja, their eyes wide with joy and wonder. His heroic deed was praised by the delighted cowherds and cowherd women, their eyes filled with love. For seven nights, the great clouds urged on by Indra poured relentless rain upon Nanda’s Gokula, threatening to destroy the cowherds. Yet Krishna, upholding the mountain and protecting Gokula, restrained the clouds, proving Indra’s promise false. When the sky finally cleared and Indra’s efforts proved futile, the god recited his mantras, departed joyfully, and returned to his own abode. Krishna then set down the great Govardhana mountain in its place, watched by the astonished residents of Vraja. With the mountain restored and Gokula saved, the lord of sacrifice, Indra, desired to see Krishna. Mounting the great serpent Airavata, Indra descended and beheld Krishna atop Govardhana hill. He saw the mighty Krishna, in the form of a cowherd boy, tending the cows and surrounded by cowherd children, the protector of the whole world. Above them, Garuda, king of birds, was seen shading Hari’s head with his wings, hidden from view. Indra descended from Airavata and approached Madhusudana privately, his eyes wide with joy and a smile upon his face. He spoke: “Krishna, Krishna, listen to me. This is why I have come to you, mighty-armed one; do not think otherwise. You alone, supreme lord, have descended to earth’s surface to relieve her burden, you who are the support of all. I, opposing the disruption, sent mighty clouds to destroy Gokula, and by them this devastation was wrought. Yet the cows were saved from distress by you, who lifted the great mountain. For this wondrous deed, I am satisfied. Today, Krishna, I consider the purpose of the gods fulfilled by you, as this best of mountains was raised with a single hand. I have come not at the cows’ urging, but because you have greatly protected them, for your sake and theirs. Therefore, Krishna, prompted by the words of the cows, I shall anoint you; in the office of Upendra, you will become Govinda, the Indra of the cows.” Thus, the story unfolds: Krishna’s love and power protected the people and animals of Vraja, and even Indra, lord of the gods, acknowledged his greatness, bestowing upon him the name Govinda, the protector and lord of cows.