Andal

For other uses, see Andal (disambiguation).

Andal at Pundarikakshan, Perumal Temple, Tamil Nadu

Andal (Tamil: , ) is the only fe-

male Alvar among the 12 Alvar saints of South India.
The Alvar saints are known for their aliation to the
Srivaishnava tradition of Hinduism. Active in the 8th-
century,[2][4] with some suggesting 7 Last,[3][note 1] Andal
is credited with the great Tamil works, Thiruppavai and
Nachiar Tirumozhi, that are still recited by devotees dur-
ing the winter festival season of Margazhi.

Saint Andal (14th Century, Madurai), at the Los Angeles County

Museum of Art

1 History of Andal

Periazhwar (originally called Vishnuchittar) was an ar-

Srivilliputtur Andal Temple Tower in Tamil Nadus Emblem
dent devotee of Lord Vishnu and he used to string garland
to Vishnu every day. He was childless and he prayed to
Vishnu to save him from the longing. One day, he found
a girl child under a Tulasi plant in a garden inside the
temple. The child was goddess Lakshmi itself incarnated
to test the devotion of alvars.He and his wife named the
child as Kothai, who grew up as a devotee of Lord Kr-
ishna, an avatar of Vishnu. She is believed to have worn
the garland before dedicating it to the presiding deity of

1
2 5 IMPORTANCE IN SOUTH INDIA
the temple. Periazhwar, who later found it, was highly up-
set and remonstrated her. Vishnu appeared in his dream
and asked him to dedicate only the garland worn by Andal
to him. The girl Kothai was thus named Andal and was
referred as Chudikodutha Sudarkodi (lady who gave her
garland to Vishnu). The practise is followed during mod-
ern times when the garland of Andal from Srivilliputhur
Andal Temple is sent to Azhagar Koyil on Garudostavam
during the Tamil month of Purattaasi (September - Oc-
tober) and Tirumala Venkateswara Temple during Chitra
Pournami.[6]
1.1 Dedication to Vishnu
Kodhai was brought up by Vishnuchitta (Periyalvar) in
an atmosphere of love and devotion. As Kodhai grew
into a beautiful maiden, her fervor for the Lord Vishnu
grew to the extent that she decided to marry only the
Lord Himself. As time passed, her resolve strengthened
and she thought constantly about marrying Ranganathar
of Srirangam (the reclining form of Vishnu).[7][8]
2 Andals Bhakti
In North India, Radha Rani is celebrated as the Queen of then president of India R. Venkataraman also was at-
Bhakti (devotion). Similarly, in Tamil Nadu Andal is re- tracted towards this parrot.
membered for her pure love and devotion. In the Thirup-
pavai, Andal, as a Gopi in Ayarpadi (Brindavan),[9] em-
phasizes that the ultimate goal of life is to seek surrender
and refuge at the Lords feet.
3 Andals Garlands
It is also believed that Ranganatha of Srirangam Ran-
ganathaswamy temple married Andal, who later merged
with the idol. Since Andal married Ranganatha, who
came as a king (called Raja), the presiding deity is called
Rangamannar.[10]
3.1 Andal garland and Tirupathi
Venkateswara
For Tirupathi Venkateswara temple Brahmotsavam fes-
tival, Garland worn by Andal in Srivilliputhur temple
(Tamil Nadu) is sent all along to Tirupathi in Andhra
Pradesh one day before the Brahmotsavam.These tradi-
tional garlands are made of tulasi, sevanthi and sampangi
owers.These garlands are used on prestigious Garuda
seva day of Tirupathi Venkateswara in which the lord ap-
pear as Maha Vishnu.[11]
Every year Tirupathi Venkateswaras garland is sent
to Srivilliputtur Andal for marriage festival of Andal
Thayar.[12]
3.2 Kallazhagar
Andal garland is being sent to Madurai Kallazhagar for
Chithirai Festival day.[12]
3.3 Andals Hairstyle
Andals hairstyle and ornamentation are unique to south
India.[13]
4 Andals Parrot
Srivillipuththur Andals handcrafted parrot which was
made with green leaves are made each and every day
freshly.This parrot is kept in the left hand of Andal.[14]
It takes approximately four and half hours to make this
parrot. A pomegranate ower for beak and mouth, Bam-
boo sticks for legs, banana plant, petals of pink oleander
and nandiyavattai..are used to prepare this parrot.[15]
During his visit to the Srivillipuththur Andal temple the
[15]
5 Importance in South India
Andal is one of the best-loved poet-saints of the Tamils.
Pious tradition holds her to be the incarnation of Bhmi
Devi (Sri Lakshmi as Mother Earth) to show humanity
the way to Lord Vishnus lotus feet. Representations of
her next to Vishnu are present in all Srivaishnava temples.
During the month of Margazhi, discourses on the Thirup-
pavai in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi take place all
over India.[16] The Andal Temple at Srivilliputhur con-
sists of twin temples, one of which is dedicated to Andal.
Most South Indian Vishnu temples have a separate shrine
for Andal. There are a number of festivals dedicated to
Andal, among the most notable being the Pavai Nonbu
in the Tamil month of Margazhi (December January),
Andal Thirukalyanam in Panguni, Pagalpathu, Rapathu,
Adi Thiruvizha, when Andal is depicted seated in the lap
of Ranganathar.[17] Andal is known for her unwavering
devotion to god Vishnu, the God of the Srivaishnavas.
Adopted by her father, Periyalvar, Andal avoided earthly
marriage, the normal and expected path for women of her
culture, to marry Vishnu, both spiritually and physically.
In many places in India, particularly in Tamil Nadu, An-
dal is treated more than a saint and as a form of god her-
self and a shrine for Andal is dedicated in most Vishnu
temples.[18]
6.2 Nachiar Tirumozhi 3

5.1 Festivals 6.2 Nachiar Tirumozhi

Thousands of people from the state participate in the The second work by Andal is the Nachiar Tirumozhi,
Aadi Pooram festival celebrated in the Andal Temple. a poem of 143 verses. Thirumozhi literally means
After early morning special pujas, the presiding deities, Sacred Sayings in a Tamil poetic style and Nachiar
Sri Rengamannar and Goddess Andal are taken in deco- means Goddess. Therefore, the title means Sacred Say-
rated palanquins to the car. The festival marks the adop- ings of the Goddess. This poem fully reveals Andals
tion of presiding deity, Andal, by Periyazhwar after he intense longing for Vishnu, the Divine Beloved. Utiliz-
found her near a Tulsi plant in the garden of Vadabadra- ing classical Tamil poetic conventions and interspersing
stories from the Vedas and Puranas, Andal creates im-
sai Temple at Srivilliputhur on the eighth day of the Tamil
month of Adi.[19][20] agery that is possibly unparalleled in the whole gamut of
Indian religious literature. However, conservative Sri-
vaishnavite institutions do not encourage the propaga-
tion of Nachiar Tirumozhi as much as they encourage
5.2 Women groups inspired by Andal Thiruppavai because Nachiar Tirumozhi belongs to an
erotic genre of spirituality that is similar to Jayadeva's
[27][28][29]
In poetry, 9th-century Andal became a well known Gita Govinda.
Bhakti movement poetess, states Pintchman, and his-
torical records suggest that by 12th-century she was a
major inspiration to Hindu women in south India and 6.3 Genre
elsewhere.[21] Andal continues to inspire hundreds of
classical dancers in modern times choreographing and Some of Andals verses express love for Lord Vishnu,
dancing Andals songs.[22] Andal is also called Goda, and written with bold sensuality and startlingly savage long-
her contributions to the arts have created Goda Mandali ing, hunger and inquiry, that even today many of her most
(circle of Andal) in the Vaishnava tradition.[22] erotic poems are rarely rendered publicly. In one such
verse Andal dispenses with metaphor and imagines that
she herself in lying in the arms of Krishna, and making
love to him[30]
5.2.1 Goda Mandali
My life will be spared / Only if he will come / To stay for
me for one night / If he will enter me, / So as to leave / the
Goda Mandali (circle) which was named after Andal was imprint of his saron paste / upon my breasts / Mixing,
formed in 1970 and reorganized in 1982 spreads Andal churning, maddening me inside, / Gathering my swollen
songs widely through TV and radio programs[23][24] ripeness / Spilling nectar, / As my body and blood / Bursts
into ower.[1][2]

1. ^ Dalrymple, William (10 July 2015). In search of

6 Literary works Tamil Nadus poet-preachers (London). Financial
Times. The Financial Times Limited. Retrieved 13
Andal composed two literary works, both of which are July 2015.
in Tamil verse form and express literary, philosophical,
2. ^ Chakravarty, Uma (1989). The World of the
religious, and aesthetic content.
Bhaktin in South Indian Traditions - The Body and
Beyond (PDF). Manushi. 50-51-52: 25. Retrieved
18 September 2015.
6.1 Thiruppavai
Andal whilst admiring herself wearing the garland which
Her rst work is the Thiruppavai, a collection of 30 verses was meant for the deity,
in which Andal imagines herself to be a Gopi, one of the the guilt glazed love lay on Andals breasts.
cowherd girls known for their unconditional devotion to thick and heavy as him.
Lord Krishna. In these verses, she describes her yearning frightened with force
to serve Lord Vishnu and achieve happiness not just in and locked away, she conjured him every night,
this lifetime, but for all eternity. She also describes the re- her empurumaan, her emperor-man. [1][2][3]
ligious vows (pavai) that she and her fellow cowherd girls
will observe for this purpose. It is said that Thiruppavai 1. ^ Kandasamy, Meena (2010). Ms Militancy.
is the nectar of Vedas and teaches philosophical values, Narayana. ISBN 9788189059347.
moral values, ethical values, pure love, devotion, dedica-
tion, single-minded aim, virtues, and the ultimate goal of 2. ^ Mulchandani, Sandhya (2014). Divine Love.
life.[25][26] The Indian Quarterly. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
4 10 REFERENCES

3. ^ Bilwakesh, Champa (16 March 2011). Ms Mili- [3] S. M. Srinivasa Chari (1 January 1997). Philosophy and
tancy, by Meena Kandasamy. Retrieved 11 August Theistic Mysticism of the lvrs. Motilal Banarsidass Publ.
2015. pp. 1112. ISBN 978-81-208-1342-7.

[4] Chitnis, Krishnaji Nageshrao (2003). Medieval Indian

In one of her poems, Andal says that her voluptuous
breasts will swell for the lord alone, and scorns the idea
of making love to mortal beings, comparing that with the
sacricial oering made by Brahmins being violated by
jackals in the forest,[31] and in another verse she dedicates
her swelling breasts to the Lord who carries a conch.[32]
7 Krishnadevarayas Amukta-
malyada
History. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 116. ISBN 978-
81-7156-062-2.
[5] Greg Bailey; Ian Kesarcodi-Watson (1992). Bhakti Stud-
ies. Sterling Publishers. ISBN 978-81-207-0835-8.
[6] Rao, A.V.Shankaranarayana (2012). Temples of Tamil
Nadu. Vasan Publications. pp. 19599. ISBN 978-81-
8468-112-3.
[7] Andal Biography. freeindia.org. Archived from the
original on 23 July 2007. Retrieved 10 July 2007.

[8] Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam, ed. India through

Main article: Amuktamalyada the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information
and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 192.
Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagar Dynasty composed
[9] http://ebooks.tirumala.org/Home/Download/?ID=1929
the epic poem Amuktamalyada in Telugu, which is con-
sidered as a masterpiece. Amuktamalyada translates [10] Anantharaman, Ambujam (2006). Temples of South In-
to one who wears and gives away garlands, and de- dia. East West Books (Madras). pp. 177181. ISBN
scribes the story of Andal or Goda Devi, the daughter 978-81-88661-42-8.
of Periyalvar.[33]
[11] http://news.tirumala.org/
Amuktamalyada describes pain of separation (viraha) ex- andal-mala-presented-to-lord-venkateswara-in-tirumala/
perienced by Andal, who is described as the incarnate of
Lakshmi the consort of Vishnu. Further the poem de- [12] http://www.srivilliputtur.co.in/srivilliputtur_andal_
scribes Andals beauty in 30 verses written in the kedi- temple.html
pdam style, starting from her hair, going down her body [13] https://books.google.com/books?isbn=8174781757
till her feet.[34][35]
[14] http://www.andaljeeyar.org/images/pdf/
SRIVILLIPUTHUR.pdf
8 See also [15] http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/
religion/labour-of-love/article5003197.ece
Thiruppavai
[16] "ndl, Saint Goda. womenshistory.about.com. Re-
Nachiar Tirumozhi trieved 10 July 2007.

Srivilliputhur Andal Temple [17] S., Manickavasagam (2009). Power of Passion. Strategic
Book Publishing. p. 163. ISBN 9781608605613.
Amuktamalyada
[18] Architectural grandeur. The Hindu. Chennai, Tamil
Nadu, India. 12 August 2005.
9 Notes [19] Thousands of devotees likely to throng Srivilliputtur to-
day. The Hindu. Chennai, India. 25 July 2009. Re-
[1] The hagiographic tradition asserts that Andal lived around trieved 19 February 2013.
3000 BCE.[3][5]
[20] Hundreds participate in Andal Temple car festival. The
Hindu. Chennai, India. 2006-07-30. Retrieved 2013-02-
19.
10 References
[21] Tracy Pintchman (2007), Womens Lives, Womens Ritu-
[1] Chitnis, Krishnaji Nageshrao (2003). Medieval Indian als in the Hindu Tradition, Oxford University Press, ISBN
History. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 116. ISBN 978- 978-0195177077, pages 181-185
81-7156-062-2.; Quote: Andal, a woman saint (ninth
century)... [22] Tracy Pintchman (2007), Womens Lives, Womens Ritu-
als in the Hindu Tradition, Oxford University Press, ISBN
[2] Bryant, Edwin Francis (2007). Krishna: A Sourcebook. 978-0195177077, pages 185-187
Oxford University Press. p. 188. ISBN 978-0-19-
803400-1. [23] https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0198039344
 5

[24] Womens Lives, Womens Rituals in the Hindu Tradi-

tion;page 186

[25] Life of Andal. thiruppavai.org tiruppavai.org. Archived

from the original on 5 July 2007. Retrieved 10 July 2007.

[26] Andals Wedding. youtube. Retrieved 20 April 2013.

[27] Rao, Shivshankar (31 March 2013). Saints - Andal.

Sushmajee: Dictionary Of Hindu Religion Sketches. US
Brahman Group. Retrieved 11 August 2015.

[28] Andal (14 October 2000). Andal: Tiruppavai/Nachiyar

Tirumozhi. Penguin Books Australia. ISBN 0140245723.
Retrieved 11 August 2015.

[29] Nachiyar aesthetically conceived. The Hindu. 5 January

2001. Retrieved 11 August 2015.

[30] Rajarajan, R.K.K. (2015). Art and Literature: Insepara-

ble Links. The Quarterly Journal of the Mythic Society.
106.4: 5361.

[31] Ghai, Anuj. Reections on Andal. Academia.edu. Re-

trieved 22 July 2015.

[32]

[33] Rao, Pappu Venugopala (22 June 2010). A masterpiece

in Telugu literature (Chennai). The Hindu. Retrieved 9
June 2016.

[34] Krishnadevaraya (2010). Reddy, Srinivas, ed. Giver of

the Worn Garland: Krishnadevarayas Amuktamalyada.
Penguin UK. ISBN 8184753055. Retrieved 9 June 2016.

[35] Krishnadevaraya (1907). Amuktamalyada. London: Tel-

ugu Collection for the British Library. Retrieved 9 June
2016.

11 External links
Works by Andal at LibriVox (public domain audio-
books)

http://www.advaita.org.uk/discourses/teachers/
andal_marvelly.htm
6 12 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

12 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

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Andal Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andal?oldid=772436270 Contributors: Xiaopo, Bkonrad, Sundar, Utcursch, Profvk, Venu62,
MeltBanana, VishalB, Balajiviswanathan, Anthony Appleyard, Umapathy, Tabletop, Dangerous-Boy, Pranathi, Rjwilmsi, Crazyvas, Bg-
white, YurikBot, Aaron Brenneman, robot, SmackBot, Yamaguchi , Mukukv, OrphanBot, Pads a, GourangaUK, Ohconfu-
cius, Armyrie9, JeW, Kanatonian, PONDHEEPANKAR, Cydebot, Killerserv, Missvain, Sidsahu, Hawkeye26, Tinucherian, Mart-
inBot, Piggy bits, Skumarlabot, Matrix108, Thangasivam, MartinBotIII, Redtigerxyz, Sharadtriyama, Madhavan1982, Sankalpdravid,
Mythri achar, Mveejay, Mohonu, Roland zh, WestCoastMusketeer, The Evil Spartan, Dunnob, Sridharan eee, ImageRemovalBot, Re-
gentsPark, Shruti14, Ssriram mt, Niceguyedc, Xoxoxcom, Duncan, Dthomsen8, Addbot, Luckas-bot, Yobot, AnomieBOT, Chandan Guha,
Green Cardamom, Tom.Reding, KRajaratnam1, Nijgoykar, Scottop, Orenburg1, Ammodramus, Rkkrajarajan, DASHBot, John of Read-
ing, Gurumoorthy Poochandhai, EdoBot, Mjbmrbot, Krishnan2610, ClueBot NG, Work2win, Frietjes, BG19bot, Suchetaav, BattyBot,
David.moreno72, Khazar2, BrightStarSky, Mogism, JnanaKarma, Razibot, Adiyogi, I am One of Many, Eshwar.om, Manavatha, Recon-
diteRodent, Krishnapaduka, Bladesmulti, Ms Sarah Welch, Justin15w, Filedelinkerbot, Ravi58649, Kuzhali.india, T.chandana, Hwajae,
My Chemistry romantic, SriKrushna7, Padmakalki, GreenC bot, Bender the Bot, Girija46 and Anonymous: 64

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