The Poetess Divine Andal was born more than a thousand years ago and she lived with her foster father at Srivilliputtur. The foster father Vishnuchittan was known as Periyalwar.
The Poetess Divine Andal was born more than a thousand years ago and she lived with her foster father at Srivilliputtur. The foster father Vishnuchittan was known as Periyalwar.
He was greatly devoted to Lord Vatapatrsayee at Srivilliputtur and a garland was offered everyday to the Lord from his household. The foster daughter Andal used to adorn herself with the garlands that were meant for the deity in the temple. On learning about this habit of his daughter, Periyalwar reprimands her and puts an end to this act. However, the practice had to be continued because of the order of the Lord at Srivilliputtur.
Time passes by and the Poetess Divine composes a number of verses on her Lord and she wishes to marry him and none else. The Thiruppavai and Nachiyar Thirumozhi composed by her are part of the Naalayira Divya Prabadham which is known as Dravida Vedam. Finally Andal marries her divine lover Lord Ranganatha and this event is being celebrated all around the country.
The devoted began to install a separate shrine for Andal in each and every temple of Lord Vishnu which followed the Ramanuja Sampradhaya. A number of scholars have written about Andal and their works include treatises on the sacred Thiruppavai. The eleventh century Saint Ramanujacharya offered 'Nooru Thada Akkara Adasal' at the temple for this was wished by Andal who was also known as Godhadevi. Akkara Adasal is a sweet rice offering and it contains thickened milk, ghee, jaggery and elaichi. This is normally offered on the 'Goodaraivellum Festival', which occurs in the Tamil month of Marghazhi.
The devoted Bhagavatas celebrate the good work of Andal by reciting the Thiruppavai, verse by verse on all the thirty days of Marghazhi. The men folk used to do bhajans by rising early in the morning and drawing a cart with the portrait of Andal, the favorite of the Lord. Sri Krishna Deva Raya ( 1509 - 1529 AD ), the greatest ruler of Vijayanagar had composed a work on Andal and the same is known as 'Amuktamalyada'.
It is considered to be one of the top five Telugu classics. The Naick rulers of Madurai were extremely devoted to Andal and a string of bell mandapams had been constructed between Srivilliputtur and Madurai. Once, the head priest offers food to Andal, the string of bells are used to alert one and other. Eventually the bell will alert the Palace and the ruler used to partake his food thereafter. Food used to also be distributed to the poor and needy everyday. Tamilnadu had been quite prosperous under the Vijayanagar Empire.
The Naicks of Madurai used to rule most of Western & Southern Tamilnadu for a few centuries. They refurbished the temples, forts and public institutions which had gone into disarray after the invasions of Malik Kafur & others between 1311 & 1327 AD.
The soldiers of the Vijayanagar helped their Tamil speaking brethren to live happily and safely ever after. A number of shrines of Andal or Kodhai came up during the rule of the Nayaks and lovely Tanjore paintings with Andal began to adorn the walls of the Bhajanai Madams of Tamilnadu. Coimbatore has been the mustering point for 30 Palayams and therefore the Fort had been an important institution until it was pulled down by Tipu Sultan in the year 1793.
The people of Coimbatore used to do the street bhajans during the month of Marghazi and a push cart with the picture of Andal used to be the central attraction. Members of the neighborhood used to join the procession. Meanwhile women at home used to make dung cones and place them in front of the Thulasi Brindavan at the back yard. A 'Poosanipoo' used to placed along with. The dung cones used to made into patties and stuck on the walls after the pooja for the day was completed. The dung patties would be stored and used at the time of Pongal for cooking.
The women of the household used to make different kinds of flavored rice everyday and offer it to the deities. Ven Pongal, Lemon Rice, Podi Rice, Puliyodharai, Ellodharai etc., would be offered and served to the people who formed the intimate circle. The people of the household used to recite the complete Thiruppavai while also attending the programmes in a nearby temple every morning.
They used to read the purport of the verses in accordance to the 'SriVaishnavasampradhaya'. The 'Goodaraivellum' Festival used to be celebrated well. The climax will be on the day of 'Sankranthi Pongal' when rich milk will be made to get well steamed in a brass or silver container. They used add rice to the thick milk and stir the contents until it is fully cooked. Once it is cooked , lots of ghee and a bit of salt used to be added. A part of it would be separated in order to make 'Sarkarai Pongal'.
They would add jaggery, dried raisins, cashews stir fried in ghee, ghee and elaichi. A pumpkin and avarai sambar would be the add on. The women of the house used to recite Vishnu Sahasranamam and Thiruppavai at the time of the preparation. Later on, the Pongal used to be offered to the deities and distributed.
The 'Maattu Pongal 'or' Patti Pongal' just had cows that were decorated and given sweet garlands. They used to be brought into the home and offered prayers. Later on, the cows used to be dressed well and taken to the Madheswaran Temple on Thadagam Road.
The best decked cow about fifty years ago, used to belong to the residence of P.A.Raju Chettiar. This cow used to be decked with chains, bangles, odiyanams in big numbers. The people of the neighborhood used to wait for the cow year on year. The Gold Control Act put an end to these initiatives.
The Poetess Divine Andal and her composition Thiruppavai were further immortalized by the rendition of the same by M.L.Vasanthakumari, the great singer. The guidance and good work of Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar was the seed for this work. Lovers of Tamil music will forever cherish this wonderful rendition.
The city formed a Coimbatore Thiruppavai Committee under the stewardship of P.S.Narayana Iyengar, Desikachari with P.A.Raju Chettiar as its President and the Thiruppavai lectures at Sankara Mutt used to be a big draw. Several great scholars and Saints enriched the city with their lectures. Later on the lectures were conducted in SNV Thirumana Mandapam, Sivananda Hall.
However the Kodandaramaswamy Temple has become the permanent destination these days. G.K.Sundaram had served the organization with a lot of commitment. Ranganathan, his son Kumar. Krishnaswamy who happens to be the son of Desikachari, N.Parthasarathy - son of P.S Narayana Iyengar have done yeomen service. N.Krishnakumar, Shobha Ramaswamy are part of the team which is headed by D.Balasundaram and Dr.V.V.Parthasarathy.
The auspicious beginning was made by the Seer, His Holiness Thirukundhai Andavan Swamigal who gave the inaugural benedictory address over sixty years ago. Mukkur Narasimhachariar, Aravamudachariar, Devanathan, Vellukudi Varadachariar, Vellukudi Krishnan, Akkarakani Srinidhi are among the great 'Pravachanakarthas' who have illuminated Coimbatore over the past 60 years.
Coimbatore is celebrating Andal by releasing the book 'Aandal Thiruppavai' written by Dr.Shobha Ramaswamy and Dr.P.Manimegalai of Kongunadu Arts & Science College whose dynamic Secretary Dr.C.A.Vasuki has supported the venture wholeheartedly. INDICA , Coimbatore Chapter is supporting the event due to the initiative of Dr.Pramod Kumar.
It an N.Subbu Reddiar Centenary Committee Publication initiative too. The book release was at the famous Kongunadu Arts & Science College on the 19th of January 2019. The launch was done in an aesthetic manner. The authors Dr Shobha Ramaswamy & Dr R Manimeghalai were honored by Dr Subramanian ( Director - Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Research Centre ) with the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Excellence Award on Theology from the University of Swahili.
The celebrations continue until 'Rathasapthami' when Pongal is offered once again to the Sun God - Surya. The Pongal Festival reminds of our connection with nature, fellowship and prayers. Coimbatore has always excelled while celebrating Pongal. Pongal was celebrated amidst great fervor this year. 2019 is special for its the year when 'Athigiri Varadar' will show himself up at Kanchipuram. This happens only once in 40 years and we are lucky to celebrate the 60 years of the Coimbatore Thiruppavai Committee at the same time.