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

14 Goda's Garland of Devotion
proper response”. And so it was decided to send emissaries to im-
portant personages and request them to grace the Pandyan court.
The Guru Parampara Prabhāvam says that the Lord, Vata-
patrasayi, appeared to Vishnuchitta in a dream and commanded
him to proceed to Madura and get the prize money. “But the prize
money is for the Vedic scholar!” exclaimed the humble devotee.
The aim of the conference was of course, not the exhibition of
Vedic scholarship, but the decisive indication of the path to Moksha.
The Lord assured the garland-maker that everything would be all
right, for His Grace would accompany Vishnuchitta. With utter
humility Vishnuchitta now got into the pearl-decorated palanquin
sent by Vallabhadeva and proceeded to Madura.
Krishnadeva Raya asks on our part for an intense suspension
of disbelief while he is dealing with this episode. Reciting the
Ashtakshara (‘I bow to Narayana’) Vishnuchitta offered a garland
of flowers and Tulsi to Vatapatrasayi. The Lord then spoke in
sublime accents (udaara madhuroktin):
“O wise devotee! Proceed to Madurai immediately. Defeat
the leaders of false religions who have gathered in the Pandyan
court. Propound my greatness and receive the prize money.
The King is sick of this world. Out of compassion make him
a devotee of Vishnu”.
Vishnuchitta was reluctant. As far as traditional scholarship
was concerned, he had been a truant and was practically born
blind to such jnana. He had spent his life digging and mulching
plant beds. His hands had grown rough handling the spade. He
had known no work except temple service. He would surely be
defeated in that court of scholars who were noted for their oratorical
brilliance. His failure would only bring infamy to the Lord.
This brought a smile to the lips of the Lord. He then turned
to Lakshmi Devi and said that He would see to Vishnuchitta's
victory. “O wise man, should things be done as desired by you?
Go to Madura. I shall arrange for your success. I won’t have a no
from you. I am here to do what is needed.” Now at last Vishnu-
chitta prepared to go. As directed by the Lord, the temple priest
gave him a travel allowance (sambadamu) and an ancient palanquin.
Further, some of the servants of the temple carried on their shoulders