Andal

Andal ( Tamil : ஆண்டாள்) (Āndāl) is a Hindu mystic . She probably lived in the 8th century and is the author of religious hymns in honor of Krishna . She is the second most important of a group of religious poets ( Alvars ) after the poet Nammalvar and is considered the only woman in the tradition of the religious authorities ( gurus ) of Vishnuism .

In the scanty accounts of Andalus's life, biography and legend are mixed up. She is said to have grown up as the adopted child of Alvars (poet) Periyalvar in the Tamil city of Villiputtur near Madurai . Since the childless Brahmin found the child lying on earth in his garden, he called it the "gift of mother earth" (Godai or Kotai), since he regarded it as a gift from Vishnu's second wife, the earth goddess Bhudevi (or Bhumi).

Andal grew up in an environment of religion and culture and developed a keen interest in matters of belief. One day, however, a momentous incident occurred: Periyalvar noticed that the adolescent Andal had secretly hung the wreaths of flowers that were intended for the image of Krishna in the temple, which made them unclean. Periyalvar saw this as a sign of budding vanity, but believed he heard the voice of Krishna, who said that from now on the figure should be adorned with wreaths of flowers, which Andal had previously worn.

In this way, Andal made it clear that she only wanted to be married to God. Consequently, she was led to the temple in a bridal procession and there “married” to the image of Krishna. This step represented a serious break with social conventions, since Andal was not married, as usual, but voluntarily followed the path of an ascetic .

Andal founded an order for women and wrote religious poetry in Tamil . Two hymns she received are "Tiruppavai" about the romance of Krishna and the cowherd girl of Vrindavan , and the 143 verse "Nacciyar Tirumoli", which reproduces episodes from the Vedas and the Puranas in selected, pictorial language .