Everything about the Tiruvadipooram Festival
Sri Maha Vishnu liberated Sri Bhu Devi who was kept under the ocean by the Hiranyaksha. Sri Bhu Devi was quite relieved and prayed to God to pronounce the method by which people, who were suffering in the miserable world, could be liberated from the Ocean of Samsara (just like She was liberated from the Deep Ocean).
Lord Vishnu said, “If one surrenders to Him with deep faith, He will liberate and lead him to His permanent abode, Vaikunta, where there will be only everlasting delight and happiness.” These words prompted Sri Bhu Devi to incarnate Herself in this world, as Sri Goda Devi otherwise called Sri Andal and propagate the theme of ‘saranagati’ or self surrender through her two works of Tiruppavai and Nachiyar Tirumozhi and by Her devotional performance.
Twelve Alvars
The twelve Alwars are divine saints, blessed by the Lord, who took ‘avatars’ in the world to spread ‘bhakti’ and ‘saranagati’ cults in this world. Among them, Sri Vishnu Chittar who came to be known as Periyalvar is a significant Alwar and whose works are the first ones to be incorporated in Nalayira Divya Prabandham in the Mudalayiram part.
He was born in Sri Villiputhur in the southern part of India. He was doing ‘Maala Kainkaryam’ to the Lord in the temple of Sri Vatpatrasayee. He was looking after the garden of the temple, cultivating fragrant flowers and Tulasi in particular. By the grace of the Lord, He found a female child in the Tulasi garden and brought her to his home.
He named her Goda (a beautiful garland) and brought her up well, teaching the stories of Srimad Bhagavatam. She grew up with deep devotion to Lord Krishna. She was none other than the incarnation of Sri Bhu Devi. It may be noted that Sita Devi (incarnation of Sri Devi) was also found while tilling the ground by King Janaka to construct ‘yagasala.’
Similarly, Goda Devi was also found in the Tulasi garden. Both of them were born divine. The day on which Sri Goda Devi was found and adopted as the child of Sri Periyalvar, is in the month of ADI (Tamil month corresponding to July-August) with the star POORAM (Pubba) and is considered a very auspicious day and is celebrated as ‘Tiruvadipooram’.
Sri Goda Devi / Sri Andal
Sri Goda Devi has come to be known as Sri Andal. Lord was very much pleased with Her deep devotion and even preferred the garland already worn by her. Swami Desikan opines that Sri Vishnu Chittar became Periyalvar as he offered the garland to the Lord worn by Sri Goda Devi.
Sri Andal authored two Prabandhams. In her Tiruppavai which contains thirty pasurams, she converts herself as a cowherd and expresses her love to Lord Krishna and finally surrenders to Him. This Prabandha is considered to be ‘saranagati’ Veda.
In her other Prabandham Nachiyar Tirumozhi, which contains 143 pasurams, she expresses her devotion to the Lord, particularly to Archavatara (idol form) – Srirangam, Tirumala, Azhagarkoil, Tirukudanthai, Tirukkanapuram, Madhura, Brindavan etc.
In one of the decads she reveals a dream that she had, wherein she is getting married to the Lord – called Varanamaayiram, which is chanted during every marriage function in Sri Vaishnavaite homes and Sri Vishnu temple even today.
As desired by her, Sri Periyalvar got married to Lord Sri Ranganathan of Srirangam. Sri Goda Nachiyar as she is called is enshrined in almost all Sri Vishnu temples and the Tiruvaadippooram festival is celebrated grandly. Tirukalyana Utsavam is performed for Sri Andal with the presiding deity on that day, with pomp and pleasure.
The Tiruvadipooram Utsavam in Sri Villiputtur is unique and fascinating
Srivilliputtur situated in South India is famous, for having shrines for Sri Vatapatrasayee and Sri Andal-Rangamannaar (two different temples side by side). This temple town has a reference in Sri Varaha Purana. It is also known as Varahakshetram, then Puduvai (as referred by Sri Periyalvar in his works) and Dhanvapuri etc. The temple boasts itself with a very big Gopuram.
The shrine of Sri Vatapatrasayee, the birth place of Sri Andal can be seen and worshipped. The Tiruvadipooram festival in Sri Villiputhur attracts thousands of devotees and is celebrated for about ten days. Sri Andal was grand in appearance because of different types of beautification.
The ‘alankarams’ of the Lord keeping His head on the lap of Sri Andal are famous in the world. During the ‘utsavam,’ on a particular day, five gods from nearby towns come to Srivilliputtur to join the festival in Garuda Vahana, when devotees throng there in thousands. The Rathotsavam is the most fascinating festival for which devotees come in thousands to witness and get the blessings of the divine couple Sri Andal and Sri Rangamannar.
Sri Andal blesses everyone with peace and prosperity who visits her. Andal is said to bless marital bliss between the couple and also grants quick marriage who aspire for it.
In Tirupati
In Tirupati, Sri Andal has a separate ‘sannidhi’ in Sri Govindaraja swami temple. Here also the Tiruvadipooram festival is celebrated with religious fervour. Grand Abhishekam to Sri Andal is performed. She was adorned with new silk ‘vastrams’. The sacred idols of Sri Govindarajaswami and Sri Andal are taken in procession round the temple. The festival concludes with Tiruppavai Sattumurai.
Final Word
Let us invoke the blessings of Sri Goda Devi on Her Tirunakshatram. Sri Andal’s Tiruvadipooram, utsavam will start on 29th July and end with Sattumurai on 7th August this year (2024).
