Aniyor

This village received its name during the annakuta festival when all the Vrajavasis led
by Nanda Maharaja worshiped Govardhana Hill. The word ‘anna’ means ‘rice’ as well as other grains, and in this particular case, refers to rice-based vegetable preparations, as well as other grain-based foodstuffs like puris, paratas, halava, laddus, jallebis, ksira and also many varieties of sweets and cakes. Krishna then exhibited His mystic powers and assumed a gigantic form of the personified Govardhana Hill named Giriraja Maharaja, the ‘King of all Mountains’, and after sitting down on the ground, He ate the many thousands of offerings prepared by the Vrajavasis. While eating this wonderful annakuta feast, Giriraja Maharaja was enjoying the food so much that He kept snapping His fingers and happily saying, “Aniyora! Aniyora! ” Or in other words,
“Bring more! Bring more!” The Vrajavasis were very happy that Giriraja Maharaja had Himself appeared before them just to accept their offerings, and they continued cooking and kept bringing more and more food until Giriraja Maharaja was fully satisfied. After Giriraja Maharaja disappeared from the scene, Krishna led all the Vrajavasis and their cows on parikrama around Govardhana Hill.
In this village is the Prakata-sthali, or the appearance place where Madhavendra Puri
discovered the deity of Lord Gopala. Madhavendra Puri then he arranged for Lord Gopala to be installed on the top of Govardhana Hill. A temple was later built there for the deity which is known as the Gopala Raya Mandira. During the despotic Mohammedan rule in India, Lord Gopala was moved to the safety of Nathadwara in Rajasthan and became famous as Shri Nathaji. At the present time a Govardhana-shila is being worshiped in the Gopala Raya Mandira on top of Govardhana Hill.

Änyora village lies on the parikramä path two miles south of the town of Govardhana. The village of Jatépurä, or Gopälapurä, lies to the west of Änyora, on the other side of Govardhana Hill. Çrémad-Bhägavatam4 describes how on the advice of Kåñëa, Nanda Bäbä and the other Vrajaväsés began worshipping Giriräja instead of Indra. It also describes how they performed the Annaküöa festival for Giriräja here. They cooked many delicacies in their homes, filled hundreds of carts with milk, yoghurt, rabaòé and other kinds of preparations, and presented them before Giriräja. Çré Kåñëa Himself offered everything to Giriräja and at the same time assumed a huge four-armed form, with which He devoured all the offerings by extending His long arms. Begging for more to eat, He called out in great happiness, “Äno re, äno re! – Bring more, bring more!” Kåñëa folded His hands and said, “We are poor Vrajaväsés. Whatever we have, we have presented before You. Please be satisfied with this.” In His four-armed form, Giriräja drank the water of Mänasé-gaìgä, Kusuma-sarovara and other ponds, and exclaimed, “Tåpto ’smi, tåpto ’smi! – I am satisfied, I am satisfied!” and wiped His hands and mouth with His cloth. He told the Vrajaväsés to ask for a boon, and they simply requested this: “May this lälä of ours, this darling Kåñëa, always remain happy and live long.” When that four-armed form disappeared, Kåñëa asked the Vrajaväsés, “Did you ever receive darçana of Indradeva? Giriräja is very kind. He fulfils everyone’s desires.” After worshipping Govardhana, the Vrajaväsés considered their lives fully blessed. This place has been named Änyora-gräma because it is here that Giriräja called out “Äno re, äno re!” The natural impressions of the Vrajaväsés’ bowls in the rocks of Giriräja can be found where the Annaküöa was performed. Nearby is a bajané-çilä, a stone which emits a sweet sound when tapped with a piece of rock, or with a stick or a finger.

Another holy place is called Aniyora. It was here that on Krsna order, Nanda and the other gopas stopped their worship of Indra and started the worship of Govardhana by offering various kinds of foods. The voice of Govardhana resounded in the sky, ‘Ani aur! ani aur!’ [Bring Me more! Bring Me more!]. For that reason this place is called Aniyora.By visiting Annakuta-sthana all desires will be fulfilled.”

As the pilgrim continues on the parikrama around Govardhan, he reaches the town of Aniyora, “the other side.” Here, Krishna performed puja to Govardhan Hill. Madhavendra Puri discovered the Deity of Gopala at nearby Sankarsana Kund. This Deity is presently being worshiped at Nathdwar in Rajasthan.