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Source: The Hindu 
(http://www.hinduonnet.com/fr/2003/03/28/stories/2003032801220600.htm)


A dream wedding enacted 



The celestial wedding of Sri Andal and Sri Rangamannar took place at 
Srivilliputtur on March 18. T. A. SRINIVASAN captures glimpses of the divine 
event. 







ACCORDING TO legend, when Andal's foster father, Periyazhwar, the then Pandya 
king in Madurai and others who accompanied him, took the young girl in a 
palanquin to Srirangam for giving Her away in marriage to Lord Ranganatha and 
when they were passing through the Cauvery She disappeared from their midst and 
was later found along with the Lord in the Srirangam temple. The Lord asked 
them to go back to Srivilliputtur assuring them that He would come there and 
accept the hand of Andal in the marriage ceremony to be performed there on the 
Panguni Uthiram day. Ever since the celestial wedding of Andal with Rangamannar 
is being celebrated not only in Srivilliputtur, but also in the Madurai Koodal 
Azhagar temple, Azhagarkoil Kallazhagar temple, Thirumohur Kalamega Perumal 
temple and in almost all holy places. This year's Panguni Uthira Thirukkalyanam 
took place on March 18.

Two important events took place when Andal was being taken to Srirangam from 
Srivilliputtur, according to folk belief. One was Her night halt at the 
Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal Temple in Tallakulam, Madurai, and Her taking bath 
in a tank there. The tank hence came to be known as "Thirumukkulam." 
Incidentally, the big tank in Srivilliputtur where Andal bathed before 
performing "Pavai Nonbu" in the Tamil month of Margazhi is known as 
Thirumukkulam. 

When Andal reached Azhagarkoil, whose Lord has been hailed by Her as "Vallal 
Maalirunjolai Manaalanar", She was said to have refused to leave the place as 
She was greatly enchanted by the beauty of the idol. After a lot of cajoling by 
Periyazhwar and others, She accompanied them on their onward journey. The 
Utsava idol of Andal in Azhagarkoil is therefore found in sitting posture 
unlike in other places, including Srivilliputtur, where She is worshipped in 
standing posture. On March 18, during the celestial wedding of Andal with 
Rangamannar, which is celebrated only in the night of the Panguni Uthiram day 
unlike in other places where it is celebrated during day, Lord Rangamannar, 
with the sceptre in His hand and a pearl umbrella over His head, left the 
temple in the evening on "Kasi Yathirai" accompanied by a small band of 
devotees. He went round the four Nachiar Mada Streets and when He reached the 
East Mada Street in front of the temple, Periyazhwar received Him and request!
ed Him not to go to Kasi but accept the hand of his foster daughter in 
marriage. 

The Lord accepted the offer and Periyazhwar washed His feet as is the custom in 
Hindu marriage functions. He later reached the marriage hall in the temple, 
which is known as "Muthudaithamam Niraithazhntha Pandal" or to be short "Muthu 
Pandal" as described by Andal in Her song. He was adorned with a pearl crown 
and necklaces. 

The temple has been built over the house in which Periyazhwar and Andal lived 
in times of yore and each portion of it has been named as described by Andal in 
Her poems, for instance, "Muthu Pandal" and "Maadhavi Pandal". 

Even the "Kannadi Kinaru" or the well whose water was crystal clear in those 
days (though it has gone dry now), in which Andal used to see Her image after 
adorning Herself with the garlands made by Periyazhwar for being presented to 
Lord Vatapatrasayee, is found inside the temple. 

Andal, in a bridal attire and the golden parrot in Her left hand (She is 
adorned with a parrot made of leaves and flowers on other days), accompanied by 
a big retinue of devotees, later left the temple and went round all important 
streets before reaching the Muthu Pandal. 

The Lord came out and garlands were exchanged by priests, representing them, 
carrying them over their heads and walking to and fro between the Lord and 
Andal to the accompaniment of lilting Nadaswaram music.

As soon as this was over "Oonjal" and "Nalangu" songs were recited. Then the 
two idols were taken to the Kalyana Mandapam with Periyazhwar's idol kept to 
their left. The Kalyana Mandapam's ceiling is covered with the paintings 
depicting the Ramayana although they have faded now due to long years of 
neglect. The important feature about these paintings is that in the Sita 
Kalyanam scene one can find the images of Andal instead of Sita and Rangamannar 
instead of Rama.

All the preliminary Vedic rites held in connection with marriage, as described 
by Andal in Her poems, were performed by Sri Vijaya Bhaskara Bhattar, priest of 
the Andal temple. Andal has described all the rites, as She dreamt of them, 
except the tying of Thirumangalyam, perhaps as She wanted it to be done 
actually by the Lord. 

Both the idols of Andal and Rangamannar were bedecked with all the jewels 
gifted by the rulers in the past. After "Sri Suktam" was recited to sanctify 
the Thirumangalyam, Andal was adorned with it. 

Then other rites like "Lajwanthi" and "Sesha Homam" were performed. In the 
night, the Lord mounted on Yaanai Vaahanam and Andal in a flower palanquin were 
taken round the main streets in "Pattinapravesam" and the idols reached the 
temple in the early hours of the next day.








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