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

36 Goda's Garland of Devotion
when he was undergoing the pangs of separation from Sita Devi).
The line of hair from the navel to the breast had a darkling sheen
and appeared like a snake moving on mountains
The folds in the navel were golden sheets. The behind, the
thighs, the calves, the feet: loveliness was strewn everywhere with a
prodigal hand. Her golden green complexion shone with a supernal
beauty:
"As she was an incarnation of Mother Earth, due to the
friendships of the earlier life, Nagakanyas took birth in the
neighbouring houses of devotees as Maralika, Ekavali, Harini,
Manojna and Sragvini. Together they celebrated dolls' marri-
ages quite often and sang hundreds of prayerful songs. These
songs described the wedding of Lakshmi and Narayana
Listening to these songs and herself taking part in the singing,
due to the effect of her past lives, Goda Devi was drawn irresis-
tibly to the nectarean stories about the Lord's several incar-
nations."
As mentioned earlier, Goda Devi is considered an incarnation
incorporating several aspects of Sri Devi, Bhu Devi and Neela Devi.
The Sri, Bhu and Neela Suktas are of special interest in this con-
text. While Sri Devi is the image of the Lord's compassion, Bhu
Devi represents prosperity that is granted to us by Narayana, and
Neela Devi (or Nappinnai, as referred to by the Alwars) is the ideal
of enjoyment and happiness. As the great commentator Peria
Achan Pillai avers:
"Sri Devi forgives the wrongs done by devotees; Bhu Devi
sees no wrong anywhere; Neela Devi (Nappinnai) is Patience
(kshama) incarnate. Sri Devi is the Lord's prosperity; this
prosperity is caused by Bhu Devi; it is enjoyed by Neela Devi".
Goda Devi is seen as the synthesis of all these three aspects.
Hence the opening verse of Vedanta Desika's Sri Goda Stuti reads:
I take refuge in Goda Devi
The wish-yielding creeper
In the grove of Vishnuchitta's family;
That clings to the sandalwood tree
Of Rangaraja;
She is lovely and incarnates