Prashanth at the audio launch of Saagasam | |
Born | 6 April 1973 (age 46)[1] Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
---|---|
Nationality | Indian |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1990–2006, 2011-present |
Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)[2] |
Spouse(s) | Grahalakshmi (m.2005-2009)[3] |
Children | 1 |
Relatives | Thiagarajan (father) Shanthi Thiagarajan (mother) Preethi (Sister) Peketi Sivaram (grandfather)[4] |
Prashanth (born 6 April 1973) is an Indian film actor known for his works predominantly in Tamil cinema. He has also appeared in few Telugu, Hindi and Malayalam films. He is also known as Kadhal Ilavarasan (Prince of Love) and Top Star. The son of actor-director Thiagarajan, Prashanth began his career at 17 by appearing in Vaigasi Poranthachu (1990) and went on to feature in other films including Ajayan's Perumthachan (1991), Balu Mahendra's Vanna Vanna Pookkal (1992), R. K. Selvamani's Chembaruthi (1992) and Mani Ratnam's action-comedy Thiruda Thiruda (1993).
Prashanth rose to stardom with Shankar's blockbuster romantic comedy Jeans (1998) in which he played a dual role alongside Aishwarya Rai. The success of the film saw him garner opportunities to work in bigger film projects and in the late 1990s, he featured in a series of profitable films such as Kannedhirey Thondrinal (1998), Kaadhal Kavithai (1998) and Jodi (1999). By the 2000s, he had been successful in films such as Parthen Rasithen (2000), Piriyadha Varam Vendum (2001), Chocolate (2001), Majunu (2001), Thamizh (2002), Virumbugiren (2002), Winner (2003) and Shock (2004).
- 2Acting career
Early life[edit]
Prashanth was born on 6 April 1973 in Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. He is the son of actor Thiagarajan and director in Tamil films while his maternal grandfather, Peketi Sivaram, was an actor and an acclaimed director of Telugu, Tamil and Kannada films. He studied Computer Graphics and Multimedia and went to Trinity College of Music in London before embarking on an acting career. He completed his 12th grade and was enlisted in two medical colleges. His first intention was to be a doctor, but finally he decided to be an actor, like his father T. Thiagarajan, also producer and film director.
He has a sister, Preethi. He studied in Madras Christian College Higher Secondary School, in Chetpet.[5]Prashanth owns a multi-storeyed jewellery mart in Panagal Park.[6]
Acting career[edit]
1990-1997: Early career[edit]
Prashanth started off as a leading romantic hero in the 1990 film, Vaigasi Poranthachu. He then appeared in the Malayalam filmPerumthachan written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair where he played the son of the title character. This film won Filmfare Award for Best Film - Malayalam. In 1992, he acted in the film Vanna Vanna Pookkal. The film is produced by S. Thanu and directed by Balu Mahendra. It was a success and won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil. Later he plays in the movie Chembaruthi (1992), directed by R. K. Selvamani and starring Roja. The movie was a Hit and was remade in Hindi as Aao Pyar Karen (1994). Unakkaga Piranthen, a romance film was released on May 1992. He acted in Telugu - Hindi bilingual romance film Prema Shikharam directed by Satya Gopal Ram. It was released in Hindi as Anokha Premyudh in 1994.[7] The film was also dubbed in Tamil as Rojakkal Unakkaga.[8] He plays in several films that have not been successful as I Love You (1992), Lathi (1992) and Enga Thambi (1993). Tholi Muddhu (1993) alongside Divya Bharti, which was the remake of the Bollywood film Dil (1990).
Prashanth focuses on Tamil and acted in Thiruda Thiruda (1993) directed by Mani Ratnam and music by A. R. Rahman. Prasanth used to be the chocolate boy of Tamil cinema during the 1990s and he plays a variation of that stereotype in portraying Azhagu. This is the most adventurous of Mani Ratnam’s movies.[9] The film opened to positive reviews and was declared a Blockbuster. The film also won National Film Award for Best Special Effects. At the end of the year, he play in the film Kizhakke Varum Paattu (1993). In 1994, he released three films like Rasa Magan, Kanmani and Senthamizh Selvan. These films had an average success. Aanazhagan (1995), his only movie of the year was directed by Prashanth’s father and actor Thiagarajan. In the film, Prashanth disguises himself as a woman in order convince the landlady. The film revolves around Prashanth and his friends who search for a new house after being kicked out from the previous place. Prashanth is forced to dress in the drag after the landlady insists that the house only for a family man and not bachelors. Aanazhagan was very successful at the box-office. The comedy tracks are still remembered today, and a stellar performance of Prashanth as Lakshmi.[10] In 1996, he co-starred in Kalloori Vaasal with Ajith Kumar. The film opened on 18 February 1996 to mixed reviews. Krishna (1996) and Mannava (1997) are also two medium success films.
1998-2006: Success[edit]
Prashanth appeared in dual roles in the 1998 film, Jeans under the direction of S. Shankar. It was quite the commercial enterprise. It featured Aishwarya Rai as lead actress. The role of the male lead was declined by Abbas and Ajith Kumar, before it went to another chocolate boy hero, Prashanth. The film was a modern day Twelfth Night adaptation.[11] The film has been nominated several awards in the country. The film opened to Indian audiences on 24 April 1998 and was the most expensive film to be made in Indian cinema at that time. Jeans has been shot all over the world. And one particular song, says Shankar, has been filmed at the 'seven wonders of the world', or rather, seven historic spots across the globe.[12] It was later dubbed into Hindi and Telegu languages.[13][14] He acted two other films as Kannedhirey Thondrinal (1998) and Kaadhal Kavithai (1998), two romantic 'super Hit' movies. In 1999, he acted in romantic family dramas movies like Poomagal Oorvalam, Jodi, Hello and Aasaiyil Oru Kaditham. In 2000, his films are Good Luck, Appu, and Parthen Rasithen. He began the project Piriyadha Varam Vendum (2001) directed by Kamal which had a delayed release but was a success. He followed this with Star (2001), a action film Chocolate (2001), a romantic drama and Majunu (2001), a romantic thriller film.
In the mid 2000s, Prashanth signed for several projects which were shelved after being launched.[15] He appeared in director Hari 's debut film Thamizh (2002). Prashanth is convincing as the innocent young man dragged into gang wars. Thamizh stands out in comparison to films of the same genre in Tamil, with the help of Prashanth who has come out with a steel strong performance. The film was a Super Hit.[16]Susi Ganeshan' s Blockbuster film, Virumbugiren also had a delayed release.[17]The film won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film. Sundar C' s comedy film, Winner released on 27 September 2003 was successful at the box office.[18] In 2004, He acted in action film, Jai, The film was marked by the comeback of his father Thiagarajan after 13 years in Tamil cinema. The film is released on January to negative reviews. Shock (2004), a other genre of film in psychology horror thriller. Prashanth looks matured and executes his part well. His is the soothing presence in the nerve-wracking scenes at the beginning of the film. Meena has given a mind-blowing act that actually saves the film to a very large extent. It released to positive reviews.[19] In September 2004, Thiagarajan launched Police, a remake of the Hindi film Khakee and the film received coverage from the media after producers had approached Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai for key roles. In interviews during the period, Thiagarajan mentioned the grand scale of the project citing that the film would also be shot abroad; however the film failed to progress.[20] In mid-2005, he began filming for A. Venkatesh's Petrol but the shoot was delayed.[21][22]Aayudham (2005) a action film and London (2005), a comedy drama followed. Two averages films.[23][24]
Jambhavan, which released in September 2006, had gone through production hassles. The film opened to negative reviews and became a failure commercially.[25] Debutant director Bhuvanaraja's Adaikalam (2006), a family drama had been completed the previous year. Of his performance in the film, Indiaglitz stated 'as a brother and a bitter son, Prashanth has churned out what is arguably one of his better performances till date.'[26][27] His final release of the year was Shiva Shanmugam's Thagapansamy (2006) which featured Prashanth in the role of a village do-gooder. Sify.com remarked 'watch the film for the one-man-show of Prashanth, as he is the only silver lining in a film with a confused and confounded plot'.[28]
2011-2015: Setback[edit]
Prashanth had no film releases between January 2007 and April 2011, but was involved in the production of two heavily delayed productions during the period - Ponnar Shankar (2011) and Mambattiyan (2011). Prashanth also invested in business opportunities, opening a 12-floor jewellery store in T Nagar, Chennai in 2008.[29] . In December 2005, Prashanth accepted and started work in R. K. Selvamani's Pulan Visaranai 2, is the sequel of Pulan Visaranai by Vijayakanth in 1990. The film's soundtrack and trailer is released in 2006. However, despite completion, the film was on hold for eight years due to the producer's financial problems, before having a limited release in 2015.[30] Furthermore, Ramesh Selvan's action film Runway was launched amidst much publicity in April 2006 but was discontinued despite the team filming a schedule with actress Ferhana. It is a kind of thriller story. The story is about a group of people who are working in the petroleum plant were killed in an accident on a holiday, as their bus falls into a gorge. Prashanth has a good role and his introduction scene and it is similar to that of Vijayakanth’s. The film was an average hit at the box office.[31]
2016-present[edit]
Prashanth returns in after many years in cinema. It stars in the action comedy film, Saagasam (2016). The film is a remake of the 2012 Telugu film Julai (2012). The outstanding factor about Saagasam is Thaman’s pulsating BGM and peppy songs. Although the songs are speed breakers, the choreography and beats are enjoyable.Overall, Saagasam might attract audiences who love Telugu commercial entertainers but for others, it’s just another average entertainer.[32] The next film was Johnny (2018) directed by Vetri Selvan, has Prashanth playing a business analyst and Sanchitha Shetty playing his romantic interest.[33] Prashanth's father Thiagarajan produced the film which was directed by debutant P. Vetri Selvan. The movie is a remake of the Hindi film Johnny Gaddaar starring Neil Nitin Mukesh in the lead.[34]Johnny was an average hit from the film critics and audience.[35] The next film is Vinaya Vidheya Rama, co-starring with Ram Charan. The film was a comeback for Prashanth in Telugu language after 25 years in which his last film in 1993 was Tholi Muddhu.[36]
Awards[edit]
- Cinema Express Awards for Best New Appearance award of year – Vaigasi Poranthachu (1990)
- Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut – South – Vaigasi Poranthachu (1990)
- Roja Magazine for Best Actor award of year (1992)
- Kalaimamani Award (1998)
Filmography[edit]
Year | Film | Role | Language |
---|---|---|---|
1990 | Vaigasi Poranthachu | Kumaresan | Tamil |
1991 | Perumthachan | Kannan Viswakarman | Malayalam |
1992 | Vanna Vanna Pookkal | Shiva | Tamil |
1992 | Chembaruthi | Raja | Tamil |
1992 | Unakkaga Piranthen | Krishna | Tamil |
1992 | Prema Shikharam / Anokha Premyudh | Prashanth | Telugu / Hindi |
1992 | I Love You | Kishen | Hindi |
1992 | Laati | Guna | Telugu |
1993 | Enga Thambi | Pichumani | Tamil |
1993 | Tholi Muddhu | Prashanth | Telugu |
1993 | Thiruda Thiruda | Azhagu | Tamil |
1993 | Kizhakke Varum Paattu | Shakthi | Tamil |
1994 | Rasa Magan | Prabhakaran | Tamil |
1994 | Kanmani | Raja | Tamil |
1994 | Sendhamizh Selvan | Selvan | Tamil |
1995 | Aanazhagan | Raja | Tamil |
1996 | Kalloori Vaasal | Sathya | Tamil |
1996 | Krishna | Krishna | Tamil |
1997 | Mannava | Eashwar | Tamil |
1998 | Jeans | Vishwanathan, Ramamoorthy | Tamil |
1998 | Kannedhirey Thondrinal | Vasanth | Tamil |
1998 | Kaadhal Kavithai | Vishwa | Tamil |
1999 | Poomagal Oorvalam | Saravanan | Tamil |
1999 | Jodi | Kannan | Tamil |
1999 | Hello | Chandru | Tamil |
1999 | Aasaiyil Oru Kadidham | Karthik | Tamil |
2000 | Good Luck | Surya | Tamil |
2000 | Appu | Appu | Tamil |
2000 | Parthen Rasithen | Shankar | Tamil |
2001 | Piriyadha Varam Vendum | Sanjay | Tamil |
2001 | Star | Moorthy | Tamil |
2001 | Chocolate | Aravind | Tamil |
2001 | Majunu | Vasanth | Tamil |
2002 | Thamizh | Thamizh | Tamil |
2002 | Virumbugiren | Sivan | Tamil |
2003 | Winner | Sakthi | Tamil |
2004 | Jai | Jai | Tamil |
2004 | Shock | Vasanth | Tamil |
2005 | Aayudham | Siva | Tamil |
2005 | London | Sivaraman | Tamil |
2006 | Jambhavan | Velan (Jambhavan) | Tamil |
2006 | Thagapansamy | Kathirvel | Tamil |
2006 | Adaikalam | Anbu | Tamil |
2011 | Ponnar Shankar | Ponnar, Shankar | Tamil |
2011 | Mambattiyan | Mambattiyan | Tamil |
2015 | Pulan Visaranai 2 | Sabarathinam | Tamil |
2016 | Saagasam | Ravi | Tamil |
2018 | Johnny | Johnny | Tamil |
2019 | Vinaya Vidheya Rama | Konidela Bhuvan Kumar | Telugu |
2019 | Prashanth 50[37] | Tamil |
References[edit]
- ^'All you want to know about #PrashanthThyagarajan'. FilmiBeat.
- ^'Prashanth (Actor) Height, Weight, Age, Biography, Wiki, Wife, Family'. 28 April 2017.
- ^'Actor Prashant's Story Covered By Deccan Chronicle'. 7 June 2009.
- ^'Prashanth family photos - Celebrity family wiki'.
- ^'Prashanth Thyagarajan biography, birth date, birth place and pictures'. www.browsebiography.com.
- ^Tamil Movie News prashanth thiagarajan usman road tower of gold t nagar tamil cinema picture gallery. Behindwoods.com. Retrieved on 2011-09-06.
- ^'Anokha Premyudh (豆瓣)'. movie.douban.com.
- ^'Rojakkal Unakkaga (1994) Tamil Movie mp3 Songs Download - Music By Manoj Bhatnagar - StarMusiQ.Com' – via www.starmusiq.fun.
- ^https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/11-year-old-has-rare-disease-and-your-help-could-save-his-life-92184
- ^'Prashanth in Â'AanazhaganÂ' - Kamal Haasan to Vikram: Actors who aced the lady avatar'. The Times of India.
- ^Iyengar, Shriram. '20 years of Jeans: The film that started director S Shankar's sci-fi journey'. Cinestaan.
- ^'Rediff On The Net, Movies: Jeans is the costliest Indian film ever'. www.rediff.com.
- ^'Jeans Telugu Full Length Movie -- జీన్స్ సినిమా -- Prashanth, Aishwarya Rai'. Zero Dollar Movies. 30 November 1999.
- ^Shemaroo. 'Jeans (1998) (HD) - Aishwarya Rai - Hindi Dubbed Movie - Prashanth - Bollywood Movie With Eng Subs' – via YouTube.
- ^'Prashanth on a signing spree!!'. Sify.com. 16 December 2005. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^'Review : (2002)'. www.sify.com.
- ^'Review : (2002)'. www.sify.com.
- ^'Winner - Tamil Movie Review'. www.thiraipadam.com.
- ^'Review : (2004)'. www.sify.com.
- ^'Tamil movies : Will Amitabh star in Prashanth's film?'. Behindwoods.com. 24 October 2005. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^'Tamil movies : Things are smoky in Prashanth's Petrol'. Behindwoods.com. 24 November 2005. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^'Prashanth back on the right lane - Tamil Movie News'. Indiaglitz.com. 29 September 2007. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^'The Hindu : Entertainment / Film Review : Aayudham'. www.thehindu.com.
- ^'The Hindu : Entertainment Chennai / Film Review : 'London''. www.thehindu.com.
- ^'Sify Movies - Review listing'. Sify.com. 2 December 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^'Adaikalam review. Adaikalam Tamil movie review, story, rating'. IndiaGlitz.com. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^'Adaikalam Review - Tamil Movie Adaikalam Nowrunning Review'. Nowrunning.com. 8 January 2007. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^'Sify Movies - Review listing'. Sify.com. 2 December 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^'News Archives'. The Hindu. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^'Double whammy - Telugu Movie News'. Indiaglitz.com. 2 January 2006. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^'Complete Entertainment With A Blast (English, Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam)'. nettv4u.
- ^'Review : Saagasam review: An average entertainer (2016)'. www.sify.com.
- ^Subramanian, Anupama (28 August 2018). 'Johnny will be a trendsetter, says Prashanth'. Deccan Chronicle.
- ^'Watch: Top Star Prashanth unveils 'Johnny' teaser - Times of India'. The Times of India.
- ^'Review : Johnny review:An average watch for audiences who haven't (2018)'. www.sify.com.
- ^https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/120119/vinaya-vidheya-rama-movie-review-too-much-action-too-little-story.html
- ^https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/miss-india-anukreethy-v-a-s-debuts-with-a-tamil-film/articleshow/68725480.cms
External links[edit]
- Prashanth on IMDb
Users can now create your own wishes with your images/our images with more than 25 fonts and 25 font shades.
You can receive new SMS/images/Vides automatically on daily basis. No need to update the app.
It comes with an inbuilt Tamil typing feature so the user can type SMS in tamil and upload to us under your name.
Features
* 50+ Categories (Good Morning, Good Evening, Good Night, Friendship, Tamil, Philosophy, Love, Poem, Confidence, Sad, Social, Family, Jokes, Common, Birthday Wishes, Diwali Wishes, Religion, Christmas, Pongal, New year, Cinema comedy images, Tips and more)
* Now the app support GIF images and Videos to share.
* 30000+ messages/Images (growing up daily)
* Inbuilt Tamil typing keyboard with both Online and offline method.
* Inbuilt meme creation with free templates
* Login and Register feature
* 100% free application.
* Automatically update the new SMS/images daily
* Add messages/images to favorites list.
* Post messages/images on “Tamil SMS” app along with your name.
* Best user friendly UI
* Single click Forward, Share, Like, Favorite
* Latest, Popular and Favorite SMS quick access menus
7th or 8th century CE[1][2][3]
Andal (Tamil: ஆண்டாள், Äṇɖāḷ ) or Godadevi is the only female Alvar among the 12 Alvar saints of South India. The Alvar saints are known for their affiliation to the Srivaishnava tradition of Hinduism. Active in the 8th-century,[2][4] with some suggesting 7th-century,[3][note 1] Andal is credited with the great Tamil works, Thiruppavai and Nachiar Tirumozhi, which are still recited by devotees during the winter festival season of Margazhi.
- 1History of Andal
- 3Andal's Garlands
- 5Importance in South India
- 5.2Women groups inspired by Andal
- 6Literary works
History of Andal[edit]
Periazhwar (originally called Vishnuchittar) was an ardent devotee of Perumal and he used to string garland to Perumal every day. He was childless and he prayed to Perumal to save him from the longing. One day, he found a girl child under a Tulasi plant in a garden inside the temple. The child was goddess Sri Mahalakshmi herself incarnated to test the devotion of alvars. He and his wife named the child as Kothai, who grew up as a devotee of Kannan, an avatar of Perumal. She is believed to have worn the garland before dedicating it to the presiding deity of the temple. Periazhwar, who later found it, was highly upset and remonstrated her. Sri Vishnudeva appeared in his dream and asked him to dedicate only the garland worn by Andal to him. The girl Kothai was thus named Andal and was referred as சூடிகொடுத்த சுடர்க்கொடி,or Chudikodutha Sudarkodi (lady who wore and gave her garland) to Lord Vishnu. The practise is followed during modern times when the garland of Andal from Srivilliputhur Andal temple is sent to [Tirumala Venkateswara Temple] on Garudotsavam during the Tamil month of Purattaasi (September - October) and [Azhagar Koyil] during Chitra Pournami.[6]
Dedication to Perumal[edit]
Kodhai was brought up by Vishnuchitta (Periyalvar) in an atmosphere of love and devotion. As Kodhai grew into a beautiful maiden, her fervor for the Lord Perumal grew to the extent that she decided to marry only the Lord himself. As time passed, her resolve strengthened and she thought constantly about marrying Ranganathar of Thiruvarangam (the reclining form of Perumal).[7][8]
Andal's Bhakti[edit]
In North India, Radha Rani is celebrated as the 'Queen of Bhakti (devotion).' Similarly, in Tamil Nadu Andal is remembered for her pure love and devotion. In the Thiruppavai, Andal, as a Gopi in Ayarpadi (Brindavan),[9] emphasizes that the ultimate goal of life is to seek surrender and refuge at the Lord's feet.
Andal's Garlands[edit]
It is also believed that Ranganatha of Thiruvarangam Ranganathaswamy temple married Andal, who later merged with the idol. Since Andal married Thiru Ranganatha, who came as king RajaSrimanAndhra Vishnu, the presiding deity is called Rangamannar.[10]
Andal garland and Tirupati Venkateswara[edit]
For Tirupati Brahmotsavam, garlands worn to Andal in Srivilliputhur temple are sent to Venkateswara Temple at Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. These traditional garlands are made of tulasi, sevanthi and sampangi flowers.These garlands are worn to Lord Venkateswara during Garuda seva procession.[11]
Every year Tirupati Venkateswara’s garland is sent to Srivilliputtur Andal for marriage festival of Andal.[12]
Kallazhagar[edit]
Andal garland is being sent to Madurai Kallazhagar for Chithirai Festival day.[12]
Andal's Hairstyle[edit]
Andal's hairstyle and ornamentation are unique to Kerala. The tuft of hair is worn in front of the head similar to the Nambudiri priests of Kerala[13]
Andal's Parrot[edit]
Thiruvillipuththur Andal's hand-crafted parrot is made with fresh green leaves each and every day.This parrot is kept in the left hand of Andal.[14] It takes approximately four and half hours to make this parrot. A pomegranate flower for beak and mouth, Bamboo sticks for legs, banana plant, petals of pink oleander and nandiyavattai are used to prepare this parrot.[15]
Importance in South India[edit]
Andal is one of the best-loved poet-saints of the Tamils. Pious tradition holds her to be the incarnation of BhūmiDevi (Sri Lakshmi as Mother Earth) to show humanity the way to Lord Vishnu's lotus feet. Representations of her next to Vishnu are present in all vainava temples. During the month of Margazhi, discourses on the Thiruppavai in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi take place all over India.[16] The Andal Temple at Thiruvilliputhur consists of twin temples, one of which is dedicated to Andal. Most South Indian Vishnu temples have a separate shrine for Andal. There are a number of festivals dedicated to Andal, among the most notable being the Pavai Nonbu in the Tamil month of Margazhi (December – January), Andal Thirukalyanam in Panguni, Pagalpathu, Rapathu, Adi Thiruvizha, when Andal is depicted seated in the lap of Ranganathar.[17] Andal is known for her unwavering devotion to Lord Vishnu, the God of the Gods. Adopted by her father, Periyalvar, Andal avoided earthly marriage, the normal and expected path for women of her culture, to marry Vishnu, both spiritually and physically. In many places in India, particularly in Tamil Nadu, Andal is treated more than a saint and as a form of god herself and a shrine for Andal is dedicated in most Vishnu temples.[18]
Festivals[edit]
Thousands of people from the state participate in the 'Aadi Pooram' festival celebrated in the Andal Temple. After early morning special pujas, the presiding deities, Shri Rengamannar and Goddess Andal are taken in decorated palanquins to the car. The festival marks the adoption of presiding deity, Andal, by Periyazhwar after he found her near a Tulsi plant in the garden of Vadabadrasai Temple at Thiruvilliputhur on the eighth day of the Tamil month of Adi.[19][20]
Women groups inspired by Andal[edit]
In poetry, 9th-century Andal became a well known Bhakti movement poetess, states Pintchman, and historical records suggest that by 12th-century she was a major inspiration to Hindu women in south India and elsewhere.[21] Andal continues to inspire hundreds of classical dancers in modern times choreographing and dancing Andal's songs.[22] Andal is also called Goda, and her contributions to the arts have created Goda Mandali (circle of Andal) in the Vaishnava tradition.[22]
Goda Mandali[edit]
Goda Mandali (circle) which was named after Andal was formed in 1970 and reorganized in 1982 spreads Andal songs widely through TV and radio programs[23][24]
Literary works[edit]
Andal composed two literary works, both of which are in Tamil verse form and express literary, philosophical, religious, and aesthetic content.
Thiruppavai[edit]
Her first work is the Thiruppavai, a collection of 30 verses in which Andal imagines herself to be a Gopi, one of the cowherd girls known for their unconditional devotion to Lord Krishna. In these verses, she describes her yearning to serve Lord Vishnu and achieve happiness not just in this lifetime, but for all eternity. She also describes the religious vows (pavai) that she and her fellow cowherd girls will observe for this purpose. It is said that Thiruppavai is the nectar of Vedas and teaches philosophical values, moral values, ethical values, pure love, devotion, dedication, single-minded aim, virtues, and the ultimate goal of life.[25][26]
Nachiar Tirumozhi[edit]
The second work by Andal is the Nachiar Tirumozhi, a poem of 143 verses. 'Thirumozhi' literally means 'Sacred Sayings' in a Tamil poetic style and 'Nachiar' means Goddess. Therefore, the title means 'Sacred Sayings of the Goddess.' This poem fully reveals Andal's intense longing for Vishnu, the Divine Beloved. Utilizing classical Tamil poetic conventions and interspersing stories from the Vedas and Puranas, Andal creates imagery that is possibly unparalleled in the whole gamut of Indian religious literature. However, conservative vainava institutions do not encourage the propagation of Nachiar Tirumozhi as much as they encourage Thiruppavai because Nachiar Tirumozhi belongs to an erotic genre of spirituality that is similar to Jayadeva's Gita Govinda.[27][28][29][30][31]
Contemporary commentaries and inspired poems[edit]
In contemporary commentaries on Tamil bhakti poetry, A.K. Ramanujan's work remarks on how many other religious traditions would keep and treat passionate love and devotion to God as separate, while in the bhakti tradition, they can be in resonance with one another:
'All devotional poetry plays on the tension between saguna and nirguna, the lord as person and the lord as principle. If he were entirely a person, he would not be divine, and if he were entirely a principle, a godhead, one could not make poems about him. The Vaishnavas, too, say that the lord is characterized by both 'paratva, 'otherness' and soulabhaya, 'ease of access'; he is both here and beyond, both tangible as a person and intangible as a principle-such is the nature of the ground of all being. It is not either/or, but both and; myth, bhakti and poetry would be impossible without the presence of both attitudes'. Prentiss, Karen Pechilis (1999). The Embodiment of Bhakti. OUP. p. 25. ISBN9780195128130.
Feminist interpretations look at some of Andal's verses as her open acknowledgement of her love for Lord Vishnu, written with bold sensuality and startlingly savage longing, hunger and inquiry as widely found in Tamil Sangam literature that express women's longings and their separation from their men; even today, her most erotic poems are rarely rendered publicly.[32] In one such verse Andal dispenses with metaphor and imagines herself lying in the arms of Krishna, making love to him:[33]
My life will be spared
Only if he will come
To stay for me for one night
If he will enter me,
So as to leave
the imprint of his saffron paste
upon my breasts
Mixing, churning, maddening me inside,
Gathering my swollen ripeness
Spilling nectar,
As my body and blood
Bursts into flower.
William Dalrymple- In search of Tamil Nadu’s poet-preachers[34][35]
tell him I will survive
only if he will stay with me
for one day -
enter me
so as to wipe away
the saffron paste
adorning my breasts
Vidya - The Body Adorned: Sacred and Profane in Indian Art(p. 140)[36]
Andal admiring herself whilst wearing the garland that was meant for the deity:
the guilt glazed love lay on Andal's breasts.
thick and heavy as him.
frightened with force
and locked away, she conjured him every night,
her empurumaan, her emperor-man.
- Meena Kandasamy, Ms Militancy[37][38][39]
In one of her poems, Andal says that her voluptuous breasts will swell for the Lord alone, and scorns the idea of making love to mortal beings, comparing that with the sacrificial offering made by Brahmins being violated by jackals in the forest,[40] and in another verse she dedicates her swelling breasts to the Lord who carries a conch.[35]
My surging breasts long to leap to the touch of his hand which holds aloft the flaming discus and the conch.
Coax the world-measurer to caress my waist, to encircle the twin globes of my breasts Star plus mahabharat watch online.
[41][42]
Krishnadevaraya's Amuktamalyada[edit]
Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagar Dynasty composed the epic poem Amuktamalyada in Telugu, which is considered as a masterpiece. Amuktamalyada translates to one who wears and gives away garlands, and describes the story of Andal or Goda Devi, the daughter of Periyalvar.[43]
Amuktamalyada describes pain of separation (viraha) experienced by Andal, who is described as the incarnate of Lakshmi the consort of Vishnu. Further the poem describes Andal’s beauty in 30 verses written in the keśādi-pādam style, starting from her hair, going down her body till her feet.[44][45]
Mangalasasanam[edit]
Andal has sung in praise of eleven holy sites:[46]
S.No. | Name of the temple | Location | Photo | Number of Pasurams | Presiding deity | Notes/Beliefs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam | Thiruvarangam, Trichy district Tamil Nadu 10°51′45″N78°41′23″E / 10.8625°N 78.689722°E | 10 | Ranganayagi Ranganathar (Periya Perumal) | Thiruvarangam temple is often listed as the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world, the still larger Angkor Wat being the largest existing temple. The temple occupies an area of 156 acres (631,000 m²) with a perimeter of 4,116m (10,710 feet) making it the largest temple in India and one of the largest religious complexes in the world.[47][48] The annual 21-day festival conducted during the Tamil month of Margazhi (December–January) attracts 1 million visitors.[49] | |
2 | Paramapadam | Heavenly | 1 | Lakshmi Vishnu | Vaikuntha is the celestial abode of Vishnu.[50][51][52] Vaikuntha is an abode exclusive to him, his consort Lakshmi and other liberated souls that have gained moksha. | |
3 | Tirupathi | 13°08′35″N79°54′25″E / 13.143°N 79.907°E | 18 | Alamelumanga Venkateswara | Venkateswara Temple is a landmark Vaishnavite temple situated in the hill town of Tirumala at Tirupati in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, India. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Thiru Venkateswara, an incarnation of Vishnu, who is believed to have appeared here to save mankind from trials and troubles of Kali Yuga. Hence the place has also got the name Kaliyuga Vaikuntham and Lord here is referred to as Kaliyuga Prathyaksha Daivam.[53] | |
4 | Thiruparkadal | Heavenly | 3 | Lakshmi Vishnu | In Hindu cosmology, Thiruparkadal (Ocean of milk) is the fifth from the center of the seven oceans. It surrounds the continent known as Krauncha.[54] According to Hindu mythology, the devas (gods) and asuras (demons) worked together for a millennium to churn the ocean and release Amrita the nectar of immortal life.[55] It is spoken of in the Samudra manthana chapter of the Puranas, a body of ancient Hindu legends. It is also the place where Vishnu reclines over Shesha Naga, along with his consort Lakshmi. | |
5 | Govardana | 27°30′17″N77°40′11″E / 27.504748°N 77.669754°E | 19 | Radha Krishna | The temple in Mathura, is among the most sacred of Hindu sites, and is revered as the birthplace of Krishna.[56]Kehsav Dev (Krishna) is the deity of this temple. According to traditions, the original deity was installed by Bajranabh, who was great-grandson of Krishna.[57] | |
6 | Dwarka | 22°14′16.39″N68°58′3.22″E / 22.2378861°N 68.9675611°E | 4 | Radha Krishna | The temple is dedicated to the god Krishna, who is worshiped here by the name Dwarkadhish, or 'King of Dwarka'. The main shrine of the 5-storied building, supported by 72 pillars, is known as Jagat Mandir or Nija Mandir, archaeological findings suggest it to be 2,200 - 2,000 years old.[58][59][60] Temple was enlarged in the 15th- 16th century.[61][62] | |
7 | Kallazhagar temple | 10°04′27″N78°12′52″E / 10.074136°N 78.214356°E | 11 | Thirumamagal Kallazhagar | The temple is constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temple has a seven-tiered rajagopuram. The temple is surrounded by a large fort, part of which is dilapidated. Kallazhagar is believed to have appeared sage Suthapava. The temple follows Thenkalai tradition of worship.[63] | |
8 | Sarangapani temple | 10°57′34″N79°22′29″E / 10.95944°N 79.37472°E | 1 | Komalavalli Sarangapani | This temple is along Kaveri and is one of the Pancharanga Kshetrams. The temple is believed to be of significant antiquity with contributions at different times from Medieval Cholas, Vijayanagar Empire and Madurai Nayaks. The temple is enshrined within a granite wall and the complex contains all the shrines and the water tanks of the temple. The rajagopuram (the main gateway) has eleven tiers and has a height of 173 ft (53 m).[64] | |
9 | Neelamegha Perumal temple | 10°52′7″N79°42′6″E / 10.86861°N 79.70167°E | 1 | Neelamegha Perumal | The presiding deity is believed to have appeared with a wig (called sowri locally) to save a devotee, leading to the name Sowrirajan. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines and three of its seven bodies of water. The temple has a seven-tiered rajagopuram, the temple's gateway tower and a huge temple tank in front of it. The temple is believed to have been built by the Cholas, with later additions from the Thanjavur Nayaks.[65] | |
10 | Srivilliputhur Andal Temple | 9°30′32″N77°37′56″E / 9.50889°N 77.63222°E | 1 | Andal Vatapathrasayee | The temple is associated with the life of Andal, who, according to legend, was found by Periazhwar under a Tulsi plant in the garden inside the temple. She is believed to have worn the garland before dedicating it to the presiding deity of the temple. Periazhwar, who later found the garland, was highly upset and stopped the practice. It is believed Vishnu appeared in his dream and asked him to dedicate the garland worn by Andal to him daily, a practice followed unto the modern day. It is also believed that Ranganatha of Thiruvarangam Ranganathaswamy temple married Andal, who later merged with him. The temple has two divisions - the one of Andal located on the southwestern and the second one on the northeastern side. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines, the garden where Andal is believed to have been born and two of its three bodies of water. The Vijayanagar and Nayak kings commissioned paintings on the walls of the shrine of temple, some of which are still present.[66][10] | |
11 | Thiruvaipadi | 26°57′00″N80°26′19″E / 26.95009444667719°N 80.43869165722663°E | 4 | Rukmani Sathyabama Navamohanakrishna Perumal | believe that Lord Krishna spent his childhood in this place. |
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^The hagiographic tradition asserts that Andal lived around 3000 BCE.[3][5]
Pirivu Kavithai In Tamil Images
References[edit]
- ^Chitnis, Krishnaji Nageshrao (2003). Medieval Indian History. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 116. ISBN978-81-7156-062-2.; Quote: Andal, a woman saint (ninth century)..
- ^ abBryant, Edwin Francis (2007). Krishna: A Sourcebook. Oxford University Press. p. 188. ISBN978-0-19-803400-1.
- ^ abcS. M. Srinivasa Chari (1 January 1997). Philosophy and Theistic Mysticism of the Āl̲vārs. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 11–12. ISBN978-81-208-1342-7.
- ^Chitnis, Krishnaji Nageshrao (2003). Medieval Indian History. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 116. ISBN978-81-7156-062-2.
- ^Greg Bailey; Ian Kesarcodi-Watson (1992). Bhakti Studies. Sterling Publishers. ISBN978-81-207-0835-8.
- ^Rao, A.V.Shankaranarayana (2012). Temples of Tamil Nadu. Vasan Publications. pp. 195–99. ISBN978-81-8468-112-3.
- ^'Andal Biography'. freeindia.org. Archived from the original on 23 July 2007. Retrieved 10 July 2007.
- ^Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam (ed.). India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 192.
- ^http://ebooks.tirumala.org/Home/Download/?ID=1929
- ^ abAnantharaman, Ambujam (2006). Temples of South India. East West Books (Madras). pp. 177–181. ISBN978-81-88661-42-8.
- ^'ANDAL MALA PRESENTED TO LORD VENKATESWARA IN TIRUMALA – TTD News'. news.tirumala.org. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
- ^ abkmdilip. 'Srivilliputtur Andal Temple - Andal Temple'. www.srivilliputtur.co.in. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
- ^'isbn:8174781757 - Google Search'. books.google.com. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
- ^http://www.andaljeeyar.org/images/pdf/SRIVILLIPUTHUR.pdf
- ^Krishnamachari, Suganthy (8 August 2013). 'Labour of love'. The Hindu.
- ^'Āndāl, Saint Goda'. womenshistory.about.com. Archived from the original on 26 October 2007. Retrieved 10 July 2007.
- ^S., Manickavasagam (2009). Power of Passion. Strategic Book Publishing. p. 163. ISBN9781608605613.
- ^'Architectural grandeur'. The Hindu. Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. 12 August 2005.
- ^'Thousands of devotees likely to throng Thiruvilliputtur today'. The Hindu. Chennai, India. 25 July 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
- ^'Hundreds participate in Andal Temple car festival'. The Hindu. Chennai, India. 30 July 2006. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
- ^Tracy Pintchman (2007), Women's Lives, Women's Rituals in the Hindu Tradition, Oxford University Press, ISBN978-0195177077, pages 181-185
- ^ abTracy Pintchman (2007), Women's Lives, Women's Rituals in the Hindu Tradition, Oxford University Press, ISBN978-0195177077, pages 185-187
- ^'isbn:0198039344 - Google Search'. books.google.com. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
- ^Women's Lives, Women's Rituals in the Hindu Tradition;page 186
- ^'Life of Andal'. thiruppavai.org tiruppavai.org. Archived from the original on 5 July 2007. Retrieved 10 July 2007.
- ^'Andal's Wedding'. youtube. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
- ^Rao, Shivshankar (31 March 2013). 'Saints - Andal'. Sushmajee: Dictionary Of Hindu Religion Sketches. US Brahman Group. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- ^Andal (14 October 2000). Andal: Tiruppavai/Nachiyar Tirumozhi. Penguin Books Australia. ISBN0140245723. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- ^'Nachiyar aesthetically conceived'. The Hindu. 5 January 2001. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- ^Muthukumaraswamy, MD (25 August 2016). 'In Tamil lit, an erotic bhakti for Krishna'. The Times of India. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
- ^Rajarajan, R.K.K. (2015). 'Art and Literature: Inseparable Links'. The Quarterly Journal of the Mythic Society.
- ^Rajarajan, R K K (2015). 'Art and Literature: Inseparable Links'. The Quarterly Journal of the Mythic Society. 106 (4): 53–61. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
- ^Lakshmi, C S (7 December 2003). 'Landscapes of the body'. The Hindu. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
- ^Dalrymple, William (10 July 2015). 'In search of Tamil Nadu's poet-preachers' (London). Financial Times. The Financial Times Limited. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
- ^ abChakravarty, Uma (1989). 'The World of the Bhaktin in South Indian Traditions - The Body and Beyond'(PDF). Manushi. 50-51-52: 25. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- ^Dehejia, Vidya (2008). The Body Adorned: Sacred and Profane in Indian Art. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN9780231512664. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
- ^Kandasamy, Meena (2010). Ms Militancy. Narayana. ISBN9788189059347.
- ^Mulchandani, Sandhya (2014). 'Divine Love'. The Indian Quarterly. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- ^Bilwakesh, Champa (16 March 2011). 'Ms Militancy, by Meena Kandasamy'. Archived from the original on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- ^Ghai, Anuj. 'Reflections on Andal'. Academia.edu. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
- ^Chabria, Priya Sarukkai (2016). Chabria, Priya Sarukkai; Shankar, Ravi (eds.). Andal: The Autobiography of a Goddess. Zubaan Books. ISBN9789384757670.
- ^Venkatesh, Arundhati. 'Andal: The Tamil Female Saint Brought To You In A Very Satisfying Translation [Book Review]'. Women's Web. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
- ^Rao, Pappu Venugopala (22 June 2010). 'A masterpiece in Telugu literature' (Chennai). The Hindu. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
- ^Krishnadevaraya (2010). Reddy, Srinivas (ed.). Giver of the Worn Garland: Krishnadevaraya's Amuktamalyada. Penguin UK. ISBN8184753055. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
- ^Krishnadevaraya (1907). Amuktamalyada. London: Telugu Collection for the British Library. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
- ^Pillai, M. S. Purnalingam (1904). A Primer of Tamil Literature. Madras: Ananda Press. pp. 182–83.
- ^Mittal, Sushil; Thursby, G.R. (2005). The Hindu World. New York: Routelge. p. 456. ISBN0-203-67414-6.
- ^Vater, Tom (2010). Moon Spotlight Angkor Wat. USA: Perseus Books Group. p. 40. ISBN9781598805611.
- ^Jones, Victoria (2004). Wonders of the World Dot-to-Dot. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. p. 4. ISBN1-4027-1028-3.
- ^Maehle, Gregor (2012). Ashtanga Yoga The Intermediate Series: Mythology, Anatomy, and Practice. New World Library. p. 207. ISBN9781577319870.
Vaikuntha (Vishnu's celestial home)
- ^Orlando O. Espín; James B. Nickoloff (2007). An Introductory Dictionary of Theology and Religious Studies. Liturgical Press. p. 539. ISBN978-0-8146-5856-7.
- ^Gavin Flood, An Introduction to Hinduism (1996), p. 17.
- ^'Tirumala Temple'. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 13 September 2007.
- ^Hudson, D. Dennis (2008). The body of God: an emperor's palace for Krishna in eighth-century Kanchipuram. Oxford University Press US. pp. 164–168. ISBN978-0-19-536922-9.
- ^'Churning the Ocean of Milk by Michael Buckley'.
- ^Saiyid Zaheer Husain Jafri (1 January 2009). Transformations in Indian History. Anamika Publishers & Distributors. pp. 299–. ISBN978-81-7975-261-6. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
- ^D. Anand (1 January 1992). Krishna: The Living God of Braj. Abhinav Publications. pp. 29–. ISBN978-81-7017-280-2. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
- ^1988. -Marine Archaeology of Indian Ocean Countries- S. R. Rao, page.18, text = 'The Kharoshti inscription in the first floor of Sabhamandapa of Dwarkadhish Temple is assignable to 200 BC.', page.25 text = 'Excavation was done by the veteran archaeologist H.D. Sankalia some twenty years ago on the western side of the present Jagat-Man- dir at Modern Dwarka and he declared that the present Dwarka was not earlier than about 200 BC.'
- ^2005, L. P. Vidyarthi -Journal of Social Research - Volume 17-, text= 'Inscription in brahmi found in the temple supports the fact of its construction during the Mauryan regime. Apart from this beginning, the pages of history of Dwarka and Dwarkadhish temple are full of accounts of its destruction and reconstruction in the last 2000 years.'
- ^2005. -Remote Sensing And Archaeology- Alok Tripathi, page.79, text = In 1963 H.D. Sankalia carried out an archaeological excavation. at Dwarkadheesh temple at Dwarka to solve the problem. Archaeological evidences found in this excavation were only 2000 years old
- ^1988, P. N. Chopra, 'Encyclopaedia of India, Volume 1', page.114
- ^Rao, Shikaripur Ranganath (1999). The lost city of Dvārakā. Aditya Prakashan. ISBN978-8186471487.
- ^Dalal, Roshan (2010). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin Books India. p. 18. ISBN9780143414216.
- ^'Pancharanga Kshetrams'. Indiantemples.com. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
- ^Knapp, Stephen (2008). SEEING SPIRITUAL INDIA: A Guide to Temples, Holy Sites, Festivals and Traditions. iUniverse. pp. 335–37. ISBN9780595614523.
- ^V., Meena. Temples in South India. Kanniyakumari: Harikumar Arts. p. 10.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Andal. |
- Works by Andal at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)