Andal 00. Life Story Of Andal Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

Andal is known as Kodhai or Godha. Among the twelve Alwars, she was the only female saint. She was the author of Thiruppavai, which contains 30 verses in chaste Tamil. Its highly spiritual content praises Lord Krishna for all His leela (plays) .

She lived in the first half of 8th Centure A.D. But some scholars say that she was born as far back as 300 years B.C. She was born at Srivilliputhur near Madurai, Tamilnadu, South India in Tamil month Adi, Birth Star being Poornam, on a Tuesday, on the 4th day of bright fortnight. In the Tulsi garden as a just born child she was found by Vishnuchitta (Perialwar) , a great devotee of Vishnu.

As a young girl, she used to listen to holy discourses, Vedas, Bhajans. She was more interested in the leelas (Plays) of Lord Krishna from her very childhood and developed a deep love for the Lord. She helped her father every day in making flower garlands to offer to the temple Deity. Unknowingly that it was an act of sacrilege, and unnoticed by anyone, she used to wear the garlands before offering to the Lord.

One day the temple priest noticed the presence of a hair in the garland and returned it to her father, who was very much upset that day. Back home he made a fresh garland and offered it to the Lord.

Next day he secretly watched Andal wearing the garland before offering it to the Lord. He advised her not to do so and she also took his advice earnestly.

The Lord came that night in his dream as well as the temple priest and told them that He preferred the garland worn by Andal, as it had more fragrance added to the flowers, besides the fact that she had won His heart.

Her major contributions to the ancient Tamil spiritual literature were Tiruppavai containing 30 Pasurams (verses) and Nachiyar Thirumozhi in 143 verses.

When she attained the marriageable age she was persistent that she would marry only Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam Temple in South India. The Lord came again in the dreams of Perialwar as well as the temple priest and told them that He would marry Andal. He asked them to bring her to the temple and thus she was married to the Lord by exchange of garlands.

Suddenly she vanished and merged with the Lord and became a Goddess thereafter. Even today she is worshiped in the temple and a garland worn by her is offered to the Lord of that temple.

The 30 songs (Pasurams) of Tiruppavai are sung in Vaishnava temples, particularly during Margazhi Month. (Between December-January) .