Godā Stuti
Godā Stuti is a celebrated Sanskrit hymn of 29 verses composed by Śrī Vedānta Deśika (1268–1369 CE), one of the greatest ācāryas of the Śrī Vaiṣṇava tradition, revered as a poet, philosopher, and sage. The stuti glorifies Āṇḍāl, also known as Godā Devī and Śūḍikkodutha Nācciyār, the only female among the twelve Āḷvār saints and universally worshipped as an avatāra of Bhūdevī (the Earth Goddess). Born into the hands of the saint Periyāḻvār (Viṣṇucitta) of Śrīvilliputtūr, she was found as an infant in a sacred tulasī grove. From her earliest childhood, Āṇḍāl was wholly consumed by divine love for Lord Raṅganātha of Śrīraṅgam. She would first adorn herself with the garlands meant for the Lord, blessing them with her divine fragrance, and then offer them to Him. Delighted by her unparalleled devotion, the Lord revealed in a dream to Periyāḻvār that He desired only garlands worn by Godā, and thus she came to be known as Śūḍikkodutha Nācciyār, 'the Goddess who gave what she had herself worn.' Āṇḍāl composed two immortal Tamil works: the Tiruppāvai (30 devotional pāsurams sung every morning during the auspicious month of Mārkali, December–January) and the Nācciyār Tirumoli (143 pāsurams of intense divine yearning). She ultimately journeyed to Śrīraṅgam and merged with Lord Raṅganātha Himself. Reciting the Godā Stuti with sincere devotion is said to bestow all four puruṣārthas, dharma (righteousness), artha (prosperity), kāma (fulfilment of desires), and mokṣa (liberation), remove obstacles, grant health, marital happiness and progeny, and ultimately lead the devotee to liberation through the boundless grace of Godā Devī and Lord Raṅganātha.
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विष्णुचित्तसुपुत्रीं तां भूमिदेवीसमुद्भवाम् ।
रङ्गनाथप्रियां देवीं गोदां वन्दे नमाम्य् अहम् ॥१॥
viṣṇu-citta-suputrīṃ tāṃ bhūmi-devī-samudbhavām
raṅganātha-priyāṃ devīṃ godāṃ vande namāmy aham 1
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
I salute and bow to Godā — the beloved daughter of Viṣṇucitta, who arose from Bhūmidevī (the Earth Goddess), and who is the beloved of Lord Raṅganātha.
श्रीविल्लिपुत्तूरविषये तुलसीवनमध्यतः ।
आविर्बभूव गोदाम्बा क्ष्मासारा सुमनोहर ॥२॥
śrī-villiputtūra-viṣaye tulasī-vana-madhyataḥ
āvirbabhūva godāmbā kṣmā-sārā sumanohara 2
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
In the holy region of Śrīvilliputtūr, from the midst of a tulasī grove, Mother Godā appeared — the very essence of the Earth, utterly captivating.
विष्णुचित्तः स धर्मात्मा वापिकान्ते कदाचन ।
बालां तुलसीकानने लब्ध्वा ययौ गृहं मुदा ॥३॥
viṣṇu-cittaḥ sa dharmātmā vāpikānte kadācana
bālāṃ tulasī-kānane labdhvā yayau gṛhaṃ mudā 3
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The righteous Viṣṇucitta (Periyāḻvār), one day near the garden, found an infant in the tulasī grove, and went home with a heart brimming with joy.
क्ष्मया दत्तां वरां बालां गोदानाम्ना प्रथापयन् ।
पालयाम् आस प्रेम्णा च विष्णुचित्तो महामतिः ॥४॥
kṣmayā dattāṃ varāṃ bālāṃ godā-nāmnā prathāpayan
pālayām āsa premṇā ca viṣṇu-citto mahā-matiḥ 4
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The great-minded Viṣṇucitta named this child given by the Earth 'Godā' (gift of the Earth), and raised her with boundless love.
बाल्यात् प्रभृति सा देवी कृष्णभक्तिपरायणा ।
रङ्गनाथपदाम्भोजे मनो भृङ्गम् इवार्पयत् ॥५॥
bālyāt prabhṛti sā devī kṛṣṇa-bhakti-parāyaṇā
raṅganātha-padāmbhoje mano bhṛṅgam ivārpayat 5
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
From her very childhood, that Goddess was wholly devoted to the path of Kṛṣṇa-bhakti, offering her mind — like a bee — on the lotus feet of Lord Raṅganātha.
माल्यं स्वकण्ठे धृत्वाग्रे तत्पश्चात् प्रीतिपूर्वकम् ।
रङ्गनाथाय दद्याच् च गोदा प्रेमकलावती ॥६॥
mālyaṃ sva-kaṇṭhe dhṛtvāgre tatpaścāt prīti-pūrvakam
raṅganāthāya dadyāc ca godā prema-kalāvatī 6
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Godā, full of the arts of divine love, would first wear the garland around her own neck and then, with deep affection, offer it to Lord Raṅganātha.
स्वप्नेऽदर्शद् विष्णुचित्तं रङ्गनाथस् तदा प्रभुः ।
गोदाधृतम् इदं माल्यं मम प्रियतरं ध्रुवम् ॥७॥
svapne'darśad viṣṇu-cittaṃ raṅganāthas tadā prabhuḥ
godā-dhṛtam idaṃ mālyaṃ mama priyataraṃ dhruvam 7
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then Lord Raṅganātha appeared to Viṣṇucitta in a dream, declaring: 'This garland worn by Godā is certainly most dear to Me.'
तद्धृतं माल्यम् आदाय रङ्गाधिपो मुदा स्वयम् ।
शिरसि धारयन् नित्यं गोदां सम्मानयन् मुदा ॥८॥
tad-dhṛtaṃ mālyam ādāya raṅgādhipo mudā svayam
śirasi dhārayan nityaṃ godāṃ sammānayan mudā 8
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Lord Raṅgādhipa Himself, with great delight, accepted the garland worn by her, always placed it on His own head, and thus honored Godā.
शूडिक्कोदुथनाम्नी सा प्रथिता भुवनत्रये ।
माल्यावलेपिनी देवी श्रीरङ्गेशस्य वल्लभा ॥९॥
śūḍikkodutha-nāmnī sā prathitā bhuvana-traye
mālyāvalepinī devī śrī-raṅgeśasya vallabhā 9
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
She became renowned throughout the three worlds as Śūḍikkodutha — 'she who gave what she herself wore.' This Goddess who wore the garlands before offering them is the beloved of Śrī Raṅgeśa.
हेमवर्णतनुर् दिव्या पद्मानना सुलोचना ।
दिव्याभरणभूषाढ्या गोदा सर्वाभिरामिका ॥१०॥
hema-varṇa-tanur divyā padmānanā su-locanā
divyābharaṇa-bhūṣāḍhyā godā sarvābhirāmikā 10
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Godā has a divine golden-complexioned body, a lotus-like face, beautiful eyes, and is abundantly adorned with divine ornaments — she is captivating and pleasing to all.
महालक्ष्मीसमा साक्षात् रमया समवैभवा ।
गोदा देवी विराजते रङ्गनाथहृदं गता ॥११॥
mahā-lakṣmī-samā sākṣāt ramayā sama-vaibhavā
godā devī virājate raṅganātha-hṛdaṃ gatā 11
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Goddess Godā, equal to Mahālakṣmī herself and of the same glory as Ramā, shines resplendently — she who has entered the very heart of Lord Raṅganātha.
भूमिदेव्याः कलाभूता विष्णुनित्यानुगामिनी ।
अवतीर्णा महीं गोदा बद्धस्नेहविलासिनी ॥१२॥
bhūmi-devyāḥ kalābhūtā viṣṇu-nityānugāminī
avatīrṇā mahīṃ godā baddha-sneha-vilāsinī 12
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Godā, a divine manifestation of Bhūmidevī who eternally accompanies Viṣṇu, descended to this earth, playfully absorbed in boundless divine love.
मार्कले मासि प्रातर् वा स्नाननिरतया स्वयम् ।
तिरुप्पावैम् चक्रे या सा द्राविडवेदविभाविनी ॥१३॥
mārkale māsi prātar vā snāna-niratayā svayam
tiruppāvaim cakre yā sā drāviḍa-veda-vibhāvinī 13
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
She who, devoted to sacred morning baths in the month of Mārkali, composed the Tiruppāvai — she is the very embodiment of the Drāviḍa Veda.
मार्कले मासि प्रातःकाले तिरुप्पावैम् पठन् नरः ।
सर्वान् कामान् समाप्नोति ज्ञानं भक्तिं च विन्दति ॥१४॥
mārkale māsi prātaḥ-kāle tiruppāvaim paṭhan naraḥ
sarvān kāmān samāpnoti jñānaṃ bhaktiṃ ca vindati 14
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
A person who recites the Tiruppāvai in the early morning during the month of Mārkali attains all desires and gains both knowledge and devotion.
रङ्गनाथविरहाता गोदा कारुण्यवर्षिणी ।
नाच्चियार्तिरुमोलिं चक्रे भक्तसंसारमोचकम् ॥१५॥
raṅganātha-virahātā godā kāruṇya-varṣiṇī
nācciyār-tiru-moliṃ cakre bhakta-saṃsāra-mocakam 15
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Overcome with the pain of separation from Lord Raṅganātha and showering compassion on all, Godā composed the Nācciyār Tirumoli — the liberator of devoted seekers from the cycle of saṃsāra.
विरहज्वरसंतप्ता रङ्गनाथपदार्थिनी ।
गोदादेवी सदा भक्त्या कृष्णपादे मनो दधे ॥१६॥
viraha-jvara-saṃtaptā raṅganātha-padārthinī
godā-devī sadā bhaktyā kṛṣṇa-pāde mano dadhe 16
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Burning with the fever of separation and always longing for the feet of Raṅganātha, Goddess Godā fixed her mind with utter devotion at the feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
श्रीरङ्गं प्राप्य सा देवी रङ्गनाथसमीपतः ।
उपागता महाप्रेम्णा हर्षितमानसा स्वयम् ॥१७॥
śrī-raṅgaṃ prāpya sā devī raṅganātha-samīpataḥ
upāgatā mahā-premṇā harṣita-mānasā svayam 17
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Having reached Śrīraṅgam, that Goddess approached the presence of Lord Raṅganātha Himself, her heart overflowing with supreme love and joy.
अन्तःपुरं प्रविक्ष्यैव रङ्गनाथं समाश्रिता ।
गोदा तस्मिन् विलेयेऽथ दिव्यमाङ्गल्यरूपिणी ॥१८॥
antaḥ-puraṃ pravikṣyaiva raṅganāthaṃ samāśritā
godā tasmin vileye'tha divya-māṅgalya-rūpiṇī 18
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Having entered the inner sanctuary and taking complete refuge in Lord Raṅganātha, Godā — the embodiment of divine auspiciousness — then merged into Him.
द्वादशाऌवारमध्येऽपि गोदादेवी स्त्रियां वरा ।
श्रीवैष्णवकुलालम्बा द्राविडागमशोभिनी ॥१९॥
dvādaśāḷvāra-madhye'pi godā-devī striyāṃ varā
śrī-vaiṣṇava-kulālambā drāviḍāgama-śobhinī 19
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Even among the twelve Āḷvārs, Goddess Godā is the foremost among women; she is the pillar of the Śrī Vaiṣṇava tradition and adorns the entire Drāviḍa scriptural heritage.
पुरुषकाररूपा सा भक्तानां रक्षणोद्धरा ।
रङ्गनाथसमीपेऽपि जीवानां शुभकारिणी ॥२०॥
puruṣakāra-rūpā sā bhaktānāṃ rakṣaṇoddharā
raṅganātha-samīpe'pi jīvānāṃ śubha-kāriṇī 20
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
She is the embodiment of Puruṣakāra — the divine mediating role — and the uplifter and protector of devotees; even in the presence of Lord Raṅganātha, she ceaselessly acts for the welfare of all living beings.
गोदायाः स्पर्शमाल्यं तु शिरसि धारयेत् स्वयम् ।
रङ्गनाथः प्रमोदेन सा तस्य हृदयं गता ॥२१॥
godāyāḥ sparśa-mālyaṃ tu śirasi dhārayet svayam
raṅganāthaḥ pramodena sā tasya hṛdayaṃ gatā 21
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Lord Raṅganātha Himself, with great delight, would always place the garland blessed by Godā's touch on His own head — for she has entered the very depths of His heart.
कञ्चनप्रभाशोभिनी पद्माकरा मनोरमा ।
श्रीरङ्गेशगृहे नित्या गोदां नमामि भावतः ॥२२॥
kañcana-prabhā-śobhinī padmā-karā manoramā
śrī-raṅgeśa-gṛhe nityā godāṃ namāmi bhāvataḥ 22
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Shining with the brilliance of gold, holding a lotus, utterly captivating to the mind, ever present in the temple of Śrī Raṅgeśa — I bow to Godā with deepest devotion.
धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणां दात्री गोदा कृपामयी ।
शरणागतरक्षार्थं रङ्गाधिपतेर् प्रिया ॥२३॥
dharmārtha-kāma-mokṣāṇāṃ dātrī godā kṛpāmayī
śaraṇāgata-rakṣārthaṃ raṅgādhipater priyā 23
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Godā, the compassionate one and beloved of Lord Raṅgādhipa, is the bestower of all four goals of life — dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa — and is ever ready to protect those who seek her refuge.
सर्वभूतानि संरक्षेत् गोदा कारुण्यवारिधिः ।
तस्याः स्तवं पठन्न् आर्यो रङ्गनाथस्य प्रियः स्यात् ॥२४॥
sarva-bhūtāni saṃrakṣet godā kāruṇya-vāridhiḥ
tasyāḥ stavaṃ paṭhann āryo raṅganāthasya priyaḥ syāt 24
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Godā, the boundless ocean of compassion, protects all living beings; a virtuous person who recites her stavam becomes dear to Lord Raṅganātha.
अभयं ददते देवी गोदा शरणसेविनः ।
कृपादृष्ट्या निरीक्ष्यैव रङ्गनाथे निवेशयेत् ॥२५॥
abhayaṃ dadate devī godā śaraṇa-sevinaḥ
kṛpā-dṛṣṭyā nirīkṣyaiva raṅganāthe niveśayet 25
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Goddess Godā grants fearlessness to all who seek her refuge; looking upon them with a compassionate gaze, she leads them into the shelter of Lord Raṅganātha.
तुलसीमालया पूजां माल्येन कुङ्कुमेन च ।
गोदाया अर्चनं कृत्वा सर्वदोषात् विमुच्यते ॥२६॥
tulasī-mālayā pūjāṃ mālyena kuṅkumena ca
godāyā arcanaṃ kṛtvā sarva-doṣāt vimucyate 26
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
By performing the worship of Godā with tulasī garlands, flower garlands, and sacred kuṅkuma, one is freed from all faults and sins.
भूदेवीश्रीदेवीसमा रङ्गनाथप्रिया च या ।
गोदादेवी नमस्यामि सा मे श्रेयः प्रयच्छतु ॥२७॥
bhū-devī-śrī-devī-samā raṅganātha-priyā ca yā
godā-devī namasyāmi sā me śreyaḥ prayacchatu 27
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
I venerate Goddess Godā — she who is equal to both Bhūdevī and Śrī Devī, and who is the beloved of Lord Raṅganātha; may she bestow upon me the highest welfare.
इमं गोदास्तवं भक्त्या यः पठेत् शृणुयात् अपि ।
तस्य सर्वार्थसिद्धिः स्यात् श्रीरङ्गनाथप्रसादतः ॥२८॥
imaṃ godā-stavaṃ bhaktyā yaḥ paṭhet śṛṇuyāt api
tasya sarvārthasiddhiḥ syāt śrī-raṅganātha-prasādataḥ 28
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Whoever recites or even listens to this Godā Stavam with devotion shall attain the fulfilment of all goals and desires by the grace of Lord Śrī Raṅganātha.
श्रीवेदान्तदेशिकेन गोदास्तुतिम् इमां कृताम् ।
पथं मुक्तिं फलम् आप्नोति गोदारङ्गेशकृपया ॥२९॥
śrī-vedānta-deśikena godā-stutim imāṃ kṛtām
pathaṃ muktiṃ phalam āpnoti godā-raṅgeśa-kṛpayā 29
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Reciting this Godā Stuti composed by Śrī Vedānta Deśika, one attains the supreme fruit of liberation by the combined grace of Godā Devī and Lord Raṅgeśa.
