Who
is Andal?
Andal
also known as (Kothai and Nachiyar) is one of the most extraordinary personalities
in religious history. She is the only female Alvar (saints) are known for her affiliation to the Sri Vaishnava tradition of
Hinduism. She was well known for her great Tamil work, Thiruppavai (which
usually sung by devotees of Lord Vishnu and andal during the festival the month
of Marghazhi) and Nachiar Thirumozhi. Andal is said to have been around sixteen
when she composed the Nachiyar Thirumozhi. Much longer than the Thiruppavai, it
is a set of 143 pasurams (stanzas of poetry set to music) organised in the form
fourteen poems. She was the only female alvar among the 12 alvar Saints of
south India.
Story of Andal
She was brought
up by a devout Brahmin named Vishnuchitta who lived in Villiputtur.
While
visiting the temple garden to collect flowers for Lord Vishnu, vishnuchitta
discovered a baby girl lying under a Tulasi plant. The child was goddess Mahalakshmi
herself. Seeing this baby, he felt that the baby was blessed to him by God’s
grace as he had no family himself, and thus took the baby home and raised her.
Kothai then grew into a great devotee of Lord Vishnu by listening to Lord Vishnu's Leela daily and a daily visit to the temple, which eventually metamorphized into a desire to marry the Lord Ranganatha himself. And as she grew older, her intensity, love and desire for the Lord only grew stronger. Kodhai used to collect flower and tread them into a beautiful Garland. Then she would wear it herself in front of the mirror and when satisfied she takes it to the temple and offer it to the lord. This was happening till Vishnuchitta notices a single strand of hair in the Garland and realised that it belongs to Kodhai.
This got him enraged and ordered Kodhai to discard this Garland and make a new one that should not be worn by others and must be directly sent to the temple. And to everyone’s surprise the Garland wasn’t accepted by the Lord. Then the Lord’s willingness was expressed in Vishnuchittan's dream and informed that he will wear the Garland only if Kodhai wears it first. And from that day onwards Kodhai was known as, 'Soodikkodutha Sudar Kodi or Andal - the girl who ruled over the Lord!
With her deep devotion and love for Krishna, and inspired by the depth of love exhibited by gopikas of Mathura, once again Lord Vishnu appeared in Vishnuchitta's dream and conveyed the willingness to marry Andal (known as kodhai).
Then Vishnuchittan arranged the royal wedding procession by bringing Kodhai from Srivilliputur to Srirangam. Entering upon the Santorum of Lord Ranghanadha it is said that Andal has vanished to unite with the almighty. Then Vishnuchittan, as father-in-law and continued to serve the Lord until his last breath.
Literary Works
Andal composed
the Thiruppavai which ultimately found a way to reach Lord Krishna, as a set of
30 verses that were the best way to attain Lord Krishna’s devotion and love. In
these verses she describes about strong desire to serve Lord Vishnu and attain
bliss for all eternity. She also describes religious vows. Thiruppavai is the
nectar of Vedas and teaches philosophical values, moral values, ethical values,
pure love, devotion, dedication, single-minded aim, virtues, and the ultimate
goal of life.
She also
composed another set of 143 verses called as Nachiar Thirumozhi where she went
a tad further and expressed her desire, eagerness, and restlessness to unite
with her Lord.
Andal's pasurams
have been translated by vasumathi bhadrinath -Le Tiruppavai ou Le chant matinal de
Margali has been published by Editions
Banyan, Paris
The French
work was launched last year which was organised by Alliance Françoise de Bombay.
Written By - Pratthiksha Shree
Edited By - Tushna Choksey
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