Andal

Andal is the only female Alvar among the twelve saint-poets of the Sri Vaishnava tradition. She is revered as an avatar of Bhudevi (the goddess Earth), a form of Lakshmi, and her life and works embody the pinnacle of devotional love (bhakti) towards Vishnu. According to tradition, she was discovered as a baby under a tulsi plant in the garden of Periyalvar (Vishnuchitta) in Srivilliputhur, Tamil Nadu. Periyalvar, a devout Brahmin and Alvar, raised her and taught her the Vaishnava scriptures. From a young age, Andal exhibited intense devotion to Vishnu, composing two seminal works: the Tiruppavai (30 verses) and the Nachiyar Tirumoli (143 verses).

These are part of the Divya Prabandham, the canonical Tamil scripture of the Sri Vaishnava tradition, often referred to as the Dravida Veda. The Tiruppavai is a series of vows and prayers performed by young cowherd girls during the month of Margazhi, seeking the boon of union with Krishna. The Nachiyar Tirumoli expresses the soul's longing for the divine, using the metaphor of a lovesick maiden yearning for her lord. Andal's iconography depicts her as a young woman with a dark complexion, reminiscent of Bhudevi, often holding a parrot and a garland. The garland symbolizes her famous act of wearing the garland intended for the deity Ranganatha before offering it, a story recounted in the Guruparampara tradition.

When Periyalvar discovered this, he was distressed, but Ranganatha appeared in a dream and declared that he accepted the garland worn by Andal, thus sanctifying her devotion. Andal is considered the consort of Ranganatha, the form of Vishnu at Srirangam. Her life culminates in her merging with the deity at the Srirangam temple, as described in the Divya Prabandham commentaries. Regional worship is especially prominent in Tamil Nadu, where her birthplace Srivilliputhur hosts the Andal Temple, and her festivals—Adi Pooram (her birth star) and Andal Jayanti—are celebrated with great fervor. In Hindu cosmology, Andal represents the jivatma's (individual soul) yearning for paramatma (supreme soul), and her works are recited daily in Sri Vaishnava households and temples.

The Tiruppavai is particularly chanted during the month of Margazhi, and its verses are believed to bestow spiritual and material blessings. Andal's legacy as a saint and poetess continues to inspire bhakti movements across South India.

Young woman, dark complexion (like Bhudevi). Often depicted with a parrot. Crowned, holding a garland. Sometimes shown merging with Ranganatha.