Sri Andal By Vidya Venkat Twelve Alwars Poigai

Sri Andal By: Vidya Venkat

Twelve Alwars • Poigai Alwar • Thiruppaan Alwar • Bhoodath Alwar • Periyalwar • Pei Alwar • Sri Andal • Thirumazhisai Alwar • Nammalwar • Thirumangai Alwar • Madhurakavi Alwar • Thondaradippodi Alwar • Kulasekara Alwar

Life of Andal • Sri Andal was found under Tulsi plant as Baby girl. (Andal is the incarnation of Bhooma Devi) in the 8 th century • Vishuchitta who lived in Villiputtur a town near Madurai, Vishuchitta, a perist to Lord vishu temple in villiputtur called Vatapatrasayee. • His daily duties includes picking flower and making garland offering to Lord, in his garden he found the baby girl • Sri Andal named as Gothi(gift of earth) by Peria Alvar(Vishnuchita) and raised by Peria Alvar

Exact Location where Sri Andal appeared Sri Andal, an incarnation of Bhu devi appeared as a baby girl, at the base of a Tulasi plant in the garden of Perialwar while he was picking flowers for making a garland for the deity of Vishnu at the local temple – Sri Vatapatrasayee Perumal (”The Lord reclining under Banyan tree”). Perialwar accepted the miraculous child as his own, and raised her with much love and affection.

Life of Andal … • Priyaalwar (Vishu chitta) is master in vedic and great tamil poet, wrote many songs to his beloved Krishna • Priyaalvar tought Sri Andal with Lord Kirshna’s leela and other stories • Sri Andal wanted to marry only Lord Krishna, not to marry any human • Sri Andal imagined her as God’s bride, with out known her father, she adorned herself daily with the flower garland, which Vishuchitta prepared for the Lord at temple. After admiring her refection in the water and thinking of herself as his ideal bride (The well with water still there in side the temple).

Life of Andal … • One day Vishuchita noticed a Strand of Godai’s hair in the garland, he got shocked, and carefully made another garland offered to Lord. • That night Lord appeared to Vishuchita in his dream and told him he wants only Godai’s garland. • Even today Vishnu in Srivilluputtur wears Sri Andals garland every day. Madurai Alagar, Lord Renganatha of Srirangam, Sri Venkateshwara of Tirumalai wears Sri Andals garland on important festivals. So Godai called “Sudikoduthal” and also Andal, the Girl who ruled over the Lord.

Thiruppavai • Sri Andal at age of 5 wrote many songs • 30 songs collection called Thiruppavai (Sri Andal sung this as cow head girl) • 143 songs collection called Nachiyar Thirumozhi • Paathahangal theerkkum Paramandi Kaattum vedam anaitthukkum vith. Ahum- Kothai Tamizh Iyainthum a. Riy. Atha maanidarai vyaam sumappathum vampu Meaning. . Shall terminate the atrocities; Guide us to the foot of the Supreme god; Is a seed for the entire Vedas; It is annoyance, the earth to bear with Human folk not acquainted with Godai Tamil-- five into five plus five

Life of Andal … Andal wrote a copious amount of poems. Her poems are still now used in the month of Margali (December -January), discourses on the Tiruppavai in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi and English take place all over India. . . . .

Life of Sri Andal In this month of Marghazhi, On this day filled with the light of moon, Come for bathing, Oh ladies who are richly dressed, And Oh ladies in rich homes of cowherds, For he with the sharp spear, He who kills his enemies without mercy, He who is the son of Nanda gopa, He who is the darling son of Yasodha, Who wore scented flower garlands, He who is a lion cub, He who is pretty in black colour, He who has small red eyes, He who has a face like the well-lit moon, And He, who is our Lord Narayana, Is going to give us big drums, So that we bathe and worship Our Goddess Pavai, In a way that the whole world sings about.

Life of Sri Andal • As per Lord Sri Ranganatha of Sri. Rangam Periyalwar made Sri Andal’s wedding Preparation and King of Pandiya arranged for Andal’s journey to Srirangam in a Palanquin • Sri. Andal entered Lord Sri Ranganatha’s Shrine and touched feet of Lord, merged with Sri Ranganatha Thiruppavai -1 Margazhi thingal madhi niraindha nannaalaal Neeraada podhuveer podhumino nerizhaiyeer Seer malgum aayppaadi chelva chirumeergaal Koorvel kodundhozhilan nandhagopan kumaran Eraarndha kann yasodhai ilam singam Kaar meni cengan kadhir madhiyam pol mugaththaan Naaraayanane namakke parai tharuvaan Paaror pugazha padindhelor empaavaay

Sri Andal with Her Lord, Sri Rangamannar

QUIZ TIME 1. Where was Sri Andal found as baby girl? 2. Who found Sri Andal as a baby? 3. What is the meaning Godai? 4. How many songs are there in Thiruppavai? 5. Whom did Andal want to marry? 6. Name three alwars other than Perialwar and Sri Andal.