Andal

Andal was a Tamil poet-saint, probably of the 8th century, and the only woman among the twelve Alvars, the saints devoted to Vishnu in the Bhakti movement. Tradition holds that Periyalvar found her as a child under a tulasi plant at Srivilliputhur and that she would marry no one but Vishnu. She is credited with the Tiruppavai, 30 verses in which she imagines herself one of Krishna's cowherd girls, and the Nachiyar Tirumoli, about 140 verses of longing for Vishnu. Both are recited during the Tamil month of Margazhi, in December and January.