26/07/2022
*Aadi Pooram*
Aandal Nachiyar's Thirunakshatram falls on the auspicious Tamil Month Aadi when the Pooram star prevails. This year, the auspicious day falls on the 1st of August 2022, Monday.
Aandal Nachiyar is the one and only female Azhwar who is an incarnation of Bhudevi Thaayar. Periyazhwar, also an azhwar, was longing for a child and prayed to Lord Narayana to bless him with a child. One fine day, when Periazhwar went to gather flowers to make garlands for the deity of Lord Ranganatha of Sri Rangam which he does every day, he found a baby girl under the Tulasi altar dazzling with divine radiance. He named her Kothai, who grew up as a great devotee of Lord Krishna at a very tender age. Kothai used to adorn the garland on herself to know if it would be suitable for the Lord before being offered to Lord Ranganatha without her father's knowledge. Periazhwar, who later found out, got very upset and reprimanded Kothai for her actions, Lord Rangantha appeared in Periazhwar's dreams and told him that He preferred the garland worn by Kothai which is filled with greatness and strength of her love towards the Lord. Since then Kothai is respectfully remembered as 'Soodi Kodutha Sudarkodi'.
Andal has contributed Thirupaavai and Nachiyar Thirumozhi to the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the Tamil 1000 verses by the Azhwars singing the glories of Lord Sriman Narayana, His incarnations, and Vaisnavism.
Let us all celebrate the greatness of Aandal Nachiyar on this auspicious date and gain Her Kripa (Mercy).
Jai Sriman Narayana
Siyavar Ramachandra ki Jai
Pavana Suta Hanuman ki Jai
