Godākaḷyāṇam in Āmuktamālyada
Excerpt from ‘The Giver of the Word Garland’, a translation of Kṛṣṇadevarāya’s Āmuktamālyada by Srinivas Reddy
“The Lord of Śrīraṅgam sent Brahma and Sarasvati and Śiva and Pārvati, in the company of his general, to ask for Goda’s hand in marriage.
And when Viṣṇucitta saw them all coming, he was overwhelmed with excitement.
With Viśvaksena at their head, the gods approached humbly and were treated to every hospitality. Once they were all seated, Viṣṇucitta asked about their coming. They replied, and his heart was filled with a rush of joy.
‘O Viśvaksena, Śiva and Brahma!By asking for my daughter on his behalf you’ve made me a proud man.
A tradition was born when honourable Bhṛgu gave away his daughter Śrī, who was born from the Ocean of Milk.
If that was right, then there’s no injustice here.
Please listen. Let us make this a proper union. Easy-going people might say he carried her off. If he agrees to come to our village, I’ll happily give away my daughter.
His great lordship makes him the Ultimate Sovereign.
That God Born in the Line of Śūra who has humble subjects at his feet will surely grant this simple favour for his future father-in-law.
For it is he who creates the costumes that we wear, and though our roles may be great, his play is greater!
Then the gods left to petition the Lord of the World whose heart was soaked in a flood of compassion as he mounted his great vehicle the King of Birds.
Then Brahma and all the other gods climbed onto their mounts, surrounded him, and set out singing songs of praise.
Viśvaksena, Beloved of Sūtravati, stood before his troops aligned on the highway of stars.
Celestial elders held decorative swords and thunderbolts, their blinding brilliance spreading in every direction like a hundred million shining suns.
The wedding party proceeded to Śrī Viliputtur.
And on the way, they stopped at perfectly spaced guesthouses made out of jewels, built by Viśvakarma, master craftsman of the gods.
The handsome groom was in front, accompanied by heavenly nymphs bathed in turmeric and adorned with precious ornaments. He was flanked by ancient seers chanting mantras, and a celestial orchestra led by Nārada. Water bearers created a faint drizzle, white like titanium, and streamed down an ablution of nectar, revealing the Kaustubha gem like a ruby pendant in his pearl necklace.
Viṣṇu’s neck was white like a conch shell and he was adorned with two golden epaulets and a wedding bracelet. He was a living ornament, decked with two crocodile earrings and a ceremonial crown.
He was smeared with holy paste and anointed with perfumed oil. He was draped in robes of golden yellow and across his chest hung a garland made of tulasī leaves and flowers from the Trees of Heaven. This is how the bridegroom looked, just before he stepped foot in the door.
Viṣṇucitta was joyous, and he humbly welcomed the Lord into his home.
Pārvati and Sarasvati led the ten million women of heaven in singing happy songs about the splendour of Sīta and Rāma’s wedding.
Affectionately, Ekāvaḷi and Sragviṇi fanned her from both sides with yaktail fans.
Earlier, the wives of the Seven Sages gently smeared her with turmeric paste and blessed her as they made her into a bride.
The marriage rites were conducted according to tradition.
Goda was bathed in rose water, poured out from golden pots decorated with jewels.
Her body was caressed with perfume and her head was massaged with fragrant oil that scented her flowing curls.
And like this, the Queen of the World turned from woman to goddess.
Goda was glowing in her thin wet cīra (saree). She was seated on a platform made out of gems as incense smoke dried her long black hair.
Then She with eyes like a doe lovingly gathered her hair to tie a braid.
One friend spread lac water
across her feet and pretty white nails.
Another clasped a silver anklet around her leg
and decorated her toes with rings.
One lovingly dressed her in a cīra (saree) of white silk,
painted with a border of gold.
And another tied an ornamented belt
around her vine-like waist.
One adorned her arms with armlets, and her neck with necklaces
and pearls that sparkled like stars.
And another tied a wedding band around her wrist,
while the others slipped rings on her fingers.
They fastened earrings to her ears, and a nosering to her nose
and placed a gem at her brow
that fell gently from the part in her hair.
And yet another friend applied lines of kāṭuka
around her bright white eyes.
She perfumed her body with deer musk
and placed a chaplet of red lilies in her hair
which was tied up, to one side, in a bun.
This is how Goda was adorned, just before Ādiśeṣa, the Bed of Snakes, announced that the auspicious moment was drawing close. The constellations aligned themselves like tassels in her braids and the sphere of the Sun shone like twelve holy flames, while the Moon, enemy of the flower with a hundred petals, offered up shade like a cooling parasol. The Lord of Rivers arrived carrying gifts, sprinkling petals from red water lilies that he gathered as he passed through the marketplace.
Like the coming of Nature herself, the groom’s party made up of the gods and their wives arrived bearing gifts. The God of Fire lit fragrant sandalwood incense while the God of Rain raised a processional canopy.
Groups of bards recited ancient verses and told tales from royal chronicles while Nārada and Sananda, along with the other mind-born sons of Brahma, played festive music that touched the heart. Garuḍa carried Viṣṇu like a wild elephant fitted with a golden howdah studded with gems. And as the supernatural procession of gods and goddesses passed before Viṣṇucitta, he welcomed them all.
Viṣṇu stretched out his hand and placed it on Viśvaksena’s shoulder as he got down from his vehicle. Then Viṣṇucitta, that most devout of devotees became so filled with excitement that he offered the most gracious of greetings in utter excess.
Viṣṇu stepped foot in the doorway and was led inside by bright-eyed women who washed his feet in giant platters. Saints rushed in to drink that holy water, scooping up every drop until the Earth was left dry.
Viṣṇu sat down on a golden dais that was especially arranged for the groom. His father-in-law poured water from a silver vase into a plate made of gold, and washed the Lord’s feet, delicate as tender sprouts. He adorned him and served him in sixteen different ways, and offered him a mixture of yogurt and brown sugar.
Then that Ālvār, along with his pious wife, solemnly bestowed their jewel of a daughter to the Lord. And then …
Between the couple, the elder gods held a long cloth,
decorated with strings of sparkling pearls, a black border,
and tiny figures painted in gold.
And as the auspicious moment drew close they lowered the veil.
With deep love for each other, the couple held jaggery-sweetened cumin in their soft hands and eagerly exchanged playful glances that everyone could see.
Afterwards, Goda poured rice mixed with pearls on Viṣṇu’s head, adorned with a bāsikam of holy basil.
And as her sprout-like fingers brushed past him, the God Who Wields a Discus broke out in a sweat.
Shiny pearls and beads of sweat fell from his black body like a stream of rain and hailstones from a cloud.
When Goda lifted her cupped hands filled with riceViṣṇu quickly stole a peek at her round, full breasts.
She noticed and felt shy — she pretended she couldn’t raise her arms any further and tossed up the rice with the tips of her fingers.
Chills went down her body as Viṣṇu tied the wedding necklace around her neck.
And then husband and wife tied sacred wedding bands around each other’s wrists.
Following tradition, an altar of fire was made with dried out grains and Viṣṇu, Holder of the Sāraṅga bow, led Goda around it with the Seven Steps.
Together they looked up at the Star of Arundhati in the Constellation formed of the Seven Sages.
Then the couple humbly accepted wedding gifts given by Brahma, Śiva and all the other gods and sent them off with silver platters all laden with gifts.
Glowing with joy, Viṣṇu took Goda back to his home.
And there on the banks of the Kāveri, in a grove of sandalwood trees, he made love to his wife, the woman with curls of black.
And though he ruled the universe, Love ruled his heart and he reigned supreme, spreading peace throughout the world.”
Excerpt from ‘The Giver of the Word Garland’, a translation from Telugu of Kṛṣṇadevarāya’s Āmuktamālyada by Srinivas Reddy
__________________________________________
If you find value in my work, please consider becoming a patron or making a contribution via UPI to hindu.aesthetic@okicici. Hindu Aesthetic requires a lot of time and effort and your support would mean that I can continue bringing you the best possible content. ❤
