These words by the only female alvar (poet-saint), Andal, discuss the concept of water cycle in her collection, Thiruppavai.

Damodara is a name of Krishna that exemplifies His simplicity. It is a reference to His being tied up by Yasoda. He proudly bears the scar from this episode, because it was not Yasoda who tied Him up.

“The month of Margazhi is special to both Vaishnavites and Shaivites. Andal’s Thiruppavai is recited in Vishnu temples during the month,” says Bhavya Ramachandran, a performer and a public ...