The event
We had a fantastic event celebrating the Thiruvadippooram celebrations at Sri. Sriram swami and Smt. Malini’s Thirumaligai.
The bhagavathas recited Prabandhams and stothrams related to Sri Andal. The bhagavathas and rockers sang melodiously. Dhanyosmi to Sau. Dhriti, Sau. Sneha, Chi. Krishna, Sau. Advaitaa, Chi. Vishwa, Sau. Sanjana, Sri. Sunil swami, Smt. Dhanalakshmi, Smt. Malini and Smt. Harini for their enjoyable singing.
The bhagavathas relished divine and sumptuous prasadam. Dhanyosmi to Sri. Sriram swami, Smt. Malini, Sau. Dyuthi and the grandparents for organising this memorable event, and to all the bhagavathas who participated.
About Thiruvadippooram
Thiruvadippooram is the thirunakshatram of Sri Andal, the only female among the 12 azhwars. She is revered as the incarnation of Sri Bhudevi, Goddess Earth and the consort of Lord Vishnu. She was born in Srivilliputhur, a town near Madurai, to Periyazhwar, another one of the 12 azhwars, and his wife Vraja.
Sri Andal’s birth and appearance are described as follows
” Bhumidharana sabdena Vismitena samudhvayam Tulasimulada bhumya bhraturbhuyaat vasundhara Panchavarsha divyaroopa divyabharana bhushita Navodbaladalasyama divyambaradarshita Athiskheeryayukta sarvalakshana samyukta Vishnuchittam munim drushtva sa pranamam karushyati”
Varaha Purana
Periyazhwar and his wife had no children of their own. One day, while working in his flower garden, he heard the sound of the earth splitting somewhere in his garden. Upon investigating the cause of the sound, he found a five-year-old girl at the foot of the tulasi plant, adorned with celestial ornaments. Her complexion was like the fresh, tender green leaves of a lotus; she was clad in resplendent divine garments. She was filled with overflowing affection and endowed with all auspicious qualities and marks. Upon seeing Periyazhwar, also known as Vishnuchitta, she bowed down reverently to him as her father. This divine event occurred on a Tuesday, Nal Varudam, the 8th date of the month of Aadi, sukla paksham, panchami thithi, pooram star and thula lagnam, thus the name Thiruvadippooram.
One notable event is that Sri Andal used to wear the garlands, which her father made for Perumal, and look at herself in the mirror. She would then keep the garland as it was, which Periyazhwar offered to Perumal. One day, Periyazhwar came to know that his daughter was doing this and got angry at her, warning her about repeating it. He made a new garland for Perumal, which was surprisingly not accepted by Him. Perumal said that he will only accept the garlands worn by Andal. Periyazhwar realised the divine character of his daughter and named her Sudikkoduttha Sudarkodi.
Although she worshipped Vatapatrasayi Perumal at Srivilliputhur from her childhood, Kodhai (an alternative name to Sri Andal) longed for Sri Ranganatha Perumal at Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Srirangam. Sirrangam is considered the Bhooloka Vaikuntham (Heaven on Earth), and Ranganatha there represents Maha-Vishnu in his supreme royal form, resting on Adisesha, attended by Sri and Bhudevi. To Andal, marrying him meant not just becoming the bride of the deity but the Supreme Lord himself, in his most majestic manifestation. By insisting on marrying him, Andal was reuniting with her divine consort in her true form as Bhudevi.
In her poems, like the Naachiyar Thirumozhi, she expressed her yearning for him as her bridegroom. She saw herself as his bride and composed the Thiruppavai, the 30 hymns sung during the month of Margazhi. When the time came, Lord Ranganatha commanded Periyazhwar to bring Sri Andal to him as a bride. With great pomp, she was taken to Sri Ranganatha Perumal, and the moment she entered the sanctum, she merged into the deity and became one with him (Aikkiyam). This moment is celebrated annually as Andal Thirukalyanam.
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