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Govind Gopal Radha Lola Madhusudana Madhava he Murare
The melodious voice of Perialwar is being heard by the devotees who visit Vatapatra Sai temple early in the morning. The gentle breeze is blowing over the flowers which are nodding their heads in delight. Yes soon they will find themselves plucked and made into a garland...then they will reach the ultimate position coveted by many...the heart of Vata patrasayi..Srikrishna who is there in the garbha Griha of the temple.
. The temple existed in Srivilliputtur Tamilnadu. Perialwar who is also called Vishnu Chitra was a devotee of Vishnu.He was always filled with thoughts of Vishnu and his avatars. Perialwar was particularly attached to Sri Krishna, one of Vishnu's Avatars. Apart from Vatapathrasayee, his one other favorite deity was Sri Ranganatha(Lord Vishnu) of Srirangam. Perialwar would always sing hymns on Sri Krishna and Sri Ranganatha. One of his daily ritual was to collect flowers from the garden, make a garland with them and offer it to Vatapatrasayee Krishna.
That day also he was singing hymns on Sri Krishna, when he heard a baby cry. The cry of the baby puzzled him. He went around the garden in search of the crying sound. To his surprise, he saw a baby who is under the Tulasi bushes. With all his eyes on the baby, Perialwar put his basket down and slowly bent towards the baby. It was a pretty baby girl.
Vishnuchitta held the baby with care and searched for her parents. Nobody was there. The baby stopped crying. He took a close look at the baby. He was astonished by that baby's flawless beauty. Perialwar cuddled the baby close to his heart. Perialwar thought only his "Vatapathrasayee had blessed him with this beautiful baby because Perialwar did not have any kids of his own. He named the baby "Godaai (beautiful garland) and took her home.
Godaa grew up hearing to Krishna stories and feeling him with her day and night. She dreamt of the blue skinned God handsome with lotus eyes and lived in his thoughts.
She turned fifteen that day.. She was beautiful with grace in every limb. She liked to write poetry.She started writing verses feeling herself as Gopi of Vrindavan.
Godaa used to make garland with the flowers collected by her father. One day She took the garland in her hand and adorned herself. She wanted to check her beauty. Godaa went to the temple pond to see her image. Suddenly she heard the voice of her beloved Lord. You look so beautiful Godaa" He said in her ears.
Godaa even felt his breath on her neck. She closed her eyes and smiled. He accepted her as his bride. She removed the garland and placed it in the same place where it was before.
One day Vishnu Chitta found a streak of long hair on the garland. He was agitated. He decided to check the matter.
Next day Perialwar saw Godaa wearing the garland.He was in shock. His daughter did the unpardonable thing. With tears he hurried to his garden, collected flowers again and made a new garland and offered it to Krishna
Vishnu Chitta did not confront his daughter. He was disappointed with her behaviour. The same day night Vatapathrasayee appeared in his dream. HE said that HE liked only the garland worn by Godaa and that everyday HE wanted her to wear the garland before HE wear it .
Perialwar woke up. He called Godaa and told all about his dream.
Godaa was dancing at heart. Her Govind accepted her truly..with love.
She became Andaal then onwards..who ruled..
Andal learnt from an elderly person, that, during Krishna Avatar all Gopikas performed a fast in the month of Margasirsha in order to marry Krishna. Since Andal wanted to marry Krishna, she followed the foot steps of those Gopikas and started the fast in the month of Margasirsha She started Katyayini vratha.
Every day she would wake up early in the morning. Singing a new hymn everyday, she would go door to door and wake up her friends to join the fast. Thus she sang 30 hymns for 30 days of the Margasirsha month. The 30 hymns are collectively called as "Thiruppaavai
Thirty days passed. Godaa finished her Vrat . She had a dream. Her Govind walked up to her and said. " The wait is over. Be ready to be my bride.. Godaa did not sleep afterwards.
On the same night Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam appeared in Perialwar's dream and asked him to bring Andal to Srirangm fully dressed as a bride. Sri Ranganatha also appeared in the King's( who ruled that region) dream and asked him to make arrangements for his marriage with Andal.
Godaa became the bride. Meanwhile the king decked the whole Srivilliputur with flowers. The people of Srivilliputtur were all ready to go to Srirangam with Andal. The entire route from Srivilliputur to Srirrangam was decorated too. The king then sent a palanquin to Andal's house. Andal dressed like a bride got into the palanquin. With Perialwar, king and people following, the palanquin reached Srirangam.
The palanquin stopped in front of the Sri Ranganatha temple in Srirangam. Andal got out of the palanquin. The priests received Andal with due respect. Andal stepped into the temple and slowly walked towards her Krishna
The garbhagriha was dark With the help of the lamp, she saw the big black divine deity Sri Ranganatha. Her eyes stopped to blink. Sri Ranganatha is in a reclining posture on his snakeAdisesha resting his head on the west and feet on the east.
Andal was totally captivated by HIS beauty. Without knowing what to do, Andal slowly walked towards Sri Ranganatha. With trembling hands she touched his feet Andal disappeared.
Vishnu Chitta stood stupified. Where is his daughter he wondered. He is on the verge of collapse.Then he heard the tone of someone calling him by his name. HE is Sri Ranganath." Don't feel sad. Your daughter is my consort. She is the incarnation of Bhudevi. She reached Vaikuntha .her original abode. Vishnuchitta..be free from sorrow."Sri Ranganath 's words were heard by every one around. They hailed Vishnuchitta for possessing Andal as his daughter.
Perialwar returned to Srivilliputtur. After some years, Perialwar transformed his house into a temple for Andal and Sri Ranganatha. But Sri Ranganatha is called Ranga Mannar in this temple. This temple along with Vatapathrasayee temple will always remind everyone of Andal and her true love towards Sri Krishna.
Sri Krishna Govinda Hare Murare he Natha narayana Vaasudeva.
Lakshmi
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