Srivilliputhur Andal Temple, Madurai - Timings, Festivals, History, Darshan, Pooja Timings

About Srivilliputhur Andal Temple

At a distance of 80 km from Madurai and 100 km from Tirunelveli, Srivilliputhur Andal Temple is an ancient Hindu temple situated at Srivilliputhur in the Virudhunagar district of Tamilnadu. This is one of the popular pilgrimage sites in Tamil Nadu. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, who is worshipped as Vatapatrasayi and his consort Lakshmi as Andal. The temple is regarded as the one of the 108 divya desams of Lord Vishnu. The Rajagopuram at Srivilliputhur Andal Temple is 192-194 feet. It is one of the tallest temple gopurams in India and is also the state symbol of Tamil Nadu.

History of Srivilliputhur Andal Temple

Srivilliputhur Temple is intricately linked to the life of Andal, who was discovered beneath a Tulsi plant in the garden of the Vatapatra Sayanar Temple. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, who is worshipped as Vatapatrasayi and his consort Lakshmi as Andal. It is regarded as the birthplace of two prominent Alwars, Perialwar and his foster daughter Andal. The Alwars flourished in the 8th century, suggesting that the Vatapatra Sayanar temple's origins predate this period; however, epigraphic evidence is only available from the 10th century CE.

The temple features inscriptions from the Chola, Pandya, and Vijayanagar Nayakkar dynasties, covering a timeline from the 10th to the 16th centuries. The construction of Vatapatra Sayanar Temple is attributed to King Villi, who governed the region. The impressive temple tower was erected by Perialwar, with assistance from the Pandiyan king Vallabadevan (765-815 AD). The shrine dedicated to Andal was built by various kings of the Pandya dynasty over time, with significant renovations carried out by King Thirumalai Nayak. In contemporary times, the temple is overseen and maintained by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Mythology of Srivilliputhur Andal Temple

Perialvar, initially known as Vishnuchittar, was a devoted follower of Lord Vishnu, and heused to offer a garland for the deity each day. Despite his devotion, he was childless and he prayed to Vishnu to save him from the longing. One day, while tending to the garden of the Vatapatra Sayanar Temple, he discovered a girl child beneath a tulasi plant. The couple named her Kothai, who grew to be a fervent devotee of Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu. It is said that she adorned herself with the garland before offering it to the temple's presiding deity. When Perialvar later discovered this, he was greatly distressed and admonished her. In response, Vishnu appeared to him in a dream, instructing him to present only the garland worn by Andal to Him. Consequently, Kothai came to be known as Andal. This tradition continues today, as Andal's garland is sent to Alagar Koil on the day of Chitra Pournami, where the presiding deity, Lord Kallazhagar, enters the River Vaigai with the garland worn by Goddess Andal, as well as to the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple during the Garudostavam. Additionally, it is believed that Ranganatha of the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple wed Andal, who subsequently merged with the idol. As a result of this union, the presiding deity is referred to as Rangamannar.

Architecture of Srivilliputhur Andal Temple

The temple is divided into two distinct sections. The first section is known as the Vatapatra Sayanar Temple, while the second is the Andal Shrine. Enclosed by a granite wall, the temple encompasses all its shrines, the garden where Andal was discovered, and two of its three water bodies. A prominent feature of the temple is the 192-foot Rajagopuram, which boasts eleven tiers and ranks among the tallest temple towers in Tamil Nadu.

The Vatapatrasayi Temple comprises two precincts. The sanctum, located on the second level, features the image of Vatapatrasayi in a reclining position, and his consorts, Sridevi and Bhudevi, are shown attending to him at his feet. Sage Bhrigu is positioned near his head, while sage Markandeya is situated at his feet. Behind Bhrigu, there is a banyan tree, known as Vatapatram, under which Vishnu is said to rest in the form of a baby during the deluge. Surrounding Rangamannar are images of the Panchamurtis, including Tumburu, Narada, the Sanatkumaras, Kinnara Mithuna, as well as representations of the sun and moon gods, with Villi and Puttan depicted at his feet. The sanctum features three doorways through which the presiding deity can be viewed. The hall is embellished with intricate teak wood carvings that illustrate incidents from the Puranas and the ten avatars of Vishnu.

The Andal shrine houses the images of Andal and Rangamannar. Additionally, Garuda, who transported Ranganathar, the divine bridegroom, from Srirangam, is also present in this shrine. The walls surrounding the shrine are adorned with paintings depicting the life of Andal. The Kalyana Mandapa showcases large life-size sculptures of deities such as Mohini, Rama, Kamadeva, Rati, and several others.

Festivals of Srivilliputhur Andal Temple

The Chitritsavam, Aadi Pooram, Vasantha Utsavam, Peria Perumal Bramhotsavam, Theppostavam and Andal Mannar Thirukalyanam for 10 days are the important festivals celebrated in Srivilliputhur temple. The Aadi Pooram festival stands as the most significant celebration, attracting thousands of devotees from across Tamil Nadu and neighboring states. This festive occasion marks the day when Andal, as a young girl, was discovered by Periyalvar near a revered Tulsi plant within the temple grounds. The deities, Sri Ranganatha and Andal, are paraded in elaborately adorned palanquins, a vivid display that reflects the profound devotion of the town.

Dress Code & Other Restrictions of Srivilliputhur Andal Temple

Visitors are encouraged to wear modest clothing when visiting Srivilliputhur Andal Temple. While traditional garments such as dhoti, pants, saree, and salwar kameez are suggested, they are not compulsory. Shorts, mini-skirts, middies, sleeveless tops, low-waist jeans and short-length T-shirts are not allowed.

Non-Hindus are allowed to visit the temple complex and admire the architecture but may not be permitted inside the sanctum sanctorum.

Srivilliputhur Andal Temple Timings

Monday: 6 AM to 1 PM & 4 PM to 9 PM
Tuesday: 6 AM to 1 PM & 4 PM to 9 PM
Wednesday: 6 AM to 1 PM & 4 PM to 9 PM
Thursday: 6 AM to 1 PM & 4 PM to 9 PM
Friday: 6 AM to 1 PM & 4 PM to 9 PM
Saturday: 6 AM to 1 PM & 4 PM to 9 PM
Sunday: 6 AM to 1 PM & 4 PM to 9 PM

Srivilliputhur Andal Temple Entry Fee

General Entry is Free
Special darshan available for Rs. 100

Best Time to Visit Srivilliputhur Andal Temple

The best time to visit Srivilliputhur Andal Temple is during the winter season when the weather is pleasant. Additionally, visiting during Aadipooram festival, which is celebrated in the Tamil month of Adi (July-August) can offer a unique cultural experience, but the temple will be more crowded. This festival marks the birthday of Andal, a Tamil poet-saint.

How to Reach Srivilliputhur Andal Temple
Madurai Airport serves as the closest airport to the Srivilliputhur, located approximately 75 kilometers away. Travelers can opt for either bus or taxi services to reach Srivilliputhur from Madurai. Additionally, Srivilliputhur is equipped with its own railway station, providing train services from various cities including Madurai, Chennai, Kanyakumari, Rameswaram, Kochi, Tirunelveli, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Mumbai, and Bangalore. A sufficient number of government and private buses operate from major cities across Tamil Nadu to Srivilliputhur.