Sri Andal is one of the most extraordinary personalities in India's spiritual history. She is the only female among the 12 Alvars (great vaishnava bakthos who were "immersed" in the depths of enjoyment of God). A devotee by the name of Vishnucitta discovered her, as a baby girl under a tulasi plant in his flower garden. He named her Godai, or 'gift of Mother Earth'. Godai grew up in an atmosphere of love and devotion. Vishnucitta doted on her in every respect, singing songs to her about his Beloved Krishna, teaching her all the stories and philosophy he knew, and sharing with her his love of Tamil poetry.

The love Vishnucitta had for his Beloved Lord intensified further in his daughter, and before long she was passionately in love with Lord Krishna. Even as a child, Godai made up her mind to marry none but the Lord of Brindavana, and refused to think of any human being in similar terms. She was someone whose love of God was so intense and pure that even he had not comprehended its extent. Her spiritual greatness was such that eventually she became to be known as Andal, the girl who 'ruled' over the Lord. She eventually joined her Lord Sri Ranganatha in Srirangam vanishing after embracing the Lord in the sanctum sanctorum at the age of fifteen. Andal is now one of the best loved poet-saints of the Tamils. She is present in all Sri Vaishnava temples, in India and also in the Sri Perumal Temple in Singapore, next to her Lord, as she always desired. Andal, whose life and poetry are celebrated every 'Maargazhi' or December-January, as the most visible contributor to this heritage.