Discovering Andal

 

Source: Pinterest 

My first memories related to Andal go back to my childhood. I attended Thirupavai classes conducted by a lady in the tiny living room of her small house. I had no idea then what the short songs were about. When I was older, in my early teens, I was part of ‘Sangha Tamil Maalai’, a dance drama staged in Chennai and other locations, which portrayed the Thirupavais. This gave me a chance to become familiar with the Andal lore. I recognised her signature ‘kondai’ the tilted bun on one side of her head, I knew she and her friends went around the village waking up other friends before going on to Krishna’s abode, I learnt about her devotion to Krishna and finally her marriage to the lord himself. But at that time, I wasn’t interested in Andal beyond the dance scenes.

Perhaps a couple of years later, I can’t be sure when exactly …..  I remember waking up to the sound of Thirupavai verses coming from the radio. That felt so good. My mother used to listen to Thirupavai singing early mornings during the Tamil month of Marghazhi.

Then came the busy years. Marriage, children, career. Andal was out of my hectic life completely. It was many years later that I once again engaged with Andal through television. Listening to the singing of the Thirupavai, watching dancers depict the verse, usually followed by an in-depth interpretation of the verse by an expert……. that Marghazi morning experience somehow seemed to strike a deeper chord now.

A few years ago, I came across a wonderful book titled ‘Andal The Autobiography of a Goddess’. Now among my favourites on our bookshelf, it brought the nineth century mystic alive for me. The book has English translations of ‘Thirupavai’ and ‘Nachiyar Thirumozhi’ the two Tamil poetry compilations attributed to Andal, the only woman among twelve medieval Vaishnava saints. The authors also give an account of Andal’s life. They describe Periyalvar (the elder Alwar) finding the infant Andal near a sacred Tulsi plant, her childhood surrounded by spiritual fervour, her tender bonds with Periyalvar and the teenage Andal’s determination to marry Krishna and no one else.

When December comes, I go back into the pages of this book as part of my own annual ritual of soaking up the ambiance of Andal’s devotional zeal. This year Marghazhi has a silver lining. In the midst of the pandemic that has muted celebrations Andal is being celebrated on social media like never before. 

Source: Katyayani vrata | Tamil and Vedas

Thirupavai renditions posted online cut across age, gender, geography. Interpretations of her poetry and her life are posted in different art forms – music, dance, painting, ‘kolam’. Watching the superbly choreographed ‘Andal Charitram’, staged by Kalakshetra that was livestreamed, undoubtedly was the highpoint of my Marghazhi. 

Why has this young girl from long ago captivated our collective imagination? 

Offical Website Srivilliputhur temple 

Is Andal a goddess or a divine idea? Is she Periyalvar’s little foundling or his imagination in poetry? A young girl in passionate love or a spirited poet, a feminist or a saint? It doesn’t matter.

Discovering Andal - just a little bit more every Marghazhi - is happy enriching work-in-progress for me.