Oh, Vishnu, your shining is like the blue sapphire resting on the leaf of a Banyan tree, when the whole universe is on the edge of devastation. You are capable of making possible those impossible things. We want to have your divine association like a holy bath during Marga Shirsha month of winter mornings. Following the path of elders, we came to You to tell what we want, if You are willing to listen to us. Grant us such conches like the milky white Panchajanya that can send spine-chilling terror in enemies and make the devotees feel assured and fearless- Abhayam; big drums (Parai) which can give notice and attract many melodious musicians who can sing praising Your glory and hail You; the bright lamps that guide us; flags, decorative cloths so that we all worship You as part of this Vratham.
Goda’s Tamil Pashuram
Maaley! Manivanna! Maargazhi Neeraaduvaam
Melaiyaar Seivanangal Venduvana Kettliyel
Gnalath-thai Ellam Nadunga Muralvana
Paalanna Vannathu un Paanchajanyamey
Polvana Sangangal poi-p-paadu Udaiyanave
Saalap-preum Paraiyey Pallaandu Isaipparey
Kola Vilakkey Kodiyey Vidhaaname
Aalin Ilayai! Arul-el or empaavai
English Poem
Lord on Banyan Leaf, like lively Blue Sapphire,
We came doing best practices for Margali Bath,
If You listen, We tell our desire: Grant the Conches
Like your milky white, resounding Panchajanya
That sends spine-chilling terror into enemies and
Free your devotees from fear; Big Drums to
Attract many; melodious Singers; Bright Lamps
Flags & Decorative cloths to hail your glory.
Maale Manivanna is the pet name that Yashoda used to call Krishna. When Gopikas thoughtfully addressed Him with this lovely name of his mother, He was pleased but hiding his pleasure he smiled and asked them to come out with their desires. There is no reciprocal bargain with God, like I break coconuts, you grant me this, etc. Gopikas know that. We have not performed Vrata expecting anything. You said you would give us something. Okay, if you think of giving something to us, we will take it. But we have not come for that. We want You, your association, your affection, to bathe in Your glory, to sing it, and to hail you.
Krishna was born to one and came to the other mother only to associate with Gopikas, who was thinking how to get Him nearer. He was mad after Gopikas, which makes Gopikas go mad for Him, enabling a comparison between them. He is mad with these feelings, says the great interpreter of Tiruppavai, Sri Bhashyam Appalacharya. Krishna is an embodiment of love. Lakshmi who is born out of lotus, loved the colour of Hari and settled permanently on His chest. He is like a precious stone, whoever has it feels Krishna Mani is his life; without Him, there is no life at all. The Mani–diamond will always help others and cannot do anything for oneself.
Gopikas and Goda asked for Conch – the Sankh. Not the Chakra – a sharp disc that cannot be handled by anybody except Krishna. Once his childhood friend Sri Malikudu, insisted on having Krishna’s Chakra. He warned him about the risks with Chakra. He still wanted.
One should deserve to hold weapons of mass destruction. Brahmastra is one such weapon, which in the hands of Ashwatthama, an undeserving person, created havoc. When Vishnu appeared before Subhrahmanya Swamy who did penance on the banks of Pushkarini in Tirumala, (That is why it is called Swami Pushkarini), Shiva also appeared to meet Vishnu. Attracted by the environmental beauty of Tirumala Hills, Shiva expressed the desire to stay over there. Vishnu says that the entire Tirumala Hills is the Adishesha, his cot and bed, and Shiva can reside at the serene end point of Tirumala Hills, which is now known as Kapila Teertham. This place is very sacred with the spring of divine water flowing from Tirumala Hills, where Alwars used to stay and take baths. Hence it is also called Alwar Theertham. Shiva being a great friend of Vishnu, also desired to have the Disc of Vishnu. Vishnu did not giveup because of the risk involved. Sankh and Chakra of Vishnu generally cannot be handled by others. Sankh is so dear to Vishnu, that He cannot imagine life without it. Hence, Gopikas wanted it as that compels Vishnu to be always with them.
When they asked for Conches, Parai (drum), bright lamps, Singers, Flag, and Decorative Cloth, Tents to protect their heads from snow, God doubts, do I have so many with me to give you all? Then Goda says, you contain the several families of Universes within you and sleep like a pretty baby on banyan leaf as if you do not know anything. Can’t you give us these small things?
Krishna then thinks he should give them things similar to those they asked. He gets one conch from the Vishnu temple and offers a musical instrument he used at the time of eating butter in Nanda Vraja. Singer Nammalwar was given. Towards flag, Garuda was asked to join Gopikas. For Umbrella he gave the Shesha Vastram, a cloth he has worn. And above all, to meet their demand for light, He asked Mother Lakshmi to be with them. Mother is of such a great light and life for all, equal to God Himself. It is said that He cannot be everywhere, He created Mothers. Gopikas desired them as they were all closely related to and associated with Vishnu.
