9'' Goddess Andal | Madhuchista Vidhana (Lost-Wax) | Panchaloha Bronze from Swamimalai

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In the detailed execution of this bronze ‘panchaloha’ image due to the ‘madhuchista vidhana’ lost-wax technique, we have several attributes from the life of Andal that symbolise her legend. At the top, we can see a uniquely elaborate style of headdress which keeps the tuft of the hair bunned to one side, adorned with jewellery and jasmine flowers – typical of Tamil culture. Her blissfully divine expression holds onto the love of her parrot, which is referenced in her work Nachiar Tirumozhi – ‘paal amudhootti edutha en kolakkili’ – meaning a parrot that is fed on milk. Andal wrote about a swan, cuckoo, and the parrot, and the latter two symbolised the narrators of the stories of Rama and Krishna. Holding onto the parrot also signifies holding onto the knowledge and luck of the cosmos.

The garland across Andal’s body – made up of tulasi, sevanthi, and sampangi flowers – dates to the time when Periyalvar, who brought up Andal, used to adorn the image of Ranganathar with garlands daily. One day, he found Andal wearing the garlands before dedicating them to the lord, and just as he began remonstrating her, Vishnu appeared before them and asked Periyalvar to only dedicate the garlands that Andal had worn, and thus revealed her true form as Bhudevi. Upon this discovery, Andal was reunited with Vishnu at the Ranganathaswamy temple. Since then, Andal’s bhakti and devotion towards Perumal begins with an exchange of garlands that both deity wear.