Srivilliputhur Andal Temple






Srivilliputhur Andal sanctuary (likewise called Srivilliputtur Divya Desam) in Srivilliputhur, a town in Virudhunagar area in the South Indian province of Tamil Nadu, is devoted to the Hindu god Vishnu. It is found 80 km from Madurai. Built in the Dravidian style of engineering, the sanctuary is celebrated in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil group of the Azhwar holy people from the 6th– ninth hundreds of years AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam devoted to Vishnu, who is adored as Vadapathrasayi and his associate Lakshmi as Andal. It is accepted to be the origin of two of the Azhwars, in particular, Periazhwar and his encourage little girl Andal.
            The sanctuary is related to the life of Andal, who was found under a Tulsi plant in the garden inside the sanctuary by Periazhwar. She is accepted to have worn the festoon before devoting it to the managing divinity of the sanctuary. Periazhwar, who later discovered it, was exceptionally disturbed and ceased the training. It is trusted Vishnu showed up in his fantasy and requesting that he commit the festoon worn by Andal to him day by day, which is a training took after amid the cutting edge times. It is likewise trusted that Ranganatha of Srirangam Ranganathaswamy sanctuary wedded Andal, who later converged with him.
            The sanctuary has two divisions - the one of Andal situated on the Southwest and the second one of Vadapathrasayi on the Northeast bearing. A stone divider encompasses the sanctuary, encasing every one of its holy places, the garden where Andal is accepted to have been conceived and two of its three waterways. The Vijayanagar and Nayak lords dispatched depictions on the dividers of the hallowed place of sanctuary, some of which are as yet present. Samprokshanam of the Andal sanctuary was performed on 20 January 2016 by Tamil Nadu Government. Vadapathrasayi is accepted to have appeared to Andal, Periazhwar and sages Markandeya and Bhrigu. The sanctuary takes after Thenkalai custom of love. Six day by day ceremonies and three yearly celebrations are held at the sanctuary, of which the Aadipooram celebration, the birthday of Andal, celebrated amid the Tamil month of Adi (July - August), is the most conspicuous. The sanctuary is kept up and directed by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Separation (From Madurai): 80 Kms

Ordinarily Visited From: Madurai

Excursion Duration (From Madurai, Including Travel): 4 Hours/Half Day

Place Location: At Srivilliputhur

Transportation Options: Bus/Cab

At a separation of 80 km from Madurai and 100 km from Tirunelveli, Srivilliputhur Andal Temple is an antiquated Hindu sanctuary arranged at Srivilliputhur in Virudhunagar area of Tamilnadu. This is one of the famous sanctuaries in Tamilnadu and furthermore one of the 108 divya desams of Lord Vishnu. The 11 level Raja gopuram is the tallest in Tamilnadu and is additionally the Emblem of Tamil Nadu Government.

The sanctuary is devoted to Lord Vishnu, who is revered as Vatapatrasayi and his associate Lakshmi as Andal. It is accepted to be the origin of two of the Alwars, to be specific Periazhwar and his encourage little girl Andal. The Alwars lived in the eighth century, with the goal that the presence of the sanctuary can be followed even previously. Vatapatra Sayanar Temple was built by the King Villi who controlled the place. The tall sanctuary tower was built by Peria Alwar with the assistance gave by the Pandian lord Vallabadevan (765-815 AD). The Andal Shrine had been developed by various rulers of Pandya line in various circumstances. Lord Thirumalai Nayak had done numerous redesigns.

Srivilliputhur Temple is related with the life of Andal, who was found under a Tulsi plant in the garden inside the sanctuary by Periazhwar. She is accepted to have worn the wreath before committing it to the managing god of the sanctuary. Periazhwar, who later discovered it, was exceptionally vexed and halted the training. It is trusted Vishnu showed up in his fantasy and requesting that he commit the laurel worn by Andal to him day by day, which is a training took after amid the cutting edge times. It is additionally trusted that Ranganatha of Srirangam wedded Andal, who later converged with him.

The sanctuary comprises of two sections. The initial segment is called Vatapatra Sayanar Temple and the second part is known as Andal Shrine. A stone divider encompasses the sanctuary, encasing every one of its holy places, the garden where Andal was found and two of its three waterways. The best fascination of the sanctuary is the Rajagopuram with eleven levels and 192 feet stature. It is one among the tallest towers of sanctuaries in Tamilnadu. It is likewise the Emblem of Tamil Nadu Government.

In the sanctum sanctorum the icon of the Lord in a leaning back stance, his consorts Sridevi and Bhoodevi, are indicated taking care of him at his feet. Sage Bhrigu remains close to his head and Markandeya is close to his feet. The banyan tree whose leaf is known as Vatapatram, on which the Lord is said to rest as a child amid the downpour, is at his head. Pictures of Panchamurtis, Thumburu, Narada, Sanatkumara, Kinnara Mithuna, the Sun and the Moon are demonstrated all around the Lord and additionally portrayals of Villi and Puttan, who stand respectfully at his feet. The sanctum sanctorum has three entryways from which the Lord can be found in His leaning back stance. A flight of stairs prompts the sanctum sanctorum; underneath them is an expansive, noteworthy lobby with point by point wooden carvings delineating episodes from the Puranas.



The Chitritsavam for 9 days, Aadi Pooram, Vasantha Utsavam, Peria Perumal Bramhotsavam, Theppostavam and Andal Mannar Thirukalyanam for 10 days are the imperative celebrations celebrated in this sanctuary with incredible ceremony and enthusiasm.

Srivilliputhur Andal Kovil, Virudhunagar 

Srivilliputhur Andal Kovil is a prevalent 2000-year-old Hindu sanctuary and one of the 108 Divya Desams, the most vital residences Lord Vishnu. 

It is the origin of two of the most imperative alvars (holy people) in the Vaishnavite convention: Periyazhvar and Andal. 

The sanctuary takes after Thenkalai convention of love. The sanctuary is in the town of Srivilliputtur, around 74 km from Madurai, India and extremely close to Rajapalayam. It is noteworthy that the sanctuary tower is utilized as a part of the Tamil Nadu government's authentic seal. 

Srivilliputtur is a sanctuary town and one of the 108 Divya Desams of Lord Sri Vishnu. To the enthusiasts and vaishnavites, Srivilliputtur is synonymous with Lord Vishnu, Periyalwar and Andal. It is a fascinating spot to any tasteful individual for getting a charge out of the model and antiquated illustrations in the sanctuary. It gave – 'Thiruppavai' of Andal and 'Tirupallandu' of Periyalvar-the psalms on Lord Vishnu to Tamil Literature. These Tamil psalms – Tamil Vedam-Alwar pasurams-are discussed regular at this sanctuary. 

Srivilliputhur Andal Kovil is a standout amongst the most well known Temples in Tamilnadu. Srivilliputtur is one of the old authentic town in Tamilnadu, India for the accompanying viewpoints 

1. A 2000-year-old sanctuary, 

2. 200-year-old Hindu School, 

3. 135-year-old Pennington Public Library 

4. Thiruppavai, one of the critical constituent of reverential Tamil writing period was from this sanctuary town. 

Historical underpinnings 

According to Hindu legend, the land around Srivilliputhur was under the lead of Queen Malli. The ruler had two children called Villi and Kandan. While the two were chasing in a woods, a tiger executed Kandan. Uninformed of this, Villi scanned for his sibling, got worn out and nodded off. In his fantasy, heavenliness described to him the end result for his sibling. By divine requests, Villi established a city. The city is initially named after its author, Villi shaping the word Sri-Villi-Puthur. 

History 

The historical backdrop of Srivilliputhur revolves around the Srivilliputhur Temple, devoted to Andal (eighth century or prior), the main female Alvar of the 12 Alvar holy people of South India. She is credited with the Tamil works of Thiruppavai and Nachiar Tirumozhi that are still presented by enthusiasts amid the winter celebration period of Margazhi. Andal is known for her steadfast dedication to god Vishnu, the God of the Srivaishnavas. Embraced by her dad, the Alvar holy person Periyalvar who discovered her as a child, Andal dodged natural marriage, the ordinary and expected way for ladies of her way of life, to "wed" Vishnu, both profoundly and physically. In numerous spots in India, especially in Tamil Nadu, Andal is dealt with in excess of a holy person and as a type of god herself and a place of worship for Andal is committed in most Vishnu sanctuaries. 

Amid the rule of Thirumalai Naikar (1623– 1659) and Rani Mangammal (1689– 1706), this city turned out to be exceptionally prevalent. Thirumalai Nayak redesigned the sanctuaries of this city. From 1751 to 1756 A.D., Srivilliputhur went under the manage of Nerkattum Seval Palayakarar Puli Thevar and was maravarpalayam. 

Later the Fort of Srivilliputtur was governed by Periyasami Thevar. At that point it fell under the control of Mohammed Yusuf Khan. Until 1850, Sri Andal sanctuary was under the care of the ruler of Travancore. At that point British governed the nation till India achieved opportunity in 1947. 

Design 

The sanctuary comprises of two sections. The initial segment is called Vadabadra Sayanar Temple and the second part is known as Andal Sannathi. Vadabadra Sayanar Temple was built by the King villi who led the place. The tall pinnacle was built by Periya Alwar with the assistance gave by the Pandiya ruler Vallabadevan AD 765-815 according to Guru Parampara conventions. 

Additionally Andal Sannathi had been developed by various rulers of Pandiyan Dynasty at various circumstances. Indeed, even now we can see the Fish Emblem at the rooftop as an image of Pandiya lords. Lord Thirumalai Naickar had done numerous remodels. The "Sukravara Kuradu" bears the statues of Thirumalai Naickar, his sibling Chokkapa Naickar and their spouses. 

The Raja Gopuram is one of the tallest in Tamilnadu. It is likewise the Emblem of Tamil Nadu Government. It has eleven phases. The immense writer Kamban has lauds it in grand terms and the lyric finds a place in the Tower. 

Inside the sanctuary's sanctum sanctorum is a picture of the Lord in a leaning back stance; His consorts, Sri Devi and Bhooma Devi, are demonstrated taking care of him at His feet. Sage Bhrgu remains close to His head and Markandeya is close to His feet. The banyan tree — whose leaf is known as Vatapatram, on which the Lord is said to rest as an infant amid downpour — is at His head, behind Sage Bhrgu. 

Pictures of Panchamurtis, Thumburu, Narada, Sanatkumara, Kinnara Mithuna, the Sun and the Moon are demonstrated all around Rangamannar and in addition portrayals of Villi and Puttan, who stand respectfully at His feet. The sanctum sanctorum has three entryways from which the Lord can be found in His leaning back stance. A flight of stairs prompts the sanctum sanctorum; beneath them is an extensive, great corridor with nitty gritty wooden carvings portraying occurrences from the Puranas. These carvings bolster and additionally enliven the roof. 

The tall towers, monstrous auto, immense tank, etched columns, antiquated Ramayana frescoes and present day divider compositions delineating the Lords of 108 Divyadesams, various engravings going back to the manage of Pandya rulers, fine rectangular lobby with a wooden rooftop or more all its exceptional "Thiruppavai Vimanam" say a lot of their rich engineering legacy. " 

Andal Legend 


Andal is accepted to have been found under a Tulsi (Basil) plant in the sanctuary garden of Srivilliputtur, by a man named Vishnucitta who later ended up a standout amongst the most venerated holy people in Hinduism, Periyalvar. 

The youngster was named Kodhai. This is prominently thought to signify "a delightful festoon" in Tamil. The name Kodhai is frequently Sanskritized as Goda. She has been acknowledged as a rebirth of Bhumi Devi (the Earth Goddess). 

She is thought to be bhooma devi symbol soon after that of Sita (spouse of Lord Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu, as portrayed in the epic Ramayana).The arrangement of Bhumi Devi's incarnations begin from the Varaha Puranam – In Hindu folklore, Vedavati is hypothesized to have been the soul of Sita Devi, the wife of Lord Rama in the epic Ramayana. She was another symbol of Devi Lakshmi. Vedavati is the little girl of Brahmarshi Kusadhvaja, who is the child of Brihaspati, Lord-Guru of the Devas, the Gods. 

Having spent his life droning and concentrate the sacrosanct Vedas, he names his little girl Vedavati, or Embodiment of the Vedas, conceived as the product of his bhakti and tapasya. 

Kodhai was raised by Vishnucitta. Kodhai experienced childhood in an air of adoration and dedication. Vishnucitta adored her in each regard, singing melodies to her about Lord Vishnu; showing her everything the stories and theory he knew; and offering to her his affection for Tamil verse. 

As Kodhai developed into a wonderful lady, her affection and commitment for the Lord developed to the degree that she chose to wed none however the Lord Himself as it were. As days advanced, her purpose reinforced and she began to live in a fantasy world with her adored Lord and was always fantasizing about wedding Him. 

Vishnucitta had the obligation of conveying bloom laurels to the Lord's sanctuary, ordinary. Kodhai made these laurels and sent it to her adored Lord through her dad. In the long run she began acting unordinary by wearing the blossom laurel which was intended to be offered to the Lord. This is by and large considered blasphemy in Hinduism on the grounds that the sacred writings instruct the enthusiasts not to offer to the Lord, a thing that has just been utilized by a person. 


Be that as it may, Kodhai felt she should test to perceive how the festoon suited her and just on the off chance that it did, she should offer it to the Lord.


One day, she was caught in the act by her dad in this odd demonstration, and as a conventional enthusiast he was greatly disturbed. He censured her and advised her not to rehash the heretical demonstration later on. Startled and self-reproachful, Kodhai made another wreath for the offering that day. 

Legend says that that very night the Lord appeared to Vishnucitta in his fantasy and asked him for what reason he had disposed of Kodhai's wreath as opposed to offering it to Him. The Lord is accepted to have revealed to Vishnucitta that He had entire heartedly acknowledged Kodhai's putting forth this time. 

This moved Vishnucitta such a great amount of even as he understood the Divine Love that existed between the Lord and his little girl. From this day on, Kodhai is accepted to have been regarded by the fans and came to be known as "Andal", the young lady who "ruled" over the Lord. She is additionally known by an expression Soodi kodutha Sudarkodi which signifies "The splendid creeper-like lady who gave her wreaths in the wake of wearing them". 

As Andal bloomed into a fifteen-year-old lovely young lady of eligible age (young ladies were hitched at a substantially more youthful age back then), her dad arranged to get her wedded to an appropriate prepare. 

Andal, nonetheless, was tenacious and demanded that she would wed just the Lord Vishnu. This baffled and stressed her dad. Nonetheless, the Lord showed up in Vishnuchitta's fantasy and educated him that He would wed Andal at Srirangam; the Lord all the while ordered the clerics at Srirangam, in their fantasies, to get ready for the wedding. 

Andal who was on edge to achieve Srirangam was not able control herself in her criticalness to meet her cherished Lord. She kept running into the sanctum sanctorum of the Lord Ranganatha and is accepted to have converged with Him totally by then. 

Religious noteworthiness 

Srivilliputtur (Shenbagaranyakshetram) discovers say in the Brahmakaivatsapuranam and the Varaha puranam. The Varaha puranam anticipates the presence of Srivilliputtur and the resulting visit of Bhagavan amid the Varaha Avataram. The Brahmakaivatsa puranam notices the area of Vatapatrasayi Temple in Srivilliputtur. 

The Srivilliputtur divya desam has the special qualification among all other divya desams of being the origin of two essential azhwars among the twelve azhwars, sri periyazhwar, who turned into the father-in-law of the Lord Ranganatha himself and Sri Andal who was the incaranation of Bhoomadevi and achieved association with the Lord Ranganathan at Srirangam. It is one of only a handful few divyadesams where all the Srivaishnava sanctuary conventions and celebrations are taken after routinely consistently. The town, which awakens to the hints of Thiruppavai, an eminent climate for the duration of the day. 

Celebrations and religious practices 

The sanctuary clerics play out the Pooja (customs) amid celebrations and consistently. Like other Vishnu sanctuaries of Tamil Nadu, the ministers have a place with the Vaishnavaite people group, a Brahmin sub-standing. The sanctuary customs are performed six times each 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. what's more, Ardha Jamam at 10:00 p.m. 

Every custom has three stages: alangaram (beautification), neivethanam ( nourishment offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lights) for both Vatapathrasayi and Andal. Amid the last advance of love, nagaswaram (pipe instrument) andtavil (percussion instrument) are played, religious guidelines in the Vedas (hallowed content) are discussed by clerics, and admirers prostrate themselves before the sanctuary pole. There are week after week, month to month and fortnightly ceremonies performed in the sanctuary. 

A great many individuals from the state take an interest in the "Aadi Pooram" celebration celebrated in the Andal Temple. After early morning unique pujas, the managing divinities, Sri Rengamannar and Goddess Andal are taken in enhanced palanquins to the auto. The celebration denotes the appropriation of managing divinity, Andal, by Periyazhwar after he discovered her close to 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 


Different names 


Srivilliputtur is referred to by different names, for example, 


1. Varaha kshetram 


2. Thenpuduvai 


3. Vadeswarapuram 


4. Vadamahadamapuram 


5. Shenbagaranya kshetram 


6. Vikrama chola chaturvedhi mangalam 


7. Sridhanvipuri. 


Annadhanam 

This sanctuary actualizes Honorable Tamilnadu Chief Minister's Food Donation Scheme" and 100 people are given Food Daily. 

*Person willing to give "Nourishment gift" in their name can give it by paying Rs.2000/ - every day and can get the receipt for the same. Or on the other hand can pay Rs.20.000/ - as settled store and with its advantage can give 'nourishment gift' amid their birthday, marriage day, and so on. 

*Donors can likewise benefit 80G expense unwinding for every one of their gifts impose towards the 'Sustenance Donation Scheme'. 

Sanctuary Administration 

Official Officer 

Srivilliputtur Andal Temple 

Srivilliputtur-626125 

Tamil Nadu 


Telephone No: 04563-260254