Aadi Pooram 2026 Date

About Aadi Pooram

Aadi Pooram marks the day Periyalvar found baby Andal under a tulsi plant in the temple garden at Srivilliputhur. Falling on the Pooram star in Tamil Aadi, it honours the only woman among the twelve Alvar saint-poets — the girl who refused every suitor but Vishnu.

Andal grew up wearing the flower garlands meant for the Lord first, checking her reflection in a well before they were sent to the temple. When Periyalvar found out, he was horrified. But Vishnu told him in a dream that he would accept only those garlands. That is why she is called Soodikkodutha Nachiyar — the lady who gave the garland she had already worn. She refused every human match and is said to have merged with Vishnu at Srirangam. Her two Tamil works, the 30-verse Tiruppavai (sung through the month of Margazhi) and the more daring Nachiyar Tirumozhi, sit inside the Nalayira Divya Prabandham — the 4,000-hymn Tamil canon of the Alvars. Devotees treat her as Bhudevi, Vishnu's earth-consort, born on earth.