25 Facts About Andal

1.

Andal, known as Kothai, Nachiyar, and Godadevi, was the only female Alvar among the twelve Hindu poet-saints of South India.

2.

Andal was posthumously considered an avatar of the goddess Bhudevi.

3.

Active in the 8th-century, with some suggesting 7th-century, Andal is credited with two great Tamil works, Thiruppavai and Nachiyar Tirumoli, which are still recited by devotees during the winter festival season of Margali.

4.

Andal was childless and he prayed to God to save him from the longing for a child.

5.

Andal named the child as Kothai, who grew up as a devotee of Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu.

6.

Andal is believed to have worn the garland before dedicating it to the presiding deity of the temple.

7.

The girl Kothai was thus named Andal and was referred to as "Chudikodutha Sudarkodi", meaning the lady who wore and gave her garland to Vishnu.

8.

In Tamil Nadu, Andal is remembered for her pure love and devotion.

9.

Since Andal married Ranganatha, the presiding deity is called Rangamannar.

10.

Andal composed two literary works, both of which are in the rich Tamil verse form and express literary, philosophical, religious, and aesthetic content.

11.

In Thiruppavai, Andal idolized Radha as the ideal gopi and invoked the gopis of Braj.

12.

Andal describes the religious vows that she and her fellow cowherd girls will observe for this purpose.

13.

The second work by Andal is the Nachiyar Tirumoli, a poem of 143 verses.

14.

In Nachiyar Tirumoli, Andal craves for God and says she would offer God 1000 pots of "akkaravadisal" if he marries her, which was later fulfilled by Saint Ramanuja in the 11th century.

15.

Andal is one of the reputed poet-saints of the Tamils.

16.

Andal is known for her unwavering devotion to Vishnu, the preserver deity.

17.

In many places in India, particularly in Tamil Nadu, Andal is treated more than a saint and as a form of god herself and a shrine for Andal is dedicated in several Vishnu temples.

18.

Andal garland is sent to Madurai Kallalagar temple for the Chithirai Festival.

19.

In poetry, 9th-century Andal became a well-known Bhakti movement poet, states Pintchman, and historical records suggest that by 12th-century she was a major inspiration to Hindu women in south India and elsewhere.

20.

Andal continues to inspire hundreds of classical dancers in modern times choreographing and dancing Andal's songs.

21.

In one of her poems, Andal says that her voluptuous heart will swell for God alone, and scorns the idea of making love to mortal beings, comparing that with the sacrificial offering made by Brahmins being violated by jackals in the forest, and in another verse she dedicates her swelling breasts to God who carries a conch.

22.

In one such verse Andal dispenses with metaphor and imagines herself lying in the arms of Krishna, making love to him:.

23.

Andal fulfilled the expectation of becoming a wife by marrying God, but since her husband was divine, she gained her autonomy.

24.

Amuktamalyada describes pain of separation experienced by Andal, who is described as the incarnate of Lakshmi the consort of Vishnu.

25.

Mangalasasanam by Divyadesam: Andal has sung in praise of eleven holy sites:.