The Vaishnava poet Periyalvar, a temple gardener at Srivilliputhur, is said to have found a baby girl under a tulasi plant in the temple garden and raised her as his daughter. As she grew, Kodhai secretly wore the garlands meant for the god, to see whether she was beautiful enough for him. When her father found out and made a fresh garland, the god let it be known that he wanted only the one she had worn, and she became known as Andal, she who ruled the Lord. Her thirty verses, the Tiruppavai, are recited at dawn in homes and temples throughout the month of Margazhi.
The complex has two parts: the shrine of Vatapatrasayi, Vishnu reclining on a banyan leaf, and the shrine of Andal with Rangamannar, the form of Ranganatha who is said to have married her. Inscriptions of the Cholas, Pandyas and Vijayanagara kings record gifts over many centuries, and the Nayak ruler Thirumalai Nayak renovated the temple in the 17th century. The rajagopuram, about 59 metres high, is one of the tallest in Tamil Nadu. The garland worn by Andal's image is still sent to other great temples on festival days.
Aadi Pooram, Andal's birthday in July-August, brings out a huge temple chariot. The town is also famous for Srivilliputhur palkova, a slow-cooked milk sweet with a Geographical Indication tag, sold in shops around the temple streets. The temple is administered by the HR&CE Department.
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