andalnachiyar-thirumozhivishnukrishna

Nachiyar Thirumozhi — Varanam Ayiram (Andal)

Nachiyar Thirumozhi — Varanam Ayiram (Andal) in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 During weddings and betrothals; in the month of Margazhi, on Fridays, and in daily prayer for an auspicious marriage·📜 Nalayira Divya Prabandham — Nachiyar Thirumozhi, 6th decad 'Varanam Ayiram', by Andal (Tamil, c. 8th century CE)

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The 'Varanam Ayiram' is the celebrated sixth decad of Andal's Nachiyar Thirumozhi, in which the saint describes her dream of being wedded to Lord Narayana (Krishna). Verse by verse it unfolds the whole marriage — the grand procession with a thousand elephants, the fixing of the day, the gods assembling, the bridal garland placed by the Goddess, the taking of the hand, the giving away by her parents, and the sacred bath. Because it narrates an entire auspicious wedding, it is sung at Sri Vaishnava weddings to this very day.

Origin & Story

Nalayira Divya Prabandham — Nachiyar Thirumozhi, 6th decad 'Varanam Ayiram', by Andal (Tamil, c. 8th century CE) · Andal (Godadevi / Kodhai), Alwar saint · Tamil Bhakti era (c. 8th century CE)

Andal, the foster-daughter of Periyalwar of Srivilliputhur, loved Lord Vishnu so wholly that she would wear the garlands meant for the temple before they were offered. In the Nachiyar Thirumozhi she pours out her longing for union with the Lord, and in this sixth decad she recounts a dream in which the whole marriage is celebrated — the Lord coming in procession, the gods gathering, and she herself wedded to Narayana. Tradition holds she was at last united with Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam.

✦ As told in scripture

Tradition holds that Andal's love was so pure that Lord Ranganatha Himself commanded her to be brought to Srirangam as His bride; entering the sanctum, she merged into the Lord. Her dream-wedding in 'Varanam Ayiram' is thus revered as a foretelling of that divine union, and is sung at weddings to draw the same auspicious blessing.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

vāraṇam āyiram sūzha valamseydhu nāraṇa nambi naḍakkinṟān enṟedhir pūraṇa poṟkuḍam vaiththup puṟamengum thōraṇam nāṭṭak kanākkaṇḍēn thōzhī nān.

Meaning:These are pasurams from the famous sixth decad of Andal's Nachiyar Thirumozhi, the 'Varanam Ayiram' — the dream-wedding in which Andal sees herself married to Lord Narayana (Krishna). It is sung to this day at Sri Vaishnava and Iyengar weddings.

Verse 2

nāḷai vadhuvai maṇamenṟu nāḷiṭṭu pāḷai kamugu parisuḍaip pandhaṟkīzh kōḷari mādhavan gōvindhan enbānōr kāḷai pugudhak kanākkaṇḍēn thōzhī nān.

Meaning:'O my friend! I saw in a dream that the perfect Lord Narayana came walking in procession, encircled by a thousand elephants, going around the town; that everywhere they set out the full golden pots of welcome and raised festoons of celebration.'

Verse 3

indiran uḷḷiṭṭa dēvar kuzhāmellām vandhirundhu ennai magaḷpēsi mandhiriththu mandhirak kōḍi uḍuththi maṇamālai andhari sūṭṭak kanākkaṇḍēn thōzhī nān.

Meaning:'O my friend! I saw in a dream that they fixed the day, saying "tomorrow is the wedding"; and beneath the pavilion adorned with areca palms and tender blossoms, that youthful bridegroom — Madhava the man-lion, Govinda — entered (as the groom).'

Verse 4

kaiththalam paṟṟak kanākkaṇḍēn thōzhī nān meyththalam paṟṟak kanākkaṇḍēn thōzhī nān aththanum annaiyum ennaik koḍuththiḍa muththaṇal nīrāl muzhukkāṭṭik kaṇḍēnē.

Meaning:'O my friend! I saw in a dream that all the host of gods led by Indra came and sat, formally spoke of me as the bride and counselled the betrothal, clothed me in the sanctified bridal cloth, and the Goddess (Durga) adorned me with the wedding garland.'

Word-by-Word Meaning

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vāraṇam āyiram sūzha🔊Surrounded by a thousand elephants (in grand procession).

valamseydhu🔊Going around (the town) in auspicious circumambulation.

nāraṇa nambi naḍakkinṟān enṟu🔊Saying 'the perfect Lord Narayana is coming/walking (here)!'

pūraṇa poṟkuḍam vaiththu🔊Placing the full golden pots (purna-kumbha, the auspicious welcome).

thōraṇam nāṭṭa🔊Raising festoons / decorative arches (everywhere).

kanākkaṇḍēn thōzhī nān🔊I saw (this) in a dream, O my friend!

nāḷai vadhuvai maṇamenṟu nāḷiṭṭu🔊Fixing the day, saying 'tomorrow is the wedding ceremony'.

kōḷari mādhavan gōvindhan🔊The fierce-lion (Narasimha) Madhava, Govinda (Krishna).

kāḷai pugudha🔊(That) youthful bridegroom entering (the wedding pavilion).

indiran uḷḷiṭṭa dēvar kuzhām ellām🔊All the host of gods, including Indra.

ennai magaḷpēsi mandhiriththu🔊Formally speaking of me as the bride and counselling (the betrothal).

mandhirak kōḍi uḍuththi🔊Clothing (me) in the sanctified bridal garment.

maṇamālai andhari sūṭṭa🔊Durga (Antari) adorning (me) with the wedding garland.

kaiththalam paṟṟa🔊(He) taking hold of my hand (the rite of panigrahana, taking the bride's hand).

aththanum annaiyum ennaik koḍuththiḍa🔊My father and mother giving me away (in the kanyadana).

muththaṇal nīrāl muzhukkāṭṭi🔊Bathing (me) with the sacred waters of the wedding rite.

Benefits of Chanting Nachiyar Thirumozhi — Varanam Ayiram (Andal)

✦

Traditionally sung at Sri Vaishnava and Iyengar weddings, as it narrates an entire auspicious marriage to the Lord.

✦

Believed to bless the unmarried with a good and timely marriage, and to bless married couples with harmony.

✦

Cultivates the bridal devotion (madhura bhakti) of Andal — total love and longing for union with God.

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Part of the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, recited in temples and homes of the Sri Vaishnava tradition.

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Invokes Lord Narayana-Krishna as the divine bridegroom, deepening the soul's yearning to be united with Him.

How to Chant Nachiyar Thirumozhi — Varanam Ayiram (Andal)

Repetitions1times

Best TimeDuring weddings and betrothals; in the month of Margazhi, on Fridays, and in daily prayer for an auspicious marriage

FaceFacing the deity of Vishnu / Krishna or east

Sit before an image of Lord Krishna or Ranganatha and recite the decad with devotion, picturing each stage of the sacred wedding as Andal describes her dream. It is especially recited by those praying for marriage, and is traditionally sung at Sri Vaishnava weddings as a benediction. Begin with Andal's thaniyan where known, and recite the pasurams in order.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Nachiyar Thirumozhi — Varanam Ayiram (Andal) written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It is the famous sixth decad (Tirumozhi) of Andal's Nachiyar Thirumozhi, in which Andal describes a dream of her wedding to Lord Narayana (Krishna). It narrates the marriage stage by stage and is sung at Sri Vaishnava weddings to this day.

Andal (Godadevi) is the only woman among the twelve Alwar saints of the Sri Vaishnava tradition. Found as a child in a tulasi garden in Srivilliputhur by the saint Periyalwar, she grew up in intense love for Lord Ranganatha and, tradition holds, finally merged with Him. She gave the world the Tiruppavai and the Nachiyar Thirumozhi.

Because the decad describes a complete, auspicious marriage to the Lord — the procession, the betrothal, the garland, the taking of the hand, the giving away and the sacred bath. Each verse corresponds to a stage of a traditional wedding, making it the perfect benediction for the bride and groom.

Yes. The Nachiyar Thirumozhi is one of Andal's two works in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 4,000-verse Tamil canon of the Alwars. 'Varanam Ayiram' is its sixth decad and among the most beloved sections of the whole corpus.