Goda parinaya champu - Happily ever afterwards!

[Guest guest]

Happily ever afterwards!

 

 

As Goda and her bridegroom Damodaran went around in a procession

around the streets, the ladies were in a hurry to see them, lest they

miss the wonderful sight. They ran upstairs to the porches on the

upper storeys to get a better view of the newlyweds. In a hurry to

reach a good vantage point, they wore their makeup and jewels in the

wrong places- one girl wore the red paste meant for the feet on her

body and vice versa. The other one wore kajal behind her ears and

kasturi over her eyelids! One drew a thilakam over her cheek and the

blush on her forehead. Another wore her anklet on her arm and her

bracelet on her foot. Another one broke her pearl necklace in a hurry

and all the pearls fell like flowers all over the floor.

And of course, they talked about the bride and the groom,

continuously! They marveled that Andal and Rangamannar were so suited

for each other.

" Oh! " said one, " Andal observed the Margazhi nonbu and Kaama vratam in

Thai with so much niyamam that she has this husband worthy of her

nonbu. He is Azhagiya Manavalan indeed! Who will not be attracted to

him? "

" This ShriRanganathan is right for her since both equal each other in

qualities, appearance, actions and age. And she is in her turn, is so

right for him! "

" Look! Ganges was born and flows out of his lotus feet and is on

Shiva's head. The whole universe lived in his stomach during Pralayam! "

" The dust of his feet is capable of turning a stone to a beautiful

woman- It purified Indra's sinful action and removed Rishi Gautama's

curse! Amazing! "

" Long ago, when Shri Rama started to go to the forest according to

Kaikeyi's wish, Seetha followed him, even though her feet were so soft

as a fresh lotus and were fit to walk only on gem studded surfaces!

Wasn't that because of her love for him? "

" Long back, Vedavati jumped into the fire when Ravana clasped her

hand. Why? Because she wanted to touch his beautiful form! "

" When Rama lived in Dandakaranyam unadorned by beautiful clothes and

jewels and sporting the look of an ascetic, he ate fruits and roots-

but that did not stop Shurpanaka from falling in love with him! "

" That is not all! Even rishis who are devoid of kamam and agyanam are

always meditating on his lotus feet and he came in person to wed

Kodai. It will never be possible to describe her good fortune! "

" During rasaleela, gopis took his feet on their heads, breasts and

eyes. But here, he took Andal's feet to set them on the Ammi! Isn't

she the Bhagayavati? "

" He is the father of Brahma who is the grandfather of the whole world.

Since Andal married him, she becomes the great grandmother of the

whole world! "

" Look how beautiful they look on this elephant! Oh ! the lucky

Vishnuchittar!'

The ladies of the town talked among themselves like this and went on

and on and Goda and her Divine consort enjoyed these words and smiled!

They returned to the venue of their wedding and elderly ladies of

Andal's family performed arathi with lamps.

Then after sunset, ShriRanganathan showed the sublime Arundathi to Andal.

Then, both of them were seated on a ruby studded red swing and all the

women who were experts in music sang lali songs and rocked the swing

gently. After that, they sat on beautifully spun mats opposite to

each other and rolled coconuts and played.

On the fourth day, they performed sesha homam and all the sacred rites

of the wedding went on for five days.

Then, Periyazhvar requested Ranganathan to live in Shrivilliputtur

with his daughter Goda, to increase the `mangalam' of the citizens.

Even though Ranganathan liked to stay in Srirangam, he lived there for

a long time thereby enhancing the auspiciousness of the little city.

Ranganathan was very pleased to wed Goda and so he addressed Garuda

thus: `Garuda!' said Shri Ranganathan " please be seated with us " and

granted him a place next to them.

Periyazhvar worshipped ShriRanganathan with flowers, clothes, jewels

and of course, poetry!

 

vaTaruLa shobhita deshavare sthita devavare dR^iDhabhaktiyute

nijakaca dhaarita maalyaka bandhita vaasita rangapaterdayite.

yadukula nandana sangama kaamini caaparavau kR^ita majjanate

jaya jaya he yatiraaja sahodari kR^ishhNavinodini devidhare..

 

May the Divyadampathis shower their blessings on all their devotees as

well!

Andal ThiruvadigaLe charaNam