Scintillating moments at Sri Villiputtur

Srivilliputtur, the birthplace of Andal, is considered to be among the holiest of the 108 Divya Desam shrines. This is the birthplace of Andal and Periyalwar. As legend would have it, the town was built by two hunters Villi and Puttan. Periyalwar a devotee of Vatapatrasaayee, served the temple, by fashioning garlands out of fresh flowers from the garden which he maintained. Andal his daughter was in the habit of wearing the garland prior to submitting them to the deity. An aghast Periyalwar, tried to stop Andal’s deed, and was directed by the deity, that he indeed preferred garlands which had been worn by Andal, and hence Andal’s name ‘Soodittanda Sudarkkodi’. Poet Nakeeran's words that even divine Madurai Meenakshi's hair is bereft of fragrance has been refuted in this episode that occurred in the very same Pandya Kingdom!
Andal is the author of Tiruppaavai, the celebrated collection of 30 poems.

8th century inscriptions are seen in this temple which has among the tallest towers in Tamilnadu. The 12 tiered Rajagopuram rises to a height of 192 feet and has the distinction of being the State Symbol of Tamil Nadu. Exquisite carvings adorn the shrine.

The ten day Thiru Aadiporam festival in July marks an eventful part of the Temple calendar and the fifth day of the festival is dedicated to welcoming the Gods as suitors to Andal's hand arriving in a pentagon of Garudas.

Shri.Arunji's Govinda nama sankirtan was the highlight of the evening which was heard and enjoyed by thousands from the State of TN, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The magnificently lit assembly hall saw scintillating moments of divine ecstasy and celebration.