Vedanta Desika says the southern direction itself is fortunate, because Andal was born in a southern part of Tamil Nadu. Lord Ranganatha Himself wanted to marry Andal. The Lord of Srirangam faces the south, and it is believed that He does so because He wants to face Lanka, which was Vibhishana's kingdom. But it is perhaps to see Andal that He is facing South. Andal's love for the Lord was such that the Lord preferred to wear garlands She had already worn.
The Gopikas had so much love for Krishna that instead of calling out that they were selling butter and clarified butter, they called “Would you like to buy Krishna? Anyone interested in buying Damodara?” They could not even keep in mind what they were selling because there was no place in their minds for anything but Krishna. Likewise, Andal had Her mind focused on the Lord. Her verses are the essence of the Vedas. She tells us through Her Tiruppavai what we should do and what we should not do, said Srimathi Perundevi.
Andal describes the five forms of the Lord — Para, Vyuha, Vibhava, Antaryami and Archa. She indicates how we must worship in temples. By waking up the guards in Krishna' palace, She shows us that we too must first salute the Dwarapalakas in a temple, before we offer worship to the Lord.
ADVERTISEMENT
Periazhvar had sung of the Lord, putting himself in the position of mother to the Lord. Andal too, like Her father Periazhvar, is cryptical when it comes to talking of Krishna's birth. Periazhvar had feared that evil eyes would be cast on the Lord and had sung verses to ward off evil eyes. Talking of Krishna's birth, Andal says He was born the son of one lady and brought up as the son of another, but doesn't mention their names. She imagines Herself as being present when Krishna is born, and like Her father She is concerned for His safety. What if She reveals details about Krishna, and these get to the ears of Kamsa? So She refrains from giving details about His birth star, or about where He grew up. Andal must have picked up this motherly concern from Her father Periazhvar, which is why She forgets that the Krishna avatara ended long ago.