The very purpose of human existence is to attain God. We are tiny particles separated from the Infinite Supreme Light and scattered in the Universe by the Will of God. The soul dons various bodies in its journey of experiences as it moves in different parts of the Universe and on its way back home to Godhead. Extreme bhakti is the easiest way to attain Divinity. At times, a Divine Spark dons a human form in order to give mankind a practical lesson on how to find the way back home. The story of Sri Goda or Sri Andal as she was called later is one such lesson:
There lived a devout brahmin named Vishnuchittar who was a high priest in the temple of Vatapathrasayi (Sri Krishna) in a place called SriVilliputtur. He was childless and spent all his time in devotional service at the temple. One of his regular duties was to string a magnificent garland for the Lord to be offered during his puja or worship. One day while he was plucking flowers in his garden for making the garland, he found a baby girl near the Tulasi (holy basil) plant. The baby had an unearthly radiance and lovely smile. The priest took her home and brought her up as his own. She was named Goda.
Vishnuchittar’s home resounded with the name and bhakti of Sri Krishna. Goda was brought up in this devout atmosphere and grew up to love Sri Krishna with the very breath of her life. Her days were spent thinking of the Lord and helping her father pluck flowers and stringing the garland for offering in worship. One day Goda innocently garlanded herself with the Lord’s garland just to see how beautiful it would look on the Lord, admired it in the mirror and quietly put it back in her father’s basket. This went on for some time.
One day, when Vishnuchittar lifted the garland to offer the Lord, he found a long black hair in it. He questioned Goda and she confessed that she used to try on the garland daily to see how beautiful it would look on the Lord and then send it to the temple. He was shocked, as traditionally, used things are not offered to the Lord. He wept and sought the Lord’s forgiveness. He made a new garland and took it to the temple. Each time he tried to garland the Lord with it, it broke and fell down. That night, he had a dream in which Sri Krishna appeared and told him that He was pleased to wear the garland that Goda wore and to offer him the same daily. From that day she got two new names – Choodi Kodutha Nachiyaar ( the one who wore and offered) and Andal (the one who ruled over the Lord).
Andal imagined herself to be a Gopi (cowherds who were companions of Sri Krishna) in Brindavan. She composed and sang a devotional verse daily in order to wake up the young girls early in the morning. They would all go to the riverside and bathe and offer worship to Sri Krishna in order to attain Him as their Husband. Her composition is called ‘Thiruppavai’ and is full of overwhelming devotion for Sri Krishna. Her desire to attain Sri Krishna as her Husband was extremely intense. She composed another set of devotional verses called ‘Nachiyar Thirumozhi’ which talks of her dream of marrying Lord Ranganatha (Sri Krishna).
Lord Ranganatha appeared in the dream of Vishnuchittar and informed him that He would accept Goda as His Bride and to make necessary arrangements for the marriage. The priests of the Sri Rangam Temple also had a dream where they were informed by the Lord to be ready for the wedding. Goda dressed as a bride entered the temple sanctum sactorum and touched the Feet of the Lord. She merged with Him in front of the watching crowd.
Goda is one of the 12 Vaishnava saints called Azhvars. She is said to be the form of Mother Earth who came to teach a lesson to mankind on how to attain God : To be in constant remembrance of God, worship Him and sing His praises and completely surrender at His feet. Nothing more than pure bhakti, smaran and and sharanagati are needed to attain His Grace and Moksha. Let us do the SitaRam Mantra, meditation, practice love of God, constant remembrance at all times and surrender unto Him and attain His Holy Feet.
