The Unshakeable Mountain

There is an ancient tale, passed down through generations, about a young and mischievous Krishna and a mighty mountain named Govardhan. This story is one of resilience, protection, and the unshakable power of standing firm in the face of adversity. It is a story that speaks deeply to the queer experience—to our struggles, our strength, and the dharma we carve for ourselves in a world that often demands we shrink.

The Story of Govardhan’s Protection

Imagine a small village, nestled at the foot of a great mountain. The air is thick with the scent of rain-soaked earth, cows grazing in the fields, children laughing as they run barefoot through the grass. Life is simple, peaceful. But above them, high in the heavens, unseen forces are at play.

The people of this village had a tradition, one they had followed for generations. Each year, they prepared a Sacrificial festival forIndra, the storm god, the bringer of rain. They offered their best food, their prayers, their sacrafices. For they believed that without him, the rains would not come, and without rain, their crops would fail, their cattle would thirst, and life as they knew it would wither away.

But among them was a boy—no ordinary boy, but one who seemed to carry the wisdom of lifetimes in his young heart. His name was Krishna.

One day, as the villagers busied themselves preparing for the festival, Krishna watched with curiosity. He saw the anxious way they whispered about whether Indra would be pleased. He saw how they gave their offerings not with love, but with fear. And so he asked,

"Why do we worship Indra? Why do we place all our faith in him, when it is not Indra who feeds us? Look around you.

The rivers flow because of the mountain. The grass grows because of the earth beneath our feet. Our cows, our food, our very lives—are they not sustained by this land?"

The villagers hesitated. No one had ever asked these questions before. And Krishna, with that knowing smile of his, simply said,

"Let us offer our gratitude to the mountain instead. To Govardhan, who has always been here for us."

And so, they did. They laid their offerings at the foot of Govardhan Mountain, thanking the land, the rivers, the trees, the air. And for the first time, they celebrated without fear.

But high above, Indra saw. And Indra was not pleased.

"How dare they forget me?" he thundered. "How dare they turn away from the one who controls the skies?"

Furious, he summoned his most terrible storm.

The sky darkened, winds howled, and rain poured down in torrents. It was no gentle shower—this was a storm of rage. Lightning split the sky, rivers swelled, fields drowned. The people ran, desperate for shelter, their festival turned to chaos.

"Krishna! What have we done? How can we survive the wrath of the storm god?" they cried.

But Krishna stood firm. He did not run. He did not cower.

Instead, he walked to Govardhan.

With effortless grace, he placed his hand upon the great mountain—and lifted it.

The entire mountain, raised above his head, became a shelter for the people.

One by one, the villagers gathered beneath it, safe from the raging storm. For seven days and nights, Indra unleashed his fury, but the mountain did not shake. Krishna did not falter. The people remained untouched, dry, unafraid.

And then, at last, Indra saw the truth.

No amount of rage, no amount of force, could break the unshakable.

Humbled, Indra descended from the heavens and bowed before Krishna. He saw now that power was not in control, but in protection. Not in fear, but in love.

And from that day forward, the people knew: Strength is not about force. It is about standing firm, unshaken, in the face of any storm.

The Mountain Within Us

This story is more than mythology—it is a lesson in resilience. In a world that often sends storms our way, we, too, must become our own Govardhan. As queer individuals, we have faced down tempests of rejection, of misunderstanding, of erasure. Yet, like Krishna lifting the mountain, we find within ourselves a strength that cannot be shaken.

For us, queer dharma is the act of living authentically in a world that sometimes demands we conform. It is choosing to celebrate our existence despite forces that would see us hide. It is lifting each other up, forming community, and offering shelter to those who need it most.

Bringing Govardhan Into Our Practice

In my classes, I invite you to embody the strength of the unshakable mountain. Feel your feet rooting deeply into the earth. With each inhale, imagine yourself drawing power from the ground, and with each exhale, radiate resilience and confidence.

Mantra for Strength: “I am unshakable. I am supported. I am enough.”

To close, we sit together in stillness, honoring the Govardhan within us. Perhaps with a hand on the heart, feeling the steady rhythm that has carried us through every storm. Perhaps whispering a final affirmation:

“Like the mountain, I stand tall. Like Krishna, I uplift. Like the villagers, I find refuge in community.”

As we step off the mat, may we carry this strength forward—holding space for ourselves and for each other, knowing that no storm, no force, no power can shake who we truly are.

You are Govardhan. You are unshakable.