Vishnuchitta was almost done stringing his garland. Making a beautiful flower garland for the Lord in the local Vatapatrashayi Temple in Srivilliputhur was his daily offering of love.
All of a sudden, he heard the faint cry of a baby. He didn’t think much of it and simply headed toward the tulsi bush in his garden to finish up the garland. He turned his head to pluck some leaves and was surprised to find a tiny infant with luscious locks of black hair lying beside the plant.
Vishnuchitta carefully picked up the beautiful baby and brought her inside his house. He named her Goda and brought the girl up as his own daughter.
Every day, as Vishnuchitta worked on his garlands or put Goda to bed, he entertained her with stories of Lord Krishna. Goda loved every moment of it. She listened to each story with wide and eager eyes. When one story finished, she couldn’t wait to hear more about Krishna.
Goda liked to pretend that she was a gopi girl who grew up in Vrindavana alongside Krishna—like in the stories she heard from her father. When her father wasn’t around, she wore the long flower garlands that he made around her own neck. Goda would act like a young gopi playing with Krishna and look at herself in the mirror.
One day, Vishnuchitta happened to walk in on Goda wearing the garland. His jaw dropped open, and he pulled the garland off of her neck.
“Goda!” he yelled furiously. “What do you think you’re doing? That garland was specifically made for the Lord. Look, strands of your hair are all tangled around the flowers. Now, I’ll have to make a brand new one and keep our dear Vatapatrashayi waiting.”
Goda couldn’t dare to mention that this was part of her daily routine. She hung her head low and silently stood in front of her father.
Vishnuchitta rushed to the garden and began hurriedly picking flowers and tulsi leaves. He had already handpicked the best ones earlier in the morning. Most of the flowers remaining were wilted. He had to make do with what was available, and he quickly strung a small garland.
Vishnuchitta and Goda ran to the temple with the garland. Vishnuchitta handed it over to the priest, and the priest offered it to Vatapatrashayi. Almost immediately, the garland fell from the idol’s shoulders. Taken aback, the priest picked it up and carefully placed it around the Lord’s neck. It fell back onto the ground.
They fruitlessly tried a few more times, and it was clear that Vatapatrashayi was not accepting the garland.
Vishnuchitta turned to his daughter and shook his head with disappointment. He was convinced that the Lord’s rejection of the garland was all her fault.
Vishnuchitta fell asleep that night with a heavy heart. He was troubled that he was unable to serve the Lord as usual. But in the middle of the night, Sriman Narayana himself appeared in his dreams.
“Dear Vishnuchitta,” the Lord said, “it is the garlands worn first by Goda and then offered to me that I enjoy the most.”
Vishnuchitta’s heart swelled upon hearing this. He praised Goda—who later became known as Andal—for her exceptional devotion that was lovingly acknowledged by the Lord himself.
