SRI ANDAL

Born as an Ayonija, (without connection with human womb), Andal was found as a baby, under a Thulasi plant, in the garden of Vishnu Chithar, popularly known as Periaazhvaar. She was named Godha and brought up with love and affection. Periaazhvaar, who was himself a great devotee of Sriman Narayana, instilled bakthi into the young mind of Godha. 

Godha grew up with determination to marry none else than The Lord Himself!  Periaazhvaar did flower service to Vadabadrasayee, the presiding deity of Srivilliputhur, situated in the southern part of Tamilnadu, India.  He collected a lot of flowers from his extensive garden, made them into huge garlands and took them to the temple, to be offered to The Lord. Young Godha, fascinated by the beautiful garlands, wore them herself one day and looked at herself in the mirror. She imagined that she was the bride and that The Lord was the groom. She very much enjoyed her day-dreams and began to repeat it daily, without the knowledge of Periaazhvaar. She was caught red-handed by her father one day! Periaazhvaar was shocked to the core and thought that it was a sacrilege. He refrained from offering flowers to the temple.

That night, he had a peculiar dream. Vadabadrasayee told the Aazhvaar that He loved to wear the garlands, already worn by Godha! He ordered Periaazhvaar to get the flowers to the temple, after Godha had worn them first! Astounded, Periaazhvaar called his daughter -

Godha's bakthi became phenomenal. She told her father that, if at all she is betrothed to any human being, she would not live any longer. Periaazhvaar was perturbed and worried, because, he could not see any possibility of Godha marrying The Lord! However, he advised her to do some rituals to please The Lord, one of them being The Paavai Nonbu'. Accordingly, Andal 'performed' the nonbu. In the Dwaapara Yuga, the cowherd women of Aaipaadi performed this nonbu, for the welfare of the world generally and to merge with Lord Krishna particularly. Andal, now, identified herself as an Aaipaadi Gopi. The temple became the palace, in her imagination! Srivilliputhur became the Aaipaadi and Vadabadrasaayee became Sri Krishna! Godha performed the nonbu and thus were born the 30 beautiful Thiruppaavai lyrics.  

Lord Krishna did not seem to relent. Andal poured out her heart and soul into beautiful poems - now called 'Naachiaar Thirumozhi' and invoked Sri Krishna.

At last, Andal was rewarded for her true and deep love for The Lord. Periaazhvaar was told by The Lord to bring Godha to Srirangam, which was complied with, immediately.

A big crowd had gathered at the temple of Lord Ranganatha at Srirangam. While they were watching with awe and wonder, Andal came, dressed beautifully as a bride, with jewels, flowers and dazzling brocade clothes. She entered the sanctum sanctorum, got up on the Adhisesha and dissolved herself with Lord Ranganatha.