आमुक्तमाल्यदा (विजयनगर सम्राट् श्रीकृष्णदेवराय - गोदा देवी आण्डाल भक्ति एवं साम्राज्य-नीति)

Goda Devi 33
Ashada month, and a chathurdasi. It is significant that Sita Devi
discovered by King Janaka while ploughing a field and Goda Devi
found by Vishnuchitta when digging in a garden are both asso-
ciated with Mother Earth, Bhu Devi. One of the abundant myths
concerning Goda Devi has Bhu Devi asking Narayana: “My
Lord, whom do you love most among human beings?” “I love all
my devotees who have affection and regard for me. But those who
offer me flower garlands (poo maalai) and verse garlands (paa maalar)
have a special place in my heart.” This set her thinking. She re-
membered Vishnuchitta who was making such twin-offerings to
the Lord. Immediately she decided to incarnate as Goda Devi
and follow the footsteps of the illustrious devotee of Srivillipputtur.
Vadivazhakiya Nambi Dasar’s Soodi-k-kodutha Nachiyar Pra-
bhandham poetically describes the scene when Bhu Devi appeared
on the earth. Red lotuses blossomed like golden lamps, peacocks
danced, bees buzzed, and the cuckoos sang a lullaby to the divine
babe seen mid a sprinkle of flowers. Vishnuchitta gazes at this
tender shoot of compassion (Karunayin kozhundu). He takes the child
to the temple of Vatapatrasayi: here is a unique blossom to offer the
Lord!
“You will learn of the significance of her birth later. Take
her now home and bring her up as your own daughter!”
Such was the command of the Lord issued through the priest.
Vishnuchitta went home and handed over the baby to his wife
Viraja Devi. They showered their love upon the child and brought
her up in an atmosphere of beauty, music and piety.
The Divyasuri Charitra says that “Vishnuchitta foresaw that
this child would speak in praise of the Lord; so he named her Goda
in an auspicious moment”. The word ‘Goda’ signifies “one who
helps one’s speech”. It may be remembered that a poetess of the
Sama Veda is known as Goda. Again, Goda means ‘giver of cows’,
of Illuminations, a garland. Just as Vishnuchitta is known as
Bhattarpiran and Perialwar, Goda Devi is also known as Āndāl
(One who Rules) and Soodi-k-kodutha-Sudarkkodi (the flame-creeper
who gave the garland worn first, Amukta Mālyada). M. Raghava
Iyengar, who has conducted deep research in the hymns of Goda
Devi, has remarked that she must have lived in the early 8th cen-
tury.
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