Godha Stuthi | Swami Desikan | Sri Andal

Swami Vedanta Desikan [1268 - 1369] considered to be the Avatar (incarnation) of the Divine Bell of Lord Venkateshwara of Tirumalai was one of the brilliant Acharyas/ Stalwarts of Sri Vaishnava Siddhanta in the post Ramanuja period. He has composed Sri Goda Stuthi comprising of 29 Shlokas on Sri Goda Devi during his visit to Sri Villiputhur. Sri Andal is the incarnation of Bhoodevi and chose Sri Ranganatha, in the Archavatara as her Consort.
Goda Stuthi presents to us a beautiful picture of Sri Andal with Sri Ranganatha standing beside her delighted by the fragrant garland of flowers and the sweet worded garland of verses (poo-malai and paa-malai).

There is a popular tale current in Sri Villiputhur even today with reference to the Goda Stuthi. In the course of his pilgrimage to worship Lord Vishnu in the various shrines in South India, Sri Vedanta Desika came to Sri Villiputhur, the birth place of Sri Andal . The first Shloka of Goda stuthi arose from him spontaneously as he saw the Archa Moorthy of Sri Andal being carried by temple servants approaching him on a Pradhosham evening. Andal's normal processional route did not include the street, where Swami Desikan was staying. On this special day, due to some unknown circumstances, the temple priests had rerouted the procession to include the street where he was staying. Moved by the extraordinary appearance of Sri Andal, Swami Desikan poured out his emotions in the form of 29 shlokas, in two beautiful Sanskrit poetic meters known as Vasantha Tilakam and Maalini.

Sri Andal was so much pleased that she immediately commanded the temple servants and the public to commemorate the birth of Goda Stuthi from Sri Vedanta Desikan in a suitable manner in the form of a festival every year known as 'Goda Stuthi Utsavam' by name.

By describing the wedding of Sri Andal and Ranganatha, the verses acquire an auspicious tone which brings in prosperity whenever and wherever recited. Here, it is presented in musical form, in the following ragams:

1) Malayamarutham
2) Dhanyasi
3) Saranga
4) Mohanam
5) Arabhi
6) Bhairavi
7) Saveri
8) Nattai
9) Sriranjani
10) Begada
11) Amruthavarshini
12) Hindolam
13) Kedaragowla
14) Anandhabhairavi
15) Kunthalavarali
16) Mukhari
17) Varali
18) Sahana
19) Reetigowla
20) Atana
21) Nattaikurunji
22) Poorvikalyani
23) Hamsadwani
24) Kambhoji
25) Vasantha
26) Kanada
27) Hamsanandhi
28) Kaapi
29) Surutti

May Sri Andal's blessings be bestowed on all of us.

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