- Tiruppavai 30
Ranganatha heard the call of Goda, took all her messages through Manmatha, Tulasi, Flowers and Pashurams and decided to bless her with bliss of marrying her, as per her profound and strong wish. Ranganatha ordained in the dream. the Pandya King Vallabh Raya (Some explain Vallabharaya as disciple) to send Palanquin in Royal way and bring her to Sri Rangam, and arrange for marriage. Goda arrived along with father Periyalwar, and after marrying Him she is absorbed into the Ranganatha, to the dismay of all, especially of her father, who could not stand the sudden disappearance of his lovely divine devotee daughter at her age of 16 years. She Ayonija, i.e., self-emerged, and she just disappeared without Jara and Marana. As she enjoined the supreme pleasure with Ranga, today is Bhogi- soul-deep experience.
Goda is not selfish to achieve her goal and leave all like us for our fate. The ritual or Vrata is not an ordinary process, but a thirty-step plan to scale to the highest goal of abode of Paramatma. As she attained Union with God, through her own self-samarpanam of her life as a Tualasi Dalam or flower; she also laid path for achievement of Rangadhamam/Vaikuntadhamam through the vrata of Tiruppavai. Not only friends of Goda, who were likened to Gopika, anybody who performed this Vrata will reach Parandhamam.
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In this Goda refers to and Sing glory of Ksheera Sagara Mathana – Churning of Milk Ocean. Becoming Koorma, Vishnu bears the brunt of this churning, but He is benefitted with Lakshmi, who born out of that churning. Similarly those who churn the Vedantha Sashtra and they have borne the brunt of all kind of hardship to reach the goal. Like Vishnu gained Lakshmi through Sagara Mathana: Goda earned Ranganatha with churning through Vratha. This thirtieth and ultimate Pashuram which not only achieve the goal but explains the possible fruits that would result, Phala Shruthi.
Transliteration
Vangak Kadal kadaintha Madhavanaik Kesavanai
Thingal thirumugatthuch cheyizhaiyar senrirainji
Angap parai konda vaatrai anipuduvai
Paingamalath than theriyal pattarpiran Kodai sonna
Sangath thamizh maalai muppadum thappame
Ingip parisuraippar eerirandu maal varaith tholl
Sengann thirumugaththu selvath thirumaalal
Engum thiruvarul pettru inburuvar empavai
Translation
Madhava Keshava helped churning of ocean of milk
For Dharma: Worshipped by moon-like women,
Narrating the story of achieving Purushartha in
Divine Srivilliputhur; Daughter of Vishnuchitta
With gold-bright lotus garlands; Sang the 30 nectar-
flowing songs; If recited skipping none; Shall get
Blessings of Shriyahpathi with four-hill like hands
For ever, For All, all through, Raining His bliss.
The Gopiaks, with moon-like beautiful faces, obtained salvation, by surrendering to the Madhavan Kesavan, who churned the ocean of milk, under the leadership of Sri Andal having fresh golden-lotus flowers with fragrance, emerged in beautiful Sri Velliputhhoor, as the daughter of the Vishnu Chitta sang these nectar-flowing 30 songs. Like Goda and Gopikas, all those who recite these thirty-poem-garland daily without missing any song, will gain the grace and derive pleasures from Narayana, with mercy flowing beautiful eyes, and shoulders which can stretch between two pairs of mountains, in association with beautiful Laksmi.
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After climbing 29 steps gradually, Goda is assuring the divine and serene goal of the Vrata – the phalashruthi, the fruits of efforts of all these 29 days in worship of Narayana.
The Lord Madhava, who helped in churning the milky ocean for the doers of good things for general people, and Kesav, embodiment of three Murthees is being worshipped by five lakh beautiful devotee-women like Gopikas in Vrepalle, dressed with fine ornaments, under the guidance of Sri Andal in divine place-Srivilliputtur with the garland of thirty chaste Tamil verses that oozing nectar of divinity. All of them and all of those who recite these 30 songs without skipping any every day will be blessed by Narayana, whose four shoulders strong like hills, whose eyes are bright red and who is the embodiment of all riches, and obtain forever the Bliss.
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Sankranthi means journey into another phase. Goda leads her friends Gopikas into the path of Bhagawan. When Sun moves towards Makar Rashi, it is called Makara Sankranti. Goda is leading us from darkness of ignorance to bright path of Bhakti and love for Supreme soul. Goda imagined herself as Gopika; for her Sri Villiputtur is Vrepalle, she worshipped Sri Ranganatha through Vatapatrasai as Krishna. She performed for one month with one song each, which brings her friends along with her towards Krishna. She laid thirty steps to Sayujyam, the abode of Bhagawan. She loved Ranganatha by sending the garlands after checking their beauty on her person, and then She made another unique garland of 30 songs called Tiruppavai. Her Vratam resulted in Ranganatha himself sending palanquin to Sri Villiputtur to bring the bride Goda to him. She won His heart. She proved that the icon is not a piece of metal but the incarnation of Supreme personality.
Tiruppavai helps the devotees to complete the last month of Dakshinayana, with Vratam and singing the glory of Krishna and enter the divine Uttarayana. Since several centuries, Goda’s Tiruppavai is moving millions of people all over India and wherever Indians spread out, towards the path of Saranagathi to Lord Krishna. She made Sankranti a very purposeful festival, in terms of getting closer to Paramatma. I remember my Peddamma, mother’s elder sister, who taught me entire Ramayana, when I was on bed due to typhoid in my childhood, when there were no TVs at home, like a serial. Her name is Andalamma. She is Godamma for me. I think in every household, there is a Guru like Goda who takes us to Sri Krishna. We need to find it and recognize.
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The conversations between Goda and Govinda, Goda plus Gopikas and Govinda were filled in several Pashurams till yesterday. In Dwapara Yuga Krishna was the destination for Katyayani Vratam for one month performed by Gopikas, according to Vyasa, the rishi who created Bhagawatam. The Vratam was fruitful as they found the God Himself. A similar vratam is performed by Goda in Kaliyuga that lead to Ranganatha marrying Goda.
Govinda asks Gopikas …”Okay, I will accept your personal services, I want to ask you, whether you want others also to try and achieve the success like you in this devotional endeavor?”
Goda and Gopikas: “We could get You after performing the Vrata strictly following its conditions and principles and singing the Songs for last one month. Like Gopikas in Vrepalle and we in Srivilliputtur, everyone who sings and follows the month-long Vratha will surely get the Bliss of Krishna. A mother cow, who lost her calf, looks at a grass shaped calf toy that reminds her child, that causes the spring of milk. Similarly those who sing thirty songs without missing any, will surely gain the result expected.
In the last song, Goda refers to Ksheera Sagara Madhanam, the churning of milk-ocean, a great event of coordinated effort of Devatas and Rakshasas in the interests of universe. Vishnu descends in the form of Tortoise and holds up on His back, the Mandhara Hill, prevent it from drowning. God helps if people work together for welfare of Universe. Lakshmi emerges out of churning, and she reaches the chest of Vishnu. He became Madhava.
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Goda referred to the event of this churning to pray God to help us to cross the ocean of this worldly living exercise. Goda suggests singing all the 30 without skipping any, because they are thirty ascending steps to reach the destination of God. Then Lord Krishna, appear with His brilliant lotus flower like face and four strong arms to bless them with four Purushartha – Dharma-Artha-Kaama and Moksha. Thus, Goda explained Phalashriti, the fruitful result of the Vrata.
