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

decorated himself and went on a journey. On the way he was
murdered by highway robbers. His last moments were shadowed
by the awe-inspiring form of Kakasmasru, one of the robbers. He
became a Brahmarakshas haunting the aswatha tree.
The Dasari said that it was self-defeating to think that the
fruits of serving the Lord could be divided. The Lord alone knows
how to weigh the worth of devotion: "May He save the unfor-
tunate!" Even before the words were out of his mouth, a brilliant
form of a Brahmin came out of the demon, like a flame out of clouds
of smoke. Carrying a Divya Prabhandham, the Brahmin worshipped
the Dasari with choice words describing bhagavata lakshana and
proceeded to Badrikasharama to end his days meditating upon the
blissful form of Narayana.
Now back to the sannidhi of Vatapatrasayi at Srivillipputtur.
In the Varaha Purana, Vishnu had recounted the tale of the Mala
Dasari to Bhu Devi. She decided to please the Lord by incarnating
on earth and offering gaana anjali to Him. So she was born as Goda
Devi, and was now worshipping the Lord with poetry and music.
Having enlightened Vishnuchitta thus, Vatapatrasayi asked his
devotee to take Goda Devi to Srirangam. Accordingly, the great
Alwar went to the holy city, accompanied by Goda Devi, in a golden
palanquin.
Srirangam was (and is) a Vaikuntha on earth. Its golden
spires appeared like champak blossoms that repelled the bees (sins).
The river Kaveri by its beauty, sweetness and cool waters gave rest
to the travel-weary Vishnuchitta. He bathed in the river reciting
the appropriate prayers to the Sun. He then proceeded towards
the temple with groups of devotees, and also his daughter, who
looked lovely with beautiful ornaments.
Krishnadeva Raya's Srirangam is a place prosperous beyond
one's imagination. But there is no greed anywhere, and in fact
people vie with one another in their allergy to money. In each
house varied kinds of sweets are cooked as prasada for the house-
hold deity (prati grihasartha bhakshyapu valpuna), but the devotee
who takes to unchavritti accepts only paddy. The doorways to
the prakara were ever crowded with gods seeking admission. Pre-
siding over the guards was Vishwaksena holding the whip. And
Garuda stood there with folded hands.