Goda Parinaya champu - AndaL kalyanam

[Guest guest]

Andal Kalyanam

The dais was studded with precious stones and was sprinkled with

sandalwood water, and bedecked with streamers of gems. Decorative

umbrellas with golden poles and pearl tassels were erected all over.

Silk flags were flown and pearl canopies were tied and sweet smelling

divine incense was smoldering everywhere. Hundreds of lamps were

lighted. Banana trees with fruits and flowers were erected.

Auspicious ‘kalasas’ with paalikas and ‘kaappu’ strings were kept.

Gorgeous murals were drawn on walls. Strands of pearls were added as

streamers over the ‘pandal’. The wedding hall was beautifully decorated.

Relatives who were living far and near were invited and brought to

the venue of the wedding. Those relatives who were always up to

mischief and gossip were pacified! Nadaswaram, dundubhi and conches

were blown. Flutes were played. Excellent concerts of music and dance

took place.

Poojas for the wedding were performed. Brahmanas were fed with

delectable dishes. Astrologers awaited the auspicious muhurtham with

great expectations. Everyone’s gaze was fixed on the path by which the

groom would be arriving. All those were present were going hither and

thither with joy. In short, Periyazhvar’s palace was filled with the

commotion of the celebrations.

Maidens with beautiful eyes bedecked the Andal for auspiciousness-

who was herself and exquisite auspicious jewel! The lovely bride

wore ‘sindur’ at the parting of her hair and ‘thiruman’ kappu on her

forehead. Her dark eyes were bordered with ‘mai’. The ruby string she

wore over the parting of her hair had a beautiful gem studded pendant

over her forehead. She wore auspicious grass and ruby studded

thaatankam at her ears. Her naturally red lips were darkened further

by red colour. Her face was rendered more beautiful by her ‘tilakam’.

She wore gold bangles on her shoulders and upper arms, gem studded

belt, and pearl anklets. Her natural blue complexion took the hue of

clouds, rainbow and lightning. Her shoulders and fingers were adorned

with fragrant red paste that foretold that she was going to be

performing “laaja homam†soon.

Andal was ready, and walked on the gem studded floor with her lotus

like feet that were anointed with red; but the Groom was late - her

father was worried. The assembled Purohits were ready with darbhas,

grass, ghee, sand and puffed rice.

And then, Shri Ranganathan arrived on Garudan, resplendent in jewelry

and gorgeously dressed as the groom! It was like a green hill arriving

on a golden mountain!

Goda’s maiden friends performed ‘Harathi’ with camphor. All those who

were assembled were immensely pleased to see him.

As Azhakiya Manavaalan sat on the vivaha mantap, Purohits tied the

golden Kappu in his hand that wore bangles of pearls and gems.

Periyazhwar bathed his feet with cool milk, held his daughter (who

looked like another Mahalakshmi) by the hand and said, “Ranganatha!

She has been brought up just for you. Accept her and observe

Grihasthashrama dharma and live happily!â€

Though he was a brahma gnaani, he was overjoyed during this occasion

and gave his daughter to ShriRanganathan with pride and happiness.

The groom looked at his bride with a smile and their eyes met.

Then the vivaaha homams were performed as described in the Vedas with

Brahma acting as the purohit.

Ranganathan held Goda’s feet and placed them on the gem studded

golden stone (ammi). Goda remembered her dream and smiled. It had

come true! Then she put her red hands over her husbands and performed

‘lajahomam’. The puffed rice fell from Goda’s hands onto the fire

like pearls on a forest of corals. Due to the smoke and the heat,

Nachiyar’s face was a little tired.

After the sacred rites were over, the newly married couple sat on a

throne and all the sages showered them with ‘Akshatai’. All the

wedding panchadis and asheervada manthras were chanted by sages and

elders. Then, both of them sat on an elephant under a pearl umbrella

and went on a procession with all kinds of musical instruments

proclaiming them. They were fanned by snowy white fans from both

sides. Every home in shrivilliputtur honoured them with lighted

lamps, Purnakumbham, rose water and sandalwood paste. The lovely

maidens of shrivilliputtur showered them with flowers, puffed rice,

turmeric powder and akshatai from the porches of their houses. And the

streets of Shrivilliputtur looked gorgeous strewn with all these

auspicious items

…… to be concluded