Vishnuchitta was born in Sri Villiputtur, in the Sanctum of Vatapatra Sai. He found a baby, in the garden of Tulasi. He named her “Goda” – which means a garland.
Goda used to prepare the garlands that her father carried to the temple to decorate the Lord. Once she prepared the garlands, she would try them on herself to make sure that they look beautiful and then used to give them to her father for an offering. Unaware of this, Vishnuchitta carried on offering them to the Lord.
One day, he found some hair in the garland. He realised the reason and was worried about the sacrilege committed. But that night the Lord appears in his dream and tells him that he prefers the ones worn by Goda.
Vishnuchitta brought her up in an environment of love and devotion towards the Lord. The intensity of her love and dedication towards the Lord grew so much that she decides to marry Sri Ranganatha, a form of Lord Vishnu.
When Andal was nubile, the Alwar began looking for a groom. But Andal insisted that she marries none other than Lord Ranganatha. Vishnuchitta takes Andal to Srirangam. At the auspicious moment the Lord marries Andal then she merges with the Lord. Thus Goda became “Amuktamalyada” Mukta – worn and removed, mala – garland, da – one who gives.
Goda Kalyanam is performed in all Vishnu temples on Bhogi day with fervour and devotion, especially in the South. Sri Krishnadevaraya, the famous king of Vijayanagara empire (16th century) authored “Amuktamalyada”, a prabhanda, based on Goda Devi story. He introduces the legends of Vishnuchitta, Yamunacharya, Khandikhya and Kesidwaja to establish the philosophy of Vishistadvaita.
Sri Andal Ashtottara Shatanamavali Lyrics in English:
srigodastottarasatanamastotram
dhyanam ।
satamakhamani nila carukalharahasta
stanabharanamitangi sandravatsalyasindhuh ।
alakavinihitabhih sragbhirakrstanatha
vilasatu hrdi goda visnucittatmaja nah ॥
atha stotram ।
sriranganayaki goda visnucittatmaja sati ।
gopivesadhara devi bhusuta bhogasalini ॥ 1 ॥
tulasikananodbhuta sridhanvipuravasini ।
bhattanathapriyakari srikrsnahitabhogini ॥ 2 ॥
amuktamalyada bala ranganathapriya para ।
visvambhara kalalapa yatirajasahodari ॥ 3 ॥
krsnanurakta subhaga sulabhasrih salaksana ।
laksmipriyasakhi syama dayancitadrgancala ॥ 4 ॥
phalgunyavirbhava ramya dhanurmasakrtavrata ।
campakasoka-punnaga-malati-vilasat-kaca ॥ 5 ॥
akaratrayasampanna narayanapadasrita ।
srimadastaksarimantra-rajasthita-manoratha ॥ 6 ॥
moksapradananipuna manuratnadhidevata ।
brahmanya lokajanani lilamanusarupini ॥ 7 ॥
brahmajnanaprada maya saccidanandavigraha ।
mahapativrata visnugunakirtanalolupa ॥ 8 ॥
prapannartihara nitya vedasaudhaviharini ।
sriranganathamanikyamanjari manjubhasini ॥ 9 ॥
padmapriya padmahasta vedantadvayabodhini ।
suprasanna bhagavati srijanardanadipika ॥ 10 ॥
sugandhavayava carurangamangaladipika ।
dhvajavajrankusabjanka-mrdupada-latancita ॥ 11 ॥
tarakakaranakhara pravalamrdulanguli ।
kurmopameya-padordhvabhaga sobhanaparsnika ॥ 12 ॥
vedarthabhavatattvajna lokaradhyanghripankaja ।
anandabudbudakara-sugulpha parama’nuka ॥ 13 ॥
tejahsriyojjvaladhrtapadanguli-subhusita ।
minaketana-tunira-carujangha-virajita ॥ 14 ॥
kakudvajjanuyugmadhya svarnarambhabhasakthika ।
visalajaghana pinasusroni manimekhala ॥ 15 ॥
anandasagaravarta-gambhirambhoja-nabhika ।
bhasvadbalitrika carujagatpurna-mahodari ॥ 16 ॥
navavalliromaraji sudhakumbhayitastani ।
kalpamalanibhabhuja candrakhanda-nakhancita ॥ 17 ॥
supravasangulinyastamaharatnanguliyaka ।
navarunapravalabha-panidesa-samancita ॥ 18 ॥
kambukanthi sucubuka bimbosthi kundadantayuk ।
karunyarasa-nisyanda-netradvaya-susobhita ॥ 19 ॥
muktasucismita carucampeyanibhanasika ।
darpanakara-vipula-kapola-dvitayancita ॥ 20 ॥
anantarka-prakasodyanmani-tatanka-sobhita ।
kotisuryagnisankasa-nanabhusana-bhusita ॥ 21 ॥
sugandhavadana subhru ardhacandralalatika ।
purnacandranana nilakutilalakasobhita ॥ 22 ॥
saundaryasima vilasat-kasturi-tilakojjvala ।
dhagaddha-gayamanodyanmani-simanta-bhusana ॥ 23 ॥
jajvalyamala-sadratna-divyacudavataṃsaka ।
suryardhacandra-vilasat-bhusanancita-venika ॥ 24 ॥
atyarkanala-tejodhimani-kancukadharini ।
sadratnancitavidyota-vidyutkunjabha-satika ॥ 25 ॥
nanamaniganakirna-hemangadasubhusita ।
kunkumagaru-kasturi-divyacandana-carcita ॥ 26 ॥
svocitaujjvalya-vividha-vicitra-mani-harini ।
asankhyeya-sukhasparsa-sarvatisaya-bhusana ॥ 27 ॥
mallika-parijatadi divyapuspa-sragancita ।
sriranganilaya pujya divyadesasusobhita ॥ 28 ॥
॥ iti srigodastottarasatanamastotraṃ sampurnam ॥
Also Read:
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