Story Of Andal
On July 30, 2024Andal, or Godadevi, is a prominent female Goddess in South India. She is one of the twelve South Indian Alvar saints. She is known for her pure devotion and love towards Lord Vishnu. Andal is also known for her poetry, which often depicts her love for Lord Vishnu. In her autobiographical notes, she describes her parents as devout Vishnu devotees who live in Srivilliputtur and call herself fortunate to be her daughter. Read below to learn more about the story of the pious Andal.
History Of The Alvars
The Alvars were Vaisnavite poets of the medieval era who created Tamil hymns, making the Vedas accessible to common people. These Alvars wrote as many as four thousand songs. They are called Nalayira Divya Prabhandam and are deemed to be equivalent to the Vedas. The Sanskrit Vedas are recited by those who follow the deity, and the Divya Prabandham in Tamil is chanted by people who lead temple processions.
It is said that Alvar Periyalvar (one of the twelve Alvars) is said to have found Andal in the Tulsi garden as a baby at the Srivilliputhur temple. She was adopted by Periyalvar. However, there are other theories that say that Andal is a pseudonym of Periyalvar and that she does not exist. However, to know if this is true or not, one must research the other Alvars and their backgrounds. It should be noted that most of the Alvars were not Brahmins. For instance, Kulasekara Alvar was from a Kshatriya community, Thiruppana Alvar was a Chola king from the Panar community, and Thirumangai Alvar was a robber from the Kallar community who later became a devotee. Nammalvar was from the Vellala family and is said to have been dumb for the first part of his life and did not even open his eyes. Like Andal Thirumazhisai, Alvar was a foster child and was born to a sage who had no legs or arms. In a verse, he said that he was an untouchable. Only Thondaradipodi Alvar was a Brahmin who was against the caste system.
The Alwars were chosen to bridge the gap in society and bring marginalized people into the fold. Andal was chosen as the lone woman to show that anyone with devotion can become an Alvar.
Early Life Of Andal
It is said that Andal, from an early age, loved Lord Vishnu but refused to marry a mortal. In her hymns, she rejects everyone and everything and demands the Lord’s caress and His embrace. Andal may be devoted but audacious, and that can be seen in her work. Despite the language being a barrier with translations falling short, it shows that she was a fascinating woman. Andal was found by Vishnu Chitta as an infant and was called Periyalvar. She was called Kothai or Garland. She grew up in Srivilliputhur temple town and became called Andal.
Andal is thought to be a Tamil poet of the 10th century who is considered a saint in South India. She is the only woman Alvar among the twelve Alwars and is said to be an incarnation of Bhumi Devi, the consort of Narayana (Lord Vishnu incarnation). A compilation of poems called Andal Thiruppavai, sung by her, is recited by the devotees during the Marhazi month of the Tamil Calendar. As per her life story, a person called Vishnu Chitta found her as a baby and named her Goda, the Gift of Earth. Vishnu Chitta brought her up in an environment where there was devotion and love towards Lord Vishnu. The intensity of dedication and love towards Him was so great that Goda decided to marry Lord Vishnu's incarnation, Sri Ranganatha.
Sri Ranganatha And Andal
Andal's biography has many legends about her, and one of them is that she grew up intending to marry Lord Ranganatha. She started making unique offerings to Vishnu and used to wear the Tulsi garland first and then offer it to the Lord. Her justification for this was that she wanted to check if the garland looked good or not before presenting it to the Lord. That is the kind of devotion and love she had for Vishnu.
One day, her father saw this and scolded her for this act. Goda made a new garland and the same night, Vishnu Chitta had a dream that the Lord accepted Goda’s used garland, and from that day onwards, she became known as Andal, the woman who loves the Lord.
When Andal reached marriageable age, Vishnu Chitta told her to get married. She refused and said that she would only marry Ranganatha. It is said that after this conversation, Vishnu Chitta again got a vision where the Lord told him to send Andal as a bride to the temple of Sri Ranganatha. On reaching the temple, she became a divine light and united with the Lord.
Andal’s Works
Andal composed two works;
Tiruppavai is a thirty-verse poem in which she is a cowherd girl during Lord Krishna's incarnation. She yearns to serve and achieve happiness in all births.
Nacciyar Tirumoli is a 143-verse poem which reveals her longing for Lord Vishnu.
Andal is worshipped as a Goddess (in the form of Bhudevi) by Vishnu devotees and is seen beside Lord Vishnu along with Sridevi (Goddess Lakshmi incarnation). Her birthday is celebrated as Andal Jayanthi with great devotion.
History Of The Alvars
The Alvars were Vaisnavite poets of the medieval era who created Tamil hymns, making the Vedas accessible to common people. These Alvars wrote as many as four thousand songs. They are called Nalayira Divya Prabhandam and are deemed to be equivalent to the Vedas. The Sanskrit Vedas are recited by those who follow the deity, and the Divya Prabandham in Tamil is chanted by people who lead temple processions.
It is said that Alvar Periyalvar (one of the twelve Alvars) is said to have found Andal in the Tulsi garden as a baby at the Srivilliputhur temple. She was adopted by Periyalvar. However, there are other theories that say that Andal is a pseudonym of Periyalvar and that she does not exist. However, to know if this is true or not, one must research the other Alvars and their backgrounds. It should be noted that most of the Alvars were not Brahmins. For instance, Kulasekara Alvar was from a Kshatriya community, Thiruppana Alvar was a Chola king from the Panar community, and Thirumangai Alvar was a robber from the Kallar community who later became a devotee. Nammalvar was from the Vellala family and is said to have been dumb for the first part of his life and did not even open his eyes. Like Andal Thirumazhisai, Alvar was a foster child and was born to a sage who had no legs or arms. In a verse, he said that he was an untouchable. Only Thondaradipodi Alvar was a Brahmin who was against the caste system.
The Alwars were chosen to bridge the gap in society and bring marginalized people into the fold. Andal was chosen as the lone woman to show that anyone with devotion can become an Alvar.
Early Life Of Andal
It is said that Andal, from an early age, loved Lord Vishnu but refused to marry a mortal. In her hymns, she rejects everyone and everything and demands the Lord’s caress and His embrace. Andal may be devoted but audacious, and that can be seen in her work. Despite the language being a barrier with translations falling short, it shows that she was a fascinating woman. Andal was found by Vishnu Chitta as an infant and was called Periyalvar. She was called Kothai or Garland. She grew up in Srivilliputhur temple town and became called Andal.
Andal is thought to be a Tamil poet of the 10th century who is considered a saint in South India. She is the only woman Alvar among the twelve Alwars and is said to be an incarnation of Bhumi Devi, the consort of Narayana (Lord Vishnu incarnation). A compilation of poems called Andal Thiruppavai, sung by her, is recited by the devotees during the Marhazi month of the Tamil Calendar. As per her life story, a person called Vishnu Chitta found her as a baby and named her Goda, the Gift of Earth. Vishnu Chitta brought her up in an environment where there was devotion and love towards Lord Vishnu. The intensity of dedication and love towards Him was so great that Goda decided to marry Lord Vishnu's incarnation, Sri Ranganatha.
Sri Ranganatha And Andal
Andal's biography has many legends about her, and one of them is that she grew up intending to marry Lord Ranganatha. She started making unique offerings to Vishnu and used to wear the Tulsi garland first and then offer it to the Lord. Her justification for this was that she wanted to check if the garland looked good or not before presenting it to the Lord. That is the kind of devotion and love she had for Vishnu.
One day, her father saw this and scolded her for this act. Goda made a new garland and the same night, Vishnu Chitta had a dream that the Lord accepted Goda’s used garland, and from that day onwards, she became known as Andal, the woman who loves the Lord.
When Andal reached marriageable age, Vishnu Chitta told her to get married. She refused and said that she would only marry Ranganatha. It is said that after this conversation, Vishnu Chitta again got a vision where the Lord told him to send Andal as a bride to the temple of Sri Ranganatha. On reaching the temple, she became a divine light and united with the Lord.
Andal’s Works
Andal composed two works;
Tiruppavai is a thirty-verse poem in which she is a cowherd girl during Lord Krishna's incarnation. She yearns to serve and achieve happiness in all births.
Nacciyar Tirumoli is a 143-verse poem which reveals her longing for Lord Vishnu.
Andal is worshipped as a Goddess (in the form of Bhudevi) by Vishnu devotees and is seen beside Lord Vishnu along with Sridevi (Goddess Lakshmi incarnation). Her birthday is celebrated as Andal Jayanthi with great devotion.