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

Vishnuchitta 15
bundles of sweet rice-cakes (ariselu) as prasada for the King. Vishnu-
chitta's wife, Viraja Devi, prepared all that he would need on his
way:
"With great devotion that noble lady prepared pots of ghee,
packets of condiments, sweet green-dal balls (porivilangāyalu)
and other eatables, auspicious rice for the journey (kshema-
tandulamu), jaggery and jeera, tamarind, unfried rice-cakes
(pachchi varugu) and grain freed from husk. The box containing
the needed things for worshipping Vishnu was also made
ready".
So Vishnuchitta journeys towards Madura accompanied by
other Srivaishnavas carrying various things required by custom.
As the pilgrims proceed, they do not waste their time discussing
politics or other ephemeral subjects. Only the Holy name is their
verbal companion:
"O Lord who can be attained by the ashtanga yoga (yama,
niyama, āsana, praanayama, pratyaahara, dhyaana, dharana, samadhi) ;
Chief of Brahma and the other Gods; O Supreme whose name
relieves us from the tiredness of this life which is a circle of
birth and death; annihilator of Mura, destroyer of our sins,
Lakshmi's consort, lotus-eyed Srihari; O sickle that cuts away
the grass of Ignorance in the mind of devotees; Beloved of
Mother Earth, shining with a supra-brilliance that defeats
the darkest clouds; one who performed the impossible feat of
lifting up the Govardhana Hill; Radha's darling; one who
takes interest for the sheer fun of it; Rama who blinded Indra's
son in one eye by means of a blade of grass; Lord whose lotus
feet walk the shining inner spaces of the hearts of sages like
Narada; Narayana who is present everywhere! The sweetness
of your Name is realised by Parvati Devi herself."
Among the interesting facts that strike us when reading Amukta
Mālyada, mention may be made of its importance in recreating
India's social history. The detailed references to gastronomical habits
have a quaint charm. Carrying a sweet like 'porivilangāyalu', for
instance; this delicacy can withstand a long journey. There is,
then, the reference to Venkateswara as "leela pardhoosika";
evidently, five hundred years ago, He was already famous as "vaddi
kāsulavādu"! Remembering God every moment of their life with