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Periyalvar and Andal

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Mani Varadarajan • July 24, 2001 


Dear Friends,

Yesterday being tiruvaadipooram, I was listening to 
a tape of vaikuntha vaasi Sri U.Ve. Srirama Bharati's 
moving description of the glory of Srivilliputtur. 
He said some interesting things which I had not heard
before, among which were:

 (1) Periyalvar's original given name was Sri Rama Andaan.
     As his mind was constantly focussed on Vishnu, he
     came to be called Vishnuchitta.

 (2) Periyalvar named his daughter kOdai, but because 
     he was also known as Sri Rama Andaan, she came to
     be known also as Andaal.

We need not repeat the more well-known stories that
'Andaal' came to be named as such because she "ruled"
over the Lord.

Sri Srirama Bharati's account is interesting and certainly 
plausible -- but is there any evidence either way in
this matter?

andal tiruvadigale saranam!

With regards,
Mani




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