MEHER BABA JOURNAL - Avatar Meher Baba Trust

THE VAISHNAVITE SAINTS OF SOUTHERN INDIA 19
who could not leave the cradle
of the children on the one side,
nor the bed of the Lord on the
other side. " This means that she
comforts the souls on the one
hand, and pleads for them with
the Lord on the other.
St. Andal was the incarnation
of Lakshmi herself. The
Lord could not be without her,
and she could not be without
Him. She came here to redeem
the world. It is only Love—
love that of a mother—that can
redeem the world. It was why
it was said that St. Andal ' s
power of salvation exceeded
that of the Lord.
St. Andal became God—
Love-sick; she was pining to
wed the Lord. St. Peri Azhwar
was in a fix. He did not know
who, among the mortals, was
fit to be her husband. He was
like Janaka.
"The father knowing how
I came,
No daughter of a mortal
dame,
In all the regions failed to
see
A bridegroom meet to match
with me. "
He broached the subject to
her, his darling daughter. She
would not wed any man but
her Lord; she consecrated herself
to His service. The Fatherhood
of God becomes complete
only with His Motherhood. St.
Andal would wed Him whom
she described thus: —
"Judge ye, the beauteous
locks and looks
And fruit-red lips, my
Rang-Nectars. "
—The Ranganatha Swami of
Shrirangham (on the river Kaveri
in Trichinopally District.) It
is said that Vishnu-Chittar had
a vision divine, when the Lord
agreed to wed his daughter.
Azhvar became delighted, and
took his holy daughter to Shrirangham.
There she became
one with her Lord, the God.
The father was directed to go
to his own town, Shri Villiputtur,
and do the Lord ' s work.
Such is the story of the wonderful
incarnation of St. Andal.
"Hail Goda sweet; for all
immortal time
Be blessed thou, who roused
of yore
In melting strains—the
Vedas ' deeper sense,
That soul of ours, for
Him and His
For ever are—a lovely
wreath of lays,