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

Vishnuchitta 23
a huff and hurriedly searched for their sandals and palanquins.
The words spoken by friends did not register in their minds. Some
went a step further and spoke deprecatingly of the King’s judge-
ment in favour of an unknown garland-maker. “Who cares to enter
the doorways of such an uncritical King?” Thus they returned
home, frustrated egoists all.
The capital city of the Pandyas was decorated colourfully,
and Vallabhadeva arranged for a grand procession in which Vishnu-
chitta was taken on an elephant. Riding the elephant and followed
by a royal retinue sent by the King, he began his journey back to
Villipputtur. And then :
Garuda’s bright unfolding wings
Made the skies a blue garment
Dipped in vermilion; the sweet breeze
Brought the scent of cream from the Milky Sea.
A loud noise filled the world.
Garuda appeared on the horizon.
The King and others saw Him
Riding on the Great Bird.
Yes, Vishnuchitta and his retinue were vouchsafed a vision of
Vishnu, for is it not said that, where a group of aspirants come
together in deep sincerity, the Lord surely descends to join the
sangha?
Krishnadeva Raya describes the divya mangala vigraha with
poetic fervour as well as emotional intensity. The Lord’s feet were
placed on Garuda’s hands as if red lotuses had been held up by
tender branches twain; His yellow garments reflected the golden
hue of the Bird; His pearl necklaces were as crystalline as the hearts
of yogis; His makara-earrings seemed to have drawn close, as they
belonged to the natal home of Lakshmi Devi; swan-white Pancha-
janya and Sudarshana that seemed to be a circle of dust raised by
a cyclone ornamented His shoulders that looked like the branches
of Kalpa Vriksha. The thirty-three crores of gods who had come
to see Vishnuchitta immediately closed their umbrellas and bowed
to Narayana. However, Rakshasas and Paisachas took to their
heels frightened by the flap of Garuda’s wings. It was like cleaning
the paddy when the husk alone flies away with the wind.
The sublimity of the scene is, of course, beyond description,
even though all the artful aids of poetic technique are mobilized