Located 80 km from Madurai, the Andal temple at Srivilliputhur in Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu is a famous one and is being visited by lots of people especially in December and January.
Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is
glorified in the Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the
Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD and is one of the 108
Divyadesam shrines. The presiding deity Vishnu is here known as Vadapathrasayi or Rengamanner and his consort is Lakshmi (Andal). It is believed that the temple is roughly 2000 years old.
Goddess Andal - some interesting facts:
01. There are two parts in the temple, the one at SW direction has the shrine of Andal and the northern one is dedicated to Vadapathrasayi. In the Tamil month of Margazhi, among the Vishnu temples of South India, two temples of Tamil Nadu gain prominence - Sri Ranganathar temple, Srirangam and Sri Andal temple at Srivilliputhur, the latter is associated with the life of Andal who is an incarnation of goddess Lakshmi. The temple, each year, celebrates three festivals, the most famous being the birth of Andal (Adipoorum festival) that falls in the Tamil month of Aadi -J uly August.
02. Kothai, the adopted daughter of Periazhvar (Vishnuchittar), a well-known Vaishnava sage became a down to earth devotee of Sri Krishna (Vishnu) and one day she was wearing the flower garland (made by Periazhvar) intended for the lord. Periazhvar was quite upset and reprimanded his daughter. But the god in his dream told the sage to offer him daily for the puja the flower garland worn by Kothai. Kothai's (Andal) love for the lord was so intense, ultimately she married the lord at Srirangam and merged with Ranganathar (Vishnu) who was later called Rengamanner. Hence, Kothai was called Andal and got the appellation Chudi Kodutha Sudarkodi (the woman who gave the lord the flower garland worn by her)
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| Srivilliputhur, Tamil Nadu, India. Weather-Forecast.com |
04. Nachiar Tirumozhi, comprising 143 verses does not gain prominence unlike Thirupavai as it belongs to an erotic genre of spirituality, more or less similar to Jayadeva's Gita Govinda. Some of Andal's verses express Andal's mad love for the lord (Vishnu). But, it is written vividly with both sensuality and eroticism.
05. In the sanctum sanctorum (garbagriha /srikovil) Thayar Andal is giving darshan from under gold plated ‘Pranavakirthi vimanam’. The vimanam (mini tower) is beautified with the poems of Sri Andal.
06. The unique feature of the sanctum here is the presence of Garudazhwar idol along with Andal Thayar and Lord Rajamannar. Normally, in all Vishnu temples Garudazhwar has a small separate shrine in front of main shrine facing the lord. Walls around the shrine have the paintings of Andal, depicting her life.
07. Here in the sanctum. a hand-crafted parrot with fresh green leaves adorns the left hand of Andal's idol. An interesting fact is it is specially made daily by the florist for the goddess. It is a time- consuming and difficult task and it roughly takes four and half hours to make this beautiful parrot. Pomegranate flower for beak and mouth, Bamboo sticks for legs, banana leaves, petals of pink oleander and nandiyavattai flower go into the preparation of the parrot.
08. Almost in all Vishnu temples of south India there is a small shrine dedicated to Andal as she happens to be an incarnation of Bhumi Devi (Sri Lakshmi). But, at Srivilliputhur, there is a separate temple dedicated to goddess Andal and the other one is for Vadapathrasayi or Rangamanner. She is considered more a goddess than a saint as she married the lord.
09. The garden, where Andal was found by Periazhvar under Tulsi plants as a little child, is called Tiruppora mandapam. It is believed that this mandapam and Andal idol were built by Periazhwar after his return from Srirangam where he gave his daughter Andal in marriage to Lord Rajamannar.
10. Once Andal wanted to offer 100 pots of butter and Akara vadisal (sweet food item) to Kallazhagar of Azhagar Koil in Madurai. She could not fulfill it in her lifetime. The great saint Sri Ramanujar fulfilled Andal's desire on her behalf. On his visit to the Andal temple, Sri Ramanujar heard Andal's voice calling him “My dear elder Brother” ‘Anna’ Ramaunajar, later came to be called ‘Koil annan’ from that day.
11. The Abisheka (anointing) thailam, that is believed to contain 61 herbs, has medicinal qualities. People apply this oil on their body for various ailments.
12. The Srivilliputhur temple, every year, conducts a number of festivals dedicated to Andal, among them, the most notable being the Pavai Nonbu in the Tamil month of Margazhi (December – January). Andal Thirukalyanam (wedding) in Panguni, Pagalpathu, Rapathu, Adi Thiruvizha, when Andal is depicted as sitting on the lap of Ranganathar are other temple festivals that attract lots of devotees.
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| Andal temple car festival , Srivilliputhur. thehindu.com |
14. For Tirupathi Venkateswara temple Brahmotsavam festival, every year, the garland worn by Andal in Srivilliputhur temple (Tamil Nadu) is reverentially sent all along to Tirupathi in Andhra Pradesh one day before the Brahmotsavam. These special garlands are used on the Garuda seva day at Tirupathi.
15. Every year Tirupathi Venkateswara’s garland is sent to Srivilliputtur Andal for Andal Thrukalyanam festival (wedding of Andal / Adi poorum).
16. Madurai Chithrai Thiruvizha (festival) is a major religious event attended by lakhs of people. Andal temple at Srivilliputhur has a tradition to send the garland worn by Andal to Kallazhagar (Vishnu) during the Chithirai festival event.
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| Srivilliputhur Andal and her hair style. Photo Gallery - Divyadesams |
17. Goddess Andal's hair style and ornaments are unique here unlike the ornamentation and hair style of goddess Lakshmi. Andal Kondai (typical hair styling tilted to one side and elaborate plaited hair) is famous and quite striking. In the Vaishnava Brahmin weddings, invariably, the bride wears Andal Kondai and madisar and this tradition has been in vogue for centuries.
http://www.srivilliputtur.co.in/srivilliputtur_andal_temple.html
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