The shrine of Goda Devi, also called Sri Andal or Nachiyar, is located inside the world-famous Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple complex at Srirangam in Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu. Srirangam is a sacred island created by the Kaveri and Kollidam rivers and is one of the holiest pilgrimage centres for Vaishnavites. The Andal shrine is situated within the temple prakarams and she receives special honours equal to the main deity, Lord Ranganatha.
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is an ancient temple that has existed for many centuries and has been developed during the Chola, Pandya, Vijayanagara, and later periods. Andal herself lived around the 8th–9th century CE, and after her divine union with Lord Ranganatha at Srirangam, a special shrine was established for her. From then on, she has been worshipped here as the eternal consort of the Lord.
The presiding goddess is Sri Andal / Goda Devi / Nachiyar, the only female Alwar saint of the Vaishnava tradition and believed to be an incarnation of Bhooma Devi (Mother Earth). In Srirangam, she is not seen only as a saint, but as the divine bride of Lord Ranganatha. Her idol is beautifully decorated with flowers, jewels, and bridal ornaments, reflecting her royal status. Devotees pray to Andal for devotion, harmony in marriage, peace at home, and divine blessings.
The Andal shrine follows traditional Dravidian architecture and forms an important part of the vast Srirangam temple complex. The sanctum houses the graceful idol of Andal in a standing posture, adorned with fresh flower garlands and ornaments. The shrine includes a mandapam for rituals, and the surrounding prakarams have pillars and carvings depicting Vaishnavite traditions. The Srirangam temple itself has seven prakarams, tall gopurams, long pillared halls, and massive courtyards, making it one of the largest functioning temples in the world.
Sri Andal was found as a divine infant beneath a Tulasi plant in the temple garden at Srivilliputhur and was lovingly raised by the great saint Periyalwar. From childhood, she developed a deep devotion towards Lord Vishnu and composed the sacred hymns Tiruppavai and Nachiyar Thirumozhi. Andal wished to marry only Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam, and tradition says the Lord himself accepted her as his divine bride. Because of this, she is honoured in Srirangam as Nachiyar — the Queen of the Temple.
According to the sacred legend, Andal always saw Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam as her true husband. Every day she lovingly prepared flower garlands for the Lord, but before offering them, she would first wear them herself to check how beautiful they looked. When Periyalwar discovered this, he felt upset, but that night Lord Ranganatha appeared in his dream and said that he preferred only the garlands worn by Andal, because they carried her pure love.
As Andal grew older, her desire to marry Lord Ranganatha became stronger, and she expressed this divine longing in Tiruppavai and Nachiyar Thirumozhi. One day, the Lord instructed Periyalwar in a dream to bring Andal to Srirangam in a grand wedding procession. Andal was decorated as a royal bride and taken to the temple with Vedic chanting and honours. When she entered the sanctum, she surrendered herself completely to the Lord — and it is believed that she merged into his divine form and disappeared from the human world. From that blessed moment, Andal became the eternal consort of Lord Ranganatha, and she is worshipped with royal honours in Srirangam forever.
The Tamil month of Margazhi (December–January) is deeply linked to Andal and is considered very holy for Vaishnavite devotees. During this month, her sacred work, Tiruppavai, which has 30 hymns, is recited — one hymn each day. Andal herself observed the Paavai Nombu (spiritual vow) during Margazhi, praying only for divine union with Lord Ranganatha. Because of this, Margazhi is seen as a month of purity, early morning prayers, chanting, discipline, devotion, and surrender to the Lord. In Srirangam and other Vishnu temples, special pujas are performed daily in honour of Andal, and devotees believe that prayers offered during Margazhi receive special blessings from Andal and Lord Ranganatha.
The most important festival related to Andal is the Margazhi Tiruppavai Festival held during December–January, where Tiruppavai is recited daily with great devotion. Another major celebration is Aadi Pooram, which marks Andal’s birth star Pooram in the Tamil month of Aadi (July–August). On this day, Andal is decorated beautifully like a bride, and special rituals and processions take place. Throughout the year she receives royal honours equal to Lord Ranganatha, which is a unique and sacred tradition.
