Srivilliputhur
Andal Kovil, Virudhunagar
Srivilliputhur
Andal Kovil is a popular 2000-year-old Hindu temple and one of the 108 Divya Desams, the most important abodes of Lord Vishnu.
It is the
birthplace of two of the most important alvars (saints)
in the Vaishnavite tradition: Periyazhvar and Andal.

The temple
follows Thenkalai tradition of worship. The temple is in the town of Srivilliputtur, about 74 km from Madurai, India & very near to
Rajapalayam. It is significant that the temple tower is used in the Tamil Nadu government's official seal.
Srivilliputtur
is a temple town and one of the 108 Divya Desams of Lord Sri Vishnu. To the
devotees and vaishnavites, Srivilliputtur is synonymous with Lord Vishnu,
Periyalwar and Andal. It is an interesting place to any aesthetic person for
enjoying the sculpture and ancient drawings in the temple. It gave –‘Thiruppavai’
of Andal and ‘Tirupallandu’ of Periyalvar- the hymns on Lord Vishnu to Tamil
Literature. These Tamil hymns – Tamil Vedam-Alwar pasurams- are recited
everyday at this temple.


Srivilliputhur
Andal Kovil is one of the most famous Temples in Tamilnadu. Srivilliputtur is
one of the old historical town in Tamilnadu, India for the following aspects
1. A 2000-year-old
temple,
2. 200-year-old Hindu
School,
3. 135-year-old
Pennington Public Library
4. Thiruppavai, one of
the important constituent of devotional Tamil literature period was from this temple
town.
Etymology
As per
Hindu legend, the land around Srivilliputhur was under the rule of Queen Malli.
The queen had two sons called Villi and Kandan. While the two were hunting in a
forest, a tiger killed Kandan. Unaware of this, Villi searched for his brother,
got tired and fell asleep. In his dream, divinity narrated to him what happened
to his brother. By divine orders, Villi founded a city. The city is originally named
after its founder, Villi forming the word Sri-Villi-Puthur.
History
The history
of Srivilliputhur centers around the Srivilliputhur Temple,
dedicated to Andal (8th century or earlier), the only female Alvar of the 12 Alvar saints of South India. She is credited
with the Tamil works of Thiruppavai and Nachiar Tirumozhi that are still recited by
devotees during the winter festival season of Margazhi. Andal is known
for her unwavering devotion to god Vishnu, the God of the
Srivaishnavas. Adopted by her father, the Alvar saint Periyalvar who found her as a baby, Andal avoided earthly
marriage, the normal and expected path for women of her culture, to
"marry" Vishnu, both spiritually and physically. In many places in
India, particularly in Tamil Nadu, Andal is treated more than a
saint and as a form of god herself and a shrine for Andal is dedicated in most
Vishnu temples.


During the
reign of Thirumalai Naikar (1623–1659) and Rani Mangammal (1689–1706), this city became
very popular. Thirumalai Nayak renovated the temples of this city. From 1751 to
1756 A.D., Srivilliputhur came under the rule of Nerkattum Seval Palayakarar Puli Thevar and was maravarpalayam.
Later the
Fort of Srivilliputtur was ruled by Periyasami Thevar. Then it fell into the hands of
Mohammed Yusuf Khan. Until 1850, Sri Andal temple was under the care of the
king of Travancore. Then British ruled the country till India attained freedom
in 1947.
Architecture
The temple
consists of two parts. The first part is called Vadabadra Sayanar Temple and
the second part is known as Andal Sannathi. Vadabadra Sayanar Temple was
constructed by the King villi who ruled the place. The tall tower was
constructed by Periya Alwar with the help provided by the Pandiya king Vallabadevan
AD 765-815 as per Guru Parampara traditions.
Similarly Andal
Sannathi had been constructed by different kings of Pandiyan Dynasty at
different times. Even now we can see the Fish Emblem at the roof as a symbol of
Pandiya kings. King Thirumalai Naickar had done many renovations. The “Sukravara
Kuradu” bears the statues of Thirumalai Naickar, his brother Chokkapa Naickar
and their wives.


The Raja Gopuram
is one of the tallest in Tamilnadu. It is also the Emblem of Tamil Nadu
Government. It has eleven stages. The great poet Kamban has praises it in lofty
terms and the poem finds a place in the Tower.
Within the
temple's sanctum sanctorum is an image of the Lord in a
reclining posture; His consorts, Sri Devi and Bhooma Devi, are shown attending
to him at His feet. Sage Bhrgu stands near His head and Markandeya is near His
feet. The banyan tree — whose leaf is known as Vatapatram, on which
the Lord is said to rest in the form of a baby during deluge — is at His head,
behind Sage Bhrgu.


Images of
Panchamurtis, Thumburu, Narada, Sanatkumara, Kinnara Mithuna, the Sun and the
Moon are shown all around Rangamannar as well as representations of Villi and
Puttan, who stand reverently at His feet. The sanctum sanctorum has three
doorways from which the Lord can be seen in His reclining posture. A flight of
stairs leads to the sanctum sanctorum; below them is a large, impressive hall
with detailed wooden carvings depicting incidents from the Puranas. These carvings support as well as
decorate the ceiling.






The tall
towers, massive car, huge tank, sculpted pillars, ancient Ramayana frescoes and
modern wall paintings depicting the Lords of 108 Divyadesams, numerous
inscriptions dating back to the rule of Pandya kings, fine rectangular hall
with a wooden roof and above all its unique “Thiruppavai Vimanam” speak volumes
of their rich architectural heritage. ”
Andal Legend
Andal is
believed to have been discovered under a Tulsi (Basil) plant in the temple
garden of Srivilliputtur, by a person named Vishnucitta who later became one of
the most revered saints in Hinduism, Periyalvar.
The child
was named Kodhai. This is popularly thought to mean “a beautiful garland” in
Tamil. The name Kodhai is often Sanskritized as Goda. She has been accepted as
a reincarnation of Bhumi Devi (the Earth Goddess).
She is
considered to be bhooma devi avatar just after that of Sita (wife of Lord Rama,
an incarnation of Vishnu, as described in the epic Ramayana).The series of
Bhumi Devi’s incarnations start from the Varaha Puranam – In Hindu mythology,
Vedavati is speculated to have been the spirit of Sita Devi, the wife of Lord
Rama in the epic Ramayana. She was another avatar of Devi Lakshmi. Vedavati is
the daughter of Brahmarshi Kusadhvaja, who is the son of Brihaspati, Lord-Guru
of the Devas, the Gods.
Having
spent his life chanting and studying the sacred Vedas, he names his daughter
Vedavati, or Embodiment of the Vedas, born as the fruit of his bhakti and
tapasya.
Kodhai was
brought up by Vishnucitta. Kodhai grew up in an atmosphere of love and devotion.
Vishnucitta doted on her in every respect, singing songs to her about Lord
Vishnu; teaching her all the stories and philosophy he knew; and sharing with
her his love for Tamil poetry.
As Kodhai
grew into a beautiful maiden, her love and devotion for the Lord grew to the
extent that she decided to marry none but the Lord Himself only. As days
progressed, her resolve strengthened and she started to live in a dream world
with her beloved Lord and was constantly fantasizing about marrying Him.
Vishnucitta
had the responsibility of delivering flower garlands to the Lord’s temple,
everyday. Kodhai made these garlands and sent it to her beloved Lord through
her father. Eventually she started acting unusual by wearing the flower garland
which was meant to be offered to the Lord. This is generally considered
sacrilege in Hinduism because the scriptures teach the devotees not to offer to
the Lord, a thing that has already been used by a human being.
However,
Kodhai felt she should test to see how the garland suited her and only if it
did, she should offer it to the Lord.
One day,
she was caught red-handed by her father in this strange act, and as an orthodox
devotee he was extremely upset. He rebuked her and told her not to repeat the
sacrilegious act in the future. Frightened and apologetic, Kodhai made a new
garland for the offering that day.
Legend says
that that very night the Lord appeared to Vishnucitta in his dream and asked
him why he had discarded Kodhai’s garland instead of offering it to Him. The
Lord is believed to have told Vishnucitta that He had whole-heartedly accepted
Kodhai’s offering all this time.
This moved
Vishnucitta so much even as he started to realize the Divine Love that existed
between the Lord and his daughter. From this day on, Kodhai is believed to have
been respected by the devotees and came to be known as “Andal”, the girl who
“ruled” over the Lord. She is also known by a phrase Soodi kodutha Sudarkodi
which means “The bright creeper-like woman who gave her garlands after wearing
them”.
As Andal
blossomed into a fifteen-year-old beautiful young woman of marriageable age
(girls were married at a much younger age in those days), her father prepared
to get her married to a suitable groom.
Andal,
however, was stubborn and insisted that she would marry only the Lord Vishnu.
This perplexed and worried her father. However, the Lord appeared in
Vishnuchitta’s dream and informed him that He would marry Andal at Srirangam; the Lord simultaneously
commanded the priests at Srirangam, in their dreams, to prepare for the
wedding.
Andal who
was anxious to reach Srirangam was unable to control herself in her urgency to
meet her beloved Lord. She ran into the sanctum sanctorum of the Lord
Ranganatha and is believed to have merged with Him completely at that point.
Religious significance
Srivilliputtur
(Shenbagaranyakshetram) finds mention in the Brahmakaivatsapuranam and the
Varaha puranam. The Varaha puranam foretells the existence of Srivilliputtur
and the consequent visit of Bhagavan during the Varaha Avataram. The
Brahmakaivatsa puranam mentions the location of Vatapatrasayi Temple in
Srivilliputtur.
The
Srivilliputtur divya desam has the unique distinction among all other divya
desams of being the birthplace of two important azhwars among the twelve
azhwars, sri periyazhwar, who became the father-in-law of the Lord Ranganatha
himself and Sri Andal who was the incaranation of Bhoomadevi and attained union
with the Lord Ranganathan at Srirangam. It is one of the few divyadesams where
all the Srivaishnava temple traditions and festivals are followed regularly
every year. The town, which wakes up to the sounds of Thiruppavai, a sublime
atmosphere throughout the day.
Festivals and
religious practises
The temple
priests perform the Pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis.
Like other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavaite community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals
are performed six times a day: Ushathkalam at 7 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 p.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 10:00 p.m.
Each ritual
has three steps: alangaram (decoration), neivethanam ( food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both
Vatapathrasayi and Andal. During the last step of worship, nagaswaram (pipe instrument) andtavil (percussion instrument) are
played, religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred text) are recited by
priests, and worshippers prostrate themselves in front of the temple
mast. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in
the temple.

Thousands
of people from the state participate in the "Aadi Pooram" festival
celebrated in the Andal Temple. After early morning special pujas, the
presiding deities, Sri Rengamannar and Goddess Andal are taken in decorated
palanquins to the car. The festival marks the adoption of presiding deity,
Andal, by Periyazhwar after he found her near a Tulsi plant in the garden of
Vadabadrasai Temple at Srivilliputhur on the eighth day of the Tamil month of Adi.
Pooja Timings
Pooja Time
|
Pooja Name
|
6.30 A.M
|
VISWA ROOPAM
|
8.30 A.M
|
KALA SANATHI
|
12 NOON
|
UCHIKKALAM
|
1.00 P.M
|
NADAI SARTHAL
|
4.00 P.M
|
NADAI THIRAPPU
|
6.00 P.M
|
SAYA RATCHAI
|
8.00 P.M
|
ATTHALAM
|
9.00 P.M
|
ARAVANAI
|
VADAPATRASAYANAR TEMPLE
|
|
Pooja Time
|
Pooja Name
|
7.00 A.M
|
VISWA ROOPAM
|
8.00 A.M
|
KALA SANATHI
|
AZHVAR SANNATHI
|
|
Pooja Time
|
Pooja Name
|
8.00 A.M
|
KALASANTHI
|
9.30 A.M
|
THIRUMANJANAM
|
12.30 P.M
|
NADAI SARTHAL
|
4.30 P.M
|
NADAI THIRAPPU
|
5.30 P.M
|
SAYA RATCHAI
|
8.00 P.M
|
ATTHALAM
|
8.30 P.M
|
ARAVANAI
|
SRINIVASA PERUMAL TEMPLE
|
|
Pooja Time
|
Pooja Name
|
7.00 A.M
|
NADAI THIRAPPU
|
12 NOON
|
UCHIK KALAM
|
6.30 P.M
|
SAYA RATCHAI
|
7.00 P.M
|
NADAI SARTHAL
|
Other names
Srivilliputtur
is known by other names such as
1. Varaha
kshetram
2. Thenpuduvai
3. Vadeswarapuram
4. Vadamahadamapuram
5. Shenbagaranya
kshetram
6. Vikrama
chola chaturvedhi mangalam
7. Sridhanvipuri.
Annadhanam
This temple
implements Honourable Tamilnadu Chief Minister's Food Donation Scheme” & 100
persons are provided Food Daily.
*Person willing
to provide "Food donation" in their name can give it by paying
Rs.2000/- per day and can get the receipt for the same. Or can pay Rs.20.000/-
as fixed deposit and with its interest can provide 'food donation' during their
birthday, marriage day, etc.
*Donors can
also avail 80G tax relaxation for all their donations tax towards the 'Food
Donation Scheme'.
Temple Administration
Executive
Officer
Srivilliputtur
Andal Temple
Srivilliputtur-
626125
Tamil Nadu
Phone No:
04563-260254
6 comments:
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Hare Krishna!
Chandan Yatra Das
http://holy-pilgrimages.com/
Nice post.
Ok
Nice post
Hi
Srivilliputhur Andal temple in Srivilliputhur, a town in Virudhunagar district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. It is located 80 km from Madurai. It is a very famous place to visit.
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