Andal is a name that is synonymous with love and Bhakti in Tamil Nadu. She was one of the 12 Alwar saints in Vaishnavism and also the only female Alwar among them. She was also an incarnation of Bhooma Devi, one of Vishnu’s consorts.
Tamil Nadu celebrates Aadi Pooram as her birthday as she was born under Pooram Nakshatra in the month of Aadi (July-August). It is also called Andal Jayanthi. This year Aadi Pooram 2022 falls on August 1, 2022. This day, interestingly, is also celebrated as Ambal Valaikappu or the baby shower ceremony for Goddess Ambal or Parvati.
Hence, Aadi Pooram is an important day in both Vishnu and Shiva temples.
Andal’s Story
The story goes that Vishnu Chithar or Periyalwar, one of the 12 Alwars, who was childless, found Andal in his garden when collecting flowers for his daily Pooja. It was Aadi Pooram day. He adopted the child and raised her as his own daughter, naming her Kothai. Kothai, too, became an ardent Vishnu devotee.
Periyalwar used to offer a garland of Tulsi leaves to Lord Vishnu at the temple daily. Kothai used to string the garland, and she would wear it before giving it to her father. One day, Periyalwar discovered what she was doing and scolded her as no human should wear the garland meant for God.
He made a fresh garland and took it to the deity. To his surprise, Vishnu refused to wear it and insisted that he would wear only the garland that Kothai had worn.
It was time for Kothai to get married. Periyalwar began to look for a suitable groom. But to his chagrin, Kothai announced that she would marry only Lord Vishnu. Periyalwar did not know what to do. Then Vishnu appeared to him in a dream and told him to bring Kothai to Sri Ranganathaswamy temple, where he would marry her. Periyalwar did accordingly, and thus, Kothai became one with the Lord. It became clear that Kothai or Andal was none other than the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi.
How is Aadi Pooram Celebrated?
Since the Aadi Pooram festival has an association with both Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Parvati, it is a major event at both Vishnu and Shiva temples.
Aadi Pooram Festivities in Vishnu temples
Grand celebrations are the norm in most of the Vishnu temples in Tamil Nadu on Aadi Pooram. At the Goddess Andal temple in Srivalliputtur, especially, elaborate ceremonies take place as this is Andal’s birthplace. The festival spans 12 days here. At Ranganatha Temple in Srirangam, it is a 10-day celebration that ends with the Thirukalyanam or nuptials of Lord Ranganatha and Andal. The ceremony is marked by great pomp and fanfare.
Unmarried girls make it a point to worship Goddess Andal on the last day of the festival, as this is believed to help them get married soon. If Aadi Pooram is on a Friday, it is more auspicious.
The Goddess is offered an elaborate feast with contributions from every household in the community. Aadi Pooram Pooja and Archana for Andal are performed, and as prasad, glass bangles are given to female devotees.
After the Aarti, the devotees are offered food. It is a tradition to read the ‘Thiruppavai’ and ‘Lalitha Sahasranamam’ on this day. A sweet dish, Kalkandu Saadham (sweet rice made with crystallized sugar), is offered to the Goddess.
Aadi Pooram in Shiva Temples
At Shiva temples, Aadi Pooram celebrates the Valaikappu ceremony for Goddess Ambal/Parvati.
Valaikappu is a baby shower for a pregnant woman. It takes place at the woman’s house during the 5th or 6th month of her pregnancy. During the ceremony, the pregnant woman is made to wear colorful glass bangles. Bangles represent the auspicious energy or Mangala Shakti that is associated with women in Hinduism. This energy brings peace in the family.
On this day, devotees offer glass bangles to the Goddess at Ambal temples. The bangles, after the Aadi Pooram Pooja, are distributed among female devotees. People also offer garlands of bangles along with delicacies like Payasam or Akkaraivadisal as Neivedyam to Goddess Parvati at home.
The belief is that wearing the bangles offered as prasad to the Goddess can bless one with progeny and also protect the fetus from evil forces. It is also said that the sound of the bangles stimulates the unborn child’s senses and brain. Other benefits include a happy married life and resolution of misunderstandings between couples, etc.
