The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20071026125327/http://womenshistory.about.com:80/library/bio/blbio_andal.htm
You are here: About>Education>Women's History> Where/When: Women's History> Women's History by Place> Asia> South Asia> About Andal
About.com Women's History
Andal
Āndāl, Saint Goda
10th century
Alvar saint, Tamil devotional poet, daughter of Periyalvar

A few hagiographies survive of Andal, a poet in Tamil Nadu who wrote devotional poetry to Krishna in which her own personality comes alive at times. Two devotional poems by Andal are known and are still used in worship.

Adopted by her father (Perilyalwar or Periyālwār) who finds her as a baby, Andal avoids earthly marriage, the normal and expected path for women of her culture, to "marry" Vishnu, both spiritually and physically. She is sometimes known by a phrase which means "she who gave garlands that had been worn."

Her name translates as "savior" or "saint," and she is also known as Saint Goda. An annual holy day honors Andal.

The Vaishnava tradition honors Shrivilliputtur as the birthplace of Andal. The Nacciyar Tirumoli, which is about the love of Andal for Vishnu and Andal as beloved, is a Vaishnava marriage classic.

Her exact dates are unknown, but are likely to have been the ninth or tenth centuries.

Sources include:

  • Phillip B. Wagoner. Tidings of the King. 1993.
  • Joseph T. Shipley. Encyclopedia of Literature. 1946.

Andal on the Net

Also on this site

Around About - From Other Guides

Print Bibliography

Around About - From Other Guides

About Andal

  • Categories:
  • Places: India
  • Period: 10th century
More biographies, by name:


A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
More Women's History:
 
 • Site index
 • Biographies of notable women
 • Women's History Encyclopedia
 • Quotations by notable women
 • Etexts and Picture Gallery
 • Today in women's history
 • How to link to this site
 • Post questions & comments

Text copyright 1999-2006 © Jone Johnson Lewis.

 

From Jone Johnson Lewis,
Your Guide to Women's History.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!
  All Topics | Email Article | Print this Page | |
Advertising Info | News & Events | Work at About | SiteMap | Reprints | Help Our Story | Be a Guide
User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy ©2007 About, Inc., A part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.