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Chapter#18: Andal

Andal is an 10th century Tamil saint and one of the twelve Azhwars and the only woman Azhwar. She is credited with the great Tamil works of Thirupavai and Nachiar Tirumozhi that are still recited by devotees during the season of Margazhi. The Sri Villiputhoor Temple is dedicated to her. Andal avoided earthly marriage. She wanted to marry the Lord. In many places in India, particularly in Tamilnadu, Andal is treated more than a saint and as a form of God. She is believed to be an Amsam of Bhoomadevi, consort of Vishnu.

Andal is believed to have been discovered under a Tulsi plant in the temple garden of Sri Villiputtur by Peri Azhwar. The child was named Kodhai meaning a beautiful garland. As Kodhai grew into a beautiful maiden, her love and devotion for the Lord grew to an enormouse extent that she decided to marry the Lord.

Periazhwar had the responsibility of delivering flower garlands to the Lord's temple everyday. Kodhai made these garlands and sent it to her beloved Lord through her father. She started wearing the flower garland which was meant to be offered to the Lord. This is generally considered wrong in any religion. The devotees should not offer anything to the Lord that has already been used by a human being.





However, Kodhai felt that she should test to see how the garland suited her and only if it did, she should offer it to the Lord. One day she was caught red-handed by her father in this strange act and as an orthodox devotee he was extremely upset. That night the Lord appeared to Periazhwvar in his dream and asked him why he had discarded Kodhai’s garland instead of offering it to Him. The Lord is believed to have told Periazhwar that He had whole-heartedly accepted Kodhai’s offering all these days. Kodhai came to be known as "Andal", meaning the girl who "ruled" over the Lord. She is also known by a phrase "Soodi kodutha Sudarkodi" which means "The bright creeper-like woman who gave her garlands after wearing them".

As Andal turned into a fifteen year old young woman, her father started to search for a suitable groom for her. Andal, however, was stubborn and insisted that she would marry only the Lord at Sri Rangam. This perplexed and worried her father. Legends say that Lord appeared in his dream once again and instructed him to send Andal to Srirangam.

Andal who was anxious to reach Srirangam and she was unable to control herself in her urgency to meet her beloved Lord. She ran into the sanctum sanctorum and is believed to have merged with Him completely at that point.

Month: Aadi
Nakshatram: Pooram
Month: Bhoodevi