Tongue of Govardhana
A Comprehensive Guide to Śrī Vṛndāvana Dhāma
Jihva in Sanskrit or Jihbya in Bengali, means tongue, and in this small temple can be seen the tongue of Govardhana. After Raghunätha däsa Gosvämi had excavated both Rädhä-kunda and Syäma-kunda he decided to dig a separate well so that local residents would not have to use the sacred waters Rädhä-kunda for washing clothes and cooking utensils.
A group of workers started digging a well just opposite Mädhavendra Puri's baithaka. During the course of the digging, the workers struck a rock which immediately started bleeding. Horrified the workers stopped digging and ran to Raghunätha däsa Gosvämi to inform him of the incident.
Raghunätha told the men to stop work as some offence may have been committed. That night Raghunätha had a dream in which Giri-Govardhana informed him that the rock that had been struck and had started bleeding was his tongue. Giriräja asked Raghunätha to remove the rock from the well and worship it with tulasi leaves and water from Rädhä-kunda every day. One who circumambulates this Govardhana-shilä seven times receives the same benefit as circumambulating the whole of Govardhana Hill.
Directions:This is located near the Radha Govinda temple. Leaving Govindaji temple, make an immediate left turn. Walk up a few steps; there is a small garden with a white temple, which is known as Jibya (tongue) Mandira.