ANDAL TEMPLE

(Arulmigu Sri Nachiyaar Thirukovil)

The entrance to the Andal Temple

The Andal temple is situated southwest of Sri Vadabhadrasayanar temple.It is said that the present Andal temple was the place(house) of Periyazhwar in those days The temple initially established by periyazhwar was devoloped later by the pandya king vallabhadeva pandiyan and is said to have been built around 789 AD

In this Sannidhi Sri Andal , Rangamannar and Garudazhwar (periyazhwar) are on the same throne.(Simmasanam) .Andal with a "kizhi"(parrot) is on the extreme left Emperuman Rangamannar stands with a 'Senkol' in his right hand and his left hand points at his Thiruvadi.Garudazhwar(periyazhwar) stands with his hands folded across his chest in dasa bhavam always ready to do kaimkaryam for the Divya dampathis any time.

Sri Andal along with Sri Rangamannar and Periyazhwar are in the front in the Ardha mandapam and the moolavar's are well behind in a inner entrance.

Utsavamurthy's- Andal, Rangamannar,Garudazhwar

This is due to the famous incident involving Sri Ramanuja when Sri Andal came out of the inner entrance to greet Sri Ramanuja when he came to Srivilliputtur after fulfilling her desire of offering 100 cups of Akkaravadisal to Sri Sundararaja Perumal at Thirumaalirumsolai

noor thada niraindha Akkaravadisil Sonnen
(nachiyaar thirumozhi -cinthoora cempodi(6th pasuram)

This significance of the Divya mangala vigraham of ANDAL at Srivilliputtur is that it was conscreated by Periazhwar himself.While doing so when some of the nearby devotees were wondering about the presence of Andal.Sri Andal is said to have looked at Periazhwar and "smiled" at him setting at rest any doubts. Perumal with garudazhwaar is the special feature of this place