ANDALA (GODA) – MIRA BAI OF SOUTH INDIA

[Guest guest]

prof laxmi narain (prof_narain)

 

Source and courtesy: Sri Ramana Kendram, Hyderabad

This article was published in Sri Ramana Jyothi,

monthly magazine of the Kendram.

 

ANDALA (GODA) – MIRA BAI OF SOUTH INDIA

 

The following is excerpted from the article of Dr. Kamal Shivkumar in the

March-April issue of Direct Path – Ramana Gyan, bi-monthly journal of Shri

Ramana Kendra, Delhi.

 

When Buddhism and Jainism were spreading their wings in the South, the Vaisnava

and Saiva saints started the Bhakti movement. The former saints were called

Alvars ( ) and the latter Nayanmars ( ). Alvars,

twelve in all, lived in Tamil land from second to eighth century A.D. They were

titled Alvars because of their deep devotion (bhakti) to God. (`Andal' is

from the word `Alndal' i.e., deep into bhakti forgetting oneself). Among the

twelve Alvars, Andala was the only woman. Alvars spread the message of bhakti to

the masses through their devotional Tamil hymns to Lord Visnu. The Alvars,

revered for their unflinching devotion to Lord Visnu, are worshipped as a part

amsa ( ) of Visnu. For example, Bhudatalvar is considered His gada (

), Tirumalaisaialvar as His sudarsana ( )and

Kulasekharalvar as His koustubha ( ). Andala is worshipped

as Bhudevi, the goddess Lakshmi. The hymns composed by the Alvars were compiled

by Nathamuni (824-924 A.D.) under the title Divya Prabandham (

).

 

It is said that Andala as a new born was found by Periyalvar or Visnuchitta

near a Tulsi plant while he was watering it. Both he and his wife considered her

a divine gift to them. She was named Goda, as she was thought to have emerged

out of earth (Bhudevi). She was also called Kodai which in Tamil means garland

of flowers. The pretty Kodai grew up in a religious surrounding. Visnuchitta

used to narrate to her stories of Lord Krishna from the Bhagavatam. Kodai

listened to them with rapt attention and considered herself as a gopi of

Vrandavan. She loved the Lord deeply and made up her mind in her childhood

itself to marry only Krishna.

 

Vishnuchitta used to offer worship to Lord Visnu through flowers from his

garden. But before these were taken to the temple by him, Kodai wore them

secretly and looked at her reflection in a well and felt sure that she was quiet

suited as a bride to Lord Krishna. One day, while doing so, she was caught by

her father who felt very sorry for what she was doing and did not take the

garlands to the Lord. That night the Lord appeared to Visnuchitta in dream and

desired to have the garlands for worship as worn by Kodai. Visnuchitta was

struck with wonder and carried out the Lord's order everyday. He called Kodai

as Andal, which means " she who rules " – and she ruled over the heart of Narayana

Himself.

 

As time passed, Kodai grew into a beautiful damsel. As her father started the

search for a groom, she told him firmly that she would marry none other than the

presiding deity, Lord Ranganatha in the temple of Srirangam. She strongly

believed that the Lord would appear before her and marry her. As nothing like

that happened, she began to grieve beyond measure. Her father was greatly

disheartened to see her worried, and to consol her started telling her the

legendary history of 108 principal shrines (Divya Desam) where Lord Vishnu

presides. She felt extremely happy to learn that her Lord Ranganatha's

dwelling place, Srirangam, was the first and the foremost of all the Divya

Desams. Visnuchitta's elaborate account of Srirangam brought solace to her

heart.

 

When her Lord did not present Himself to her, she thought of

observing a vrata named pavai nonbu. Details of this are described in her work

Tiruppavai in thirty hymns, which are still sung by young maidens during the

Tamil month – Margazhi (mid-December to mid-January), to have husbands of their

choice. She also sang the Nacciyar Tirumoli which consists of 143 hymns where

she narrates her marriage with Sri Ranganatha and expresses her longing for Him.

When despite her earnest prayers the Lord failed to appeared, Andal felt

overwhelmingly sad. Looking at the agony of his daughter, Visnuchitta became

very unhappy and beseeched the Lord fervently to fulfill her wish. That very

nigh Lord Ranganatha appeared in his dream and told that He would marry Kodai at

Srirangam and that he should bring her there. Then the Lord appeared in dreams

of those who were in-charge of the Srirangam temple to bring Visnuchitta and his

daughter to the temple with due respect. He also appeared in the dream of

Pandya King Vallabha Deva and asked him to bring Kodai from Srivilliputtur in a

decorated palanquin. Kodai too dreamt of her marriage with the Lord, as she

disclosed it to her friends.

The Pandya King sent a palanquin decked with pearls for Kodai and appropriate

vehicles for others to travel to Srirangam. Dressed up like a bride, Kodai

gleamed like Mahalakshmi. The marriage party set off towards the shrine of the

Lord. Many more anxious to see the wedding joined them on the way. The big

procession was received by the Pandya King and his ministers at the mandapam in

front of the temple. Kodai got down from the palanquin and went inside the

temple and stood in front of the deity. She then stepped on the snake bed of

the Lord and nearing the Lord embraced Him, and disappeared in Him. (March 2004

issue of this journal also carried a story about Andala.)