Celebrating the Birth of Andal Aadi Pooram, or Adi Puram, in the Tamil month of Aadi (mid July to mid August) celebrates the birth of Andal who is an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi.

 

Today 7th August 2024  is Aadi Pooram 

Celebrating the Birth of Andal

Aadi Pooram, or Adi Puram, in the Tamil month of Aadi (mid July to mid August) celebrates the birth of Andal who is an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. 

The festival is a major event at the Srirangam Sri Ranganath Temple as  Andal through her unwavering devotion became the wife of Sri Ranganath (Bhagavan Vishnu). Another major event is the car festival of Sri Andal Temple at Srivilliputtur in Virudhunagar District.

A Vaishnava saint named Periyalwar of Srivilliputtur had no children. He prayed to Sri Ranganatha and Goddess Lakshmi for a child. Pleased with this ardent devotee, Goddess Lakshmi appeared as a child on a field in which Periyalwar was ploughing. Periyalwar gladly accepted this divine gift and this happened on a pooram day in the Aadi month.

Periyalwar continued with his devotion and used to make a garland with Tulsi leaves for Sri Ranganatha. Andal grew up to be a maiden and was in the habit of secretly wearing the Tusli garland meant for Sri Ranganatha. One day Periyalwar found this out and scolded her and took a fresh garland. But the fresh garland fell off from Sri Ranganatha’s neck and it continued so in spite of several attempts by Periyalwar. Finally, Bhagavan Vishnu appeared before Periyalwar and said that he will only wear the garland worn by Andal as she is none other than Goddess Lakshmi.

Andal during her lifetime penned several verses singing the praise of Sri Ranganatha. Thiruppavai and the Nachiyar Thirumozhi are the famous compositions of Andal.

Aadi Pooram is major festival in Vishnu temples.