Tamilnadu > Virudhunagar > Andal Vadabadrasayi Koil
Godha, or Naachiyaar or Andal was born in Srivilliputur - Thiruvilliputur - a beautiful village slowly turning into a town. Srivilliputur is on the Virudhunagar - Thenkasi train route, about 65 km. south of Madurai, very well-connected by road with Madurai, Tenkasi, Tirunelveil, Sivakasi and Sattur.
The Lord of Srivilliputtur is known as Vatapatrasayi or Rangamannar. The banyan tree leaf - which is known as Vatapatram, on which the Lord rests in the form of a baby during deluge. Srivilliputur is one of the 108 sacred Vaishnavite kshetras. The town is famous for the Vadapadrasayi temple, Which houses the Andal temple. The Nayak Kings constructed the Vatapatrasayi temple. But its story goes a long way back to Pandiya times, when moved by her devotion, Lord Krishna married the poetess-devotee Andal.. The Vadapadrasayi temple consists of three major portions. The northern portion hasthe Pallikonda Perumal shrine (Vishnu in reclining posture). The Andal shrine occupies the southern portion. The garden (Tulsivanam) where the infant girl was believed to have been found by Perialvar lies between the two. The Vadapadrasayi temple has a double storied garbagriha. The lower floor houses a seated Narashimha idol while the reclining Vishnu idol is on the upper portion. There is a separate shrine for Periyalvar in the complex. A lofty gopuram, has 12 tiers and 192 feet high, built in the 17th century AD, forms the gateway to the shrine. This tower is said to have been built by Perialvar, father-in-law of the Lord with the gold won in debates held in Pandiya king's palace Vallabhadeva at Madurai. This gopuram is the symbol of the Tamil Nadu State Government. Also noteworthy is the temple Chariot, which is decorated with carvings from the scriptures. The chariot (Car) Festival attracts a large number of Devotees.
Every day Six worship services are carried out. The Tamil months of Aadi and Margazhi are auspicous months.
The kumbabishekam for the Vadabadrasayi koil and Andal koil was celebrated on 10th February 2000. The entire temple complex was renovated at the cost of 2.28 crores before the event.
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