Discover India Series - 4

 The Ecstasy of Reminiscence - Srivilliputhur

Poli Padyami, the first day of Marghasheersha / Dhanur Masam along with Karthika Amavasya is considered sacred as they mark the end of the month of Karthik and salvation given to Poli for her devotion. My very early and fond memories of this lovely winter month was that of the time when I was 4 or 5 Years old. My Grandfather who was a pious devotee, used to practice all the rituals very stringently and do the pooja early in the morning. We were taught to get up in Brahmi muhurtha, take bath and visit Sri Vaishnava temples and do pradkshinas. He was a gentle soul who used to say that one who cannot go to the temple can keep the Idol of Lord Ganesha in a plate or on a pedestal and do the circumambulations at home itself. I was his dear granddaughter and still follow many of his ideals. He passed away when I was 7 years old. But, the great strength of devotion that he taught always remained with me. I practiced the Dhanur Masam rituals many years at temples and at home. This is the holy month when we read Tiruppavai and pray to Godess Goda (Kodai) Devi and follow her instructions in the devotion to Lord Ranganatha. The month ends with Goda Kalyanam and Pooja. As a child, as a youngster and now in the middle age this story has never stopped to enchant me. I always thought that I should visit Srivilliputur, the birth place of Sri Andal.

Last year during the Dasara vacation, we were on our regular road trips and happened to stop at Srivilliputhur Andal Temple. It is located in south India, in the district of Virudhanagar, Tamilnadu. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and one of the 108 Divya Desams. It is located 540 Km from Chennai, 211 km from Trichy, 300 km from Kumbakonam, 82 km from Tenkasi, 80 km from Maduari and 13 km from Rajapalayam. The temple is a swayamvyakhta sthala and is constructed in the native style of Dravidian architecture. The temple is glorified in the Alwar Thirumozhi - Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamizh tenet of the 12 saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. The deity is Vatapatrasayi with Andal as consort. The temple is connected with the life of Goddess Andal, who was found under a Tulsi plant in the garden inside the temple by Periyalvar. She is believed to have worn the garlands before dedicating it to the presiding deity of the temple. Periyalvar, who later found it, was highly disturbed and stopped the practice. It is believed Vishnu appeared in his dream and asked him to dedicate the garland worn by Sri Andal to him daily, which is a practice followed till date. The lore says that Goddess Andal had the blessing of all deities in 108 Divya Desams in attendance for the swayamvara and she chose to marry Lord Sri Ranganadha Swamy of Sri Rangam and later merged with him.

Periyalvar, the adopted father of Andal is said to have built the Temple in the year 788 AD, with a purse of gold that he won in debates held in the palace of Pandya King Vallabhadeva.  The Temple was further patronized by Vijayanagara and Nayak Kings. The temple's gateway tower 192 ft (59 m) is one of the tallest and is the official symbol of the Government of Tamil Nadu, championing the cause of women empowerment.

The temple has two divisions - the one of Andal located on the Southwest and the second one of Vatapatrasayi on the Northeast direction. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines, the garden where Andal is believed to have been born with the Tulsi plant, beautiful Idol of Goddess Andal and temple tanks. It was in fact bliss to have visited this place along with Devesh. I could not resist visting the shrine again while on return journey. It was a blessing indeed to bring the soil from the Andal Amma’s Tulasi Plant. She is there with us forever. The sweet note is that the place is famous for delicious milk kova.

Andal Thiruvadigale Saranam!

D. Ashalatha Reddy