Page 26 - OPIHI (English)

12 nAthdwArA

in Mewar, and only for a few years destroyed Hindu temples, especially
could he subjugate Mewar, until in the area of Våndävana. And the
Maharana Pratap Singh chased the forces of Aurangzeb also threatened
Mughals away. Govardhana.

At the time of King Akbar, several When the devotees saw the Mughal
members of the royal family of army advancing on Govardhana,
Mewar were ardent devotees of Lord they somehow showed the attackers
Çrénäthajé, or, as He was known at the various titles and gifts given to
Govardhana, Lord Gopäla. Initiated the temple by the Mughal kings.
by Viööhalanäthajé, the son of the Thus the devotees persuaded the
revered teacher Vallabhäcärya, they leaders of the army that the temple
were anxious to have Çrénäthajé in had always been looked upon
their kingdom, and they prayed to gracefully by the emperor of Delhi.
the Lord that He come there. But So the army commander said, “We
in the reign of King Akbar religious will not attack you. But move the
tolerance prevailed, so there was Deity from here as soon as possible.”
no need for the Deity to move. Thus Çrénäthajé was allowed to move
However, fifty-three years after from Govardhana.
Akbar came the fanatical king
Aurangzeb, who desecrated and For almost six months the Deity
stayed in Agra, where His devotees
observed the Lord’s
festivals in secret.
Then He set out for
Mewar. In the places
along the way, devotees
were enthusiastic to
welcome Çrénäthajé,
and they would oblige
Him to stay with them,
sometimes for as much
as one or two months.
Thus the journey from
Govardhana to Mewar
took some thirty-two

A Rajasthani villager with his produce. months to complete.