Thread by @TempleTrails

🕉Today is the Divine #AadiPooram - Goddess Andal’s Birth & Celebration of Her marriage to Lord Ranganathaswamy, Srirangam 🙏

Goddess Andal -An incarnation of Sri Bhu Devi, a divine girl child appeared under Tulasi plant in Vishnuchithar's (Periyazhwar’s) garden on this day🚩1

🕉 He was pleasantly surprised and picked up the divine child, his wife Vrajai was also overwhelmed with joy and they both named her "Kothai".
Periyazhwar brought her up in simple, godly surroundings natural to a pious, Vedic Brahmin family🚩2/12

🕉 The child prodigy thus fostered lovingly grew into a beautiful maiden & became an embodiment of love for Sri Krishna. Being a devotee of "Sri Vadabhatrasayee", presiding deity of Srivilliputhur Mandir, Vishnuchithar would weave a garland of flowers& tulasi leaves daily🚩3/12

🕉 He kept it sacredly rolled in a flower basket so that he may, after attending to his normal chores, take the garland later to the temple for offering to the Lord.The child “Kothai” in her profound innocence would take out the garland daily without her father's knowledge 🚩4/12

🕉 She adorned herself,looking into the mirror to satisfy herself whether she was suitable bride to Lord & then would remove the garland & replace it in the basket in its original form. This was going on for days 🚩5/12

🕉 & without actually knowing that his daughter had adorned the garland around herself, Vishnuchithar would offer this to the deity who wore it beatifically. One day to his surprise, Vishnucithar saw her wearing the garland before he could take it to the temple🚩6/12

🕉 He was shocked for he considered this as a great defilement. He fasted that day & did not offer the garland and was all repentant. But lo! What a surprise? At night, the Lord appearing in his dreams asked, why you did not offer me the tulasi garland today? 🚩7/12

🕉 I am ever eager to have the things touched by my devotee. Think not Andal Kothai to be a mere mortal.”

To his wonder Vishnuchithar found that tulasi garland on the previous day worn by Andal had not faded. But, was fresher than a freshly made garland 🚩8/12

🕉 Thereafter, he offered the garland to the deity after being worn by Andal. The Lord continued to give his darshan”.Even today, this practice is observed at Srivilliputhur Temple
She got the name "Andal" since she had won over the heart of Lord (Andu in Tamil -win over)🚩9/12

🕉On Andal’s marriageable age,her father Vishnuchithar was worried to find a match as she would not marry anyone except Lord Krishna.Vishnuchithar narrated all KALYANA GUNAS of all Archa-Murthis of the 108 Sri Vaishnava Kshetras,so that she may for herself choose the deity🚩10/12

🕉When she heard of the Soundarya of Lord Sri Ranganathar,with tears of joy, she prayed to HIM to come & accept. Vishnuchithar, knowing not what to do, meditated.Sri Ranganathar spoke in his dream: "Do not hesitate to offer your daughter to Me, for she is Bhudevi herself."🚩11/12

🕉King Vallabhadeva with his retinue joined the procession from Srivilliputhur to Srirangam with Sri Andal in a palanquin.
Sri Andal entered the inner shrine of Sri Ranganathar, praying merged with the eternal lustrous light of Sri Ranganatha in presence of the gathering🚩12/12

🕉 Sri Andal Thiruvadigale Sharanam 🙏
Om Namo Narayana 🙏 #IncredibleIndia
#DekhoApnaDesh 🚩