Andal Temple

Sri Andal Temple, Srivilliputhur, Tamilnadu

Sri Andal is one of the 12 Alvar saints of South India. She is also believed to be an incarnation of Sri Bhumi Devi (Mother-Earth), the goddess Lakshmi,. She dedicated her entire life to the worship of Lord Vishnu. Thiruppavai, the compilation of Tamil devotional poems sung by her, is still recited in Vishnu temples during the month of Margazhi.
The Pillar-Hall, with an artistically designed front view, welcomes us. On either side of the hall, Vanamalai Jeear monastery with shops, and monasteries of Vedantha Desikar and Manavalla Saint are set up. The next to Pillar-Hall is the Divine Marriage Hall. It looks exquisitely beautiful with sculptured figures of Yali in big pillars. A statuette of Saint Appar is found in a pillar which is in the southern entrance. On the inside ceiling of this hall, the paintings of the Nayakkar Dynasty period’s Ramayana have been drawn. These paintings are getting defaced due to a lack of proper maintenance.

Passing the Marriage Hall, we come across the hall of Flag Staff. In the columns of this hall, the carved figures of Rama, Lakshmana, Arjunan, Karnan, Rathi Devi, Manmadhan, Gugan, Kalaimagal, Veerapathirar, Sakthi, Venugopalan, Viswakarma, Rudhra kanigai, Jalandhiran and Mohini look excellently beautiful. In the northern enclosure, Old Ekadasi Hall, Glass Hall, Ointment Room, extra kitchen house and the gateway to the Heaven are found. To the south of the Flag Staff, there is a hall made of wood and in which a highly decorated Goddess Gajalakshmi statue is also seen. Nearby, there is a temple for Lord Anjaneya also. In the corner of the southwest part of this enclosure, there are panchaloga statues of Rama, Sita and Lakshmanan. In the northwest corner, there are temples for Srinivasan and Sundararajan. In the southeast corner of this enclosure, one can see Lakshminarayanan, who was worshipped by the Vaishnavite poet Periyazhvar. Nearer to it is the Madhavi Pandhal which finds reference in the Andal Thiruppavai. Upon the walls of the enclosure, 108 Vaishnavite temples have been beautifully painted.

Dhuwaraga Palagar statues have been installed on both sides of the entrance to Mahamandapam and Arthamandapam. There is a Swing Hall inside the Big Hall, which is being called “Friday Kuradu”. The statues of Thirumalai Naikkar and Chokkappa Naikkar, with their consorts, are found carved in the pillars of this hall.
Inside the Sanctum Sanctorum, Sri Andal, Rangamannar and Garudazhwar are sitting majestically on the Golden Throne. Only in this shrine, Garudazhwar can be seen sitting on equal footing with the God.

———-
Translated from Tamil by Professor. Dr. M. Shanmugam, Ph.D., Thiruvalluvar College of Engineering & Technology, Vandavasi – 604 505, India

Official Website of Sri Andal Temple-click here

Pooja Timing

VISWA ROOPAM 6.30 AM
KALA SANATHI 8.30 AM
UCHIKKALAM 12 NOON
NADAI SARTHAL 1.00 PM
NADAI THIRAPPU 4.00 PM
SAYA RATCHAI 6.00 PM
ATTHALAM 8.00 PM
ARAVANAI 9.00 PM

Festivals at Sri Andal Temple

Chiththirai Chitritsavam (9 Days)
Procession of Andal And Mannar On Chitra Pournami Day
Vaigasi Vasantha Utsavam (Gotha Stuti)
Nammazhvar Utsavam (10 Days)
Aani Periazhvar Utsavam (10 Days)
Muppazham for Andal on Full Moon Day
Aadi Day 1 – Dwaja Rohanam , Night – Pathinaru Vandi Chapparam
Day 5 – Morning – Periazhvar Mangala Sasanam, Night – Garuda Sevai
Day 7 – Sayana Sevai At Krishnan Kovil
Day 9 – Car Festival
Day 10 – Muthu Kuri
Aavani Periazhvar Thirupavitra Utsavam (7 Days), Krishna Jayanthi
Purattasi Peria Perumal Bramotsavam (11 Days)
Garuda Sevai for Srinivasa Perumal (All Saturday)
Aippasi Unjal Utsavam for Andal And Mannar
Unjal Utsavam for Periaperumal
Kaarththikai Chokkappanai on Thirukarthigai Day
Thirumangaiazhvar Utsavam – Adorning the Deity With 108 Shawls on Kausika Ekadasi
Maarkazhi Ennaikkappu and Thirumanjanam (Daily)
Pagal Pathu
Thai Mangala Sasanam for Manavala Maamunigal
Maasi Theportsavam for 3 Days from Masi Magam
Panguni Andal Mannar Thirukkalyana Bramotsavam (10 Days)

Aadi pooram [ஆடிப்பூரம்]

Aadi is the fourth month in the Tamil calendar. Pooram is one of the 27 Nakshatras in the Astrology. Aadi pooram is celebrated as the birth day of Sri Andal. It is also believed that Goddess Shakthi herself descends to the earth on this auspicious day to bless her devotees. Aadi Pooram is observed in all Vishnu Temples in Tamil Nadu as a 10-day celebration by offering special poojas.