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SRI ANDAL-
A BRIEF LIFE-SKETCH
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Sri
Andal, one of the twelve Alwars and the only female saintess, lived in
the first half of 8th century A.D. Some scholars fix the possible date
of Andal as far back as 3000 years B.C.
Andal was born at Srivilliputhur near
Madurai, in the Tamil month Adi, with the birth-star Pooram, on a
Tuesday, on the fourth day of the bright fortnight.
Andal was a treasure-trove infant,
obtained in the Tulasi garden, in the premises of the temple of Sri
Vatapatra Sai. Perialwar, her father, found her while tending the
garden and brought her up as an adopted child.
Andal grew up in holy surroundings,
worshipping the Deity and listening to holy discourses, Vedas, Epics,
Bhajans, Keerthans, etc.. From childhood onwards she listened to the
Leelas (pranks) of Krishna with rapt attention and developed a deep
love to the Lord.
Andal helped her father in weaving
flower garlands to offer to the temple Deity every day. One morning,
Perialwar observed her wearing and adorning herself with the
flower-garland intended for the Deity and herself looking into a mirror
and enjoying . He considered this as an act of sacrilege and, with
great anguish, failed to offer the garland to the Deity on that day.
The Lord appeared in his dream and informed him that He relished only
the garland worn by Godai and that in future flower garlands worn by
Godai alone be offered to Him.
Perialwar relaised the divinity in
Godai, and from thence she was reputed as “Andal”
(one who ruled Bhagwan) and “Choodi Kodutha
Nachiar” (patroness who would offer flowers after adorning
herself). It became a routine for Andal to wear the flower garland
prior to offering to the Deity.
As Andal grew up, day by day, her love
for Krishna also increased and she resolved to marry
Him.
When Andal attained adolescence,
Vishnuchittar was amazed at her conviction to marry Krishna. She was
advised to observe Margali Bath rituals, which was a custom of yore for
marriageable girls to have choice husbands.
Andal imagined herself as a
cow-girl at the time of Sri Krishna, collecting all girls at Ayarpadi
at dawn during the Margali month, day after day performing the ritual
on the banks of the river Yamuna and bathing the Deity. This procedure,
expressed lucidly in thirty Hymns, awakening her mates and proceeding
to the river-bed, with Bhajan and Keerthan and to bath the Deity, is
the topic of Tiruppavai.
Apart form Tiruppavai , Andal also sung
143 Hymns in Nachiar Tirumozhi in which her expression of intense love
to Krishna, in varying moods of bridal love--tender hope,
utter dejection, joyful triumph, woeful sorrow and total surrender--are
depicted.
Andal concluded that Lord Krishna was
none else than the Deity of Sri Rangam--Lord Ranganatha-- and
chose Him as her Consort.
Lord Ranganatha bade Perialwar in a
dream to bring Andal to Sri Rangam in bridal decoration. A palanquin,
duly decorated, was sent from the Sri Rangam temple, as instructed by
the Lord in a dream to the temple chief.
King Vallaba Deva made elaborate
arrangements, decorated the procession route and greeted Andal with
music and other paraphernalia of a Divine wedding. People
cheered; King Vallaba also joined the bridal party.
Andal proceeded inside the sanctum
sanctorum of
the temple and became one with the Lord, as she worshipped the Lotus
Feet of Him. To the astonishment and wonder of the people assembled,
Andal's physical body merged with the Deity, Lord Ranganatha. |
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