Aandal,Kothai,Soodikudutha Nachiyar,Periyazhvar petrudutha Penpillai...lot of Glory names to Aandal. Before going in detail about Aandal, I would like to share my relation with Aandal :)
Aandal is my favorite Goddess. Srivilliputhur near Madurai-Kutralam is her birthplace. Palkova (Milk Cream) is very famous here :)
My Family and myself have been many times to Srivilliputhur. We saw the Thulasi Thotam, where Andal was born from Bhoomi. Still, It has been maintained by the kovil. Aadi Pooram Festival is very wonderful one. I went there During 2009. Andal Rangamannar kalyanotsavam,Kuthirai (horse) vahana veedi ula, Ther festival (CAR festival-Srivilliputhur Ther is one of the biggest Ther than any other),Sayan Thirukolam where Perumal would be lying in the lap of Andal, its very cute one. During these Utsavams, there would be lot of Cultural programs,Upanyasam,Veda,Pasura Sandhai in Temple. Lot of Villiputhur Gopikas are still singing and playing Kolatam in Streets.
After Ther Car Festival, Andal Perumal Thirumanjanam,Alankaram, would be held in Tulasi Madam (whr andal born. I still remember, I was enjoying all these alankarams and was reciting Tiruppavai,Nachiyar Thirumozhi along with Prabhanda Kosthi. I slept in Late night there in Tulasi Thottam Ground itself.I had small dream,like I was sleeping at Thayar's Lap where Aandal was born at same place. I wish I could visualise and enjoy this year Aadipuram,through my Agakkan :) (Inner eyes) :)
Let us see few of Sthuthis about Aandal and Pasuram
Sri ANDAL is the quintessence incarnation of Sri BHUMI DEVI the Divine Consort of SRIMAN NARAYANA, who took birth on this earth to liberate suffering human beings from worldly bondage. She sang thirty sweet songs containing the cardinal principles of Sri Vaishnava Dharma during the month of MARGAZHI. Singing these songs, with understanding of their inner meaning, will bring to us peace, prosperity and above all Divine Grace.
ANDAL, though a Brahmin girl, assumes the guise of a cowherdess and yearns for Everlasting Happiness and Service of the Lord. It is the age-old practice of Sri Vaishnavas to sing these stanzas every day of the year in the presence of the Lord in the temple as well as in their homes. This practice assumes special significance during MARGAZHI so much so that each day of this month gets its name from a pasuram.
It may appear in the beginning that Andal is intending to perform a particular religious vow to marry the Lord and thereby obtain His everlasting company, and that she is inviting all her girl friends to join her. It is only towards the end of TIRUPPAVAI that we learn that she did not actually go to any pond or river or perform a religious rite; SHE IS ACTUALLY PRAYING TO BE GRANTED THE SERVICE OF THE LORD FOR ALL ETERNITY.
கோதை பிறந்த ஊர் கோவிந்தன் வாழும் ஊர்
சோதி மணி மாடம் தோன்றும் ஊர்
நீதியால் நல்ல பத்தர் வாழும் ஊர் நான்மறைகள் ஓதுமூர்
வில்லிபுத்தூர் வேதக் கோனூர்
பாதகங்கள் தீர்க்கும் பரமன் அடி காட்டும்
வேதம் அனைத்துக்கும் வித்தாகும் கோதை தமிழ்
ஐயைந்தும் ஐந்தும் அறியாத மானிடரை
வையம் சுமப்பது வம்பு.
NeeLA-Tunga sthanagiri-taDI
Suptham udhbhOdhya KrishNam
PaarArTyam svam
sruthi-satha-siras-siddham adhyApayanthI
svOcchishtAyAm sraji nigalitham
yaa balAthkruthya bhunkthE
GOdhA Tasyai Nama idhamidham
bhUya yEvAsthu BhUya:PARAASARA BHATTAR , Thirukkostiyoor
Meaning:
May I offer my obeisance again and again to
Goddess ANDAL alias GOdhA
--to her alone--
who awakened Lord KrishNA (taking rest and) sleeping
on the mountain-like lofty breasts of
Goddess NILA alias Nappinnai PirAtti;
GOdhA, who has imparted to Him
(Lord KrishNA) Her dependence (on Him) as established in the hundreds of the texts of
the crown of the
VedAs & VedAnthA or the Upanishads)
GOdhA, who forcefully enjoys Him
after binding Him with flower-wreaths
that were already worn by Her.
anna vayaRpudhuvai aandaaL arangaRku(p)
pannu thiruppaavai(p) palpadhiyam
innisaiyaal paadikkoduththaaL naRpaamaalai
poomaalai soodi(k) koduththaaLai(ch) chollu
soodi(k) koduththa sudar(k) kodiyE tholpaavai
paadi aruLavalla palvaLaiyaay
naadi nee vEngadavaRku ennai vidhi onRa immaatram
naangadavaa vaNNamE nalgu.
by UYYAKKONDAAR disciple of NADAMUNI
UyyakkoNDAr visualizes SrivilliputthUr
as a special divya dEsam, where the Hamsam
birds preside and those have powers to separate milk and water.
ANDAL is the Soodikkoduttha NaacchiyAr for Vatapathra Sayee
ANDAL married (garlanded) Sri RanganAthan.
Both garlands of ANDAL are saluted by UyyakkoNDAr.
For Sri RangarAjan, She offered the garland of
ThiruppAvai verses
and For Vatapathra SaayeeTuLasi Maalais
She adorned and sent with Vaadhyam and parisaram
through the sacred hands of Her father,
PeriyAzhwAr
(SoodikkodutthALai sol).
Vaazhi Thirunamam:
திருவாடிப் பூரத்து செகத்துதித்தாள் வாழியே
திருப்பாவை முப்பதும் செப்பினாள் வாழியே
பெரியாழ்வார் பெற்றெடுத்த பெண் பிள்ளை வாழியே
பெரும்புதூர் மாமுனிக்குப் பின்னானாள் வாழியே
ஒரு நூட்ரு நாற்பத்து மூன்றுரைத்தாள் வாழியே
உயர் அரங்கற்கே கண்ணியுகந்தருளிதாள் வாழியே
மருவாரும் திருமல்லி வள நாடி வாழியே
வண்புதுவை நகர்க் கோதை மலர்ப் பாதங்கள் வாழியே
ஆண்டாள் திருவடிகளே சரணம்...!!!
