Whispers of Govardhan: The Architecture of Love and Service

Reflections from Govardhan
When architecture, devotion, and silence meet at the feet of Giriraj

Through the noisy streets, meaningless honks, and running sewers, there lies a distant reality waiting to be approached. How different our world would be if people were educated to understand that Prakriti is the underlying energy manifesting from the Supreme Purusha.

Yet, percolating through this cacophony are unseen sheaths of silence which, when traversed, open unknown dimensions — the subtle pulse of this sacred land.

Here, everything is Anandmay Kosha — the sheath of bliss — flowing from the deep love the Brajvasis hold for their Giriraj Govardhan, Haridas Varya, the best among the servants of Hari. He is the very personification of Seva, a profound Rasa, embodying the eternal rhythm of service and surrender.

Walking through the streets, I saw a sadhu who has dedicated his entire life to offering water to passersby — endlessly, minute after minute, pouring lota after lota into the hands of unknown travelers. This is far beyond simplicity. The gravity in his eyes carries the softness of divine love — dissolved in Seva Rasa, the essence of selfless offering.

We hear of Raghunath Das Goswami, the Prayojan Acharya, who chose silence before Mahaprabhu for over fourteen years, immersing his life in the service of Swarupa Damodar Goswami. Through that silence, he revealed the foundational language of Seva — the most intimate proximity to Divinity.

And perhaps that is the quiet whisper Govardhan still breathes —
that love need not speak through words; sometimes it builds, serves, or simply stands tall.

For in the stillness of this sacred dust, the soul remembers what it was made for — not the noise and speed of the world, but the Seva that flows like water offered to a weary traveler; the simplicity of a sadhu’s silence emanating from his divine connection.

Connecting to Current Life

Just two days ago in Pune, I could hardly stand due to congestion. Today, in Vrajabhumi, I find myself witnessing the highest expression of human emotion — love and gratitude transforming into Seva.

With deep reverence to all my teachers and Gurus who have manifested in my life through the Guru Tattva, I feel renewed — awakened by the understanding that my body, through Yoga, is not merely a vessel of experience but an instrument of service; a living temple designed for offering.

Every Surya Namaskar I perform today is an offering to Sri Giriraj Govardhan — the epitome of Seva expressed in the most creative form — the divine architect of balance, thermal comfort, and spatial harmony, designing spaces that serve the Supreme Artist in His eternal play across countless layers of existence.

About the Author
Ar. Varsha Sharma (Vilasini Devi Dasi) curates spaces for temples and guides individuals in exploring the confluence of inner and outer architecture through संस्कार (Samskar), संस्कृति (Sanskriti), प्रकृति (Prakriti), and शास्त्रीय संगीत (Indian Classical Music). She integrates ancient wisdom with contemporary practice, blending design, wellness, and spiritual psychology to create spaces that nurture both the body and the soul. Her work and reflections emerge from lived pilgrimages, sacred architecture, and the timeless pursuit of harmony between the human spirit and divine creation.