Akkaravadisal is a unique food offering on the 27th day of Margazhi month (December - January) at the Kallazhagar Temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. The story of this offering is associated with Shri Andal. Akkaravadisal offering at Kallazhagar temple in 2023 is on January 11.
In Nachiyar Thirumozhi (9.6), Shri Andal prayed that she would offer 100 pots of butter and 100 pots of akkaravadisal to Bhagavan Azhagar (Sri Mahavishnu) at the Kallazhagar temple, if her desire of marrying Sri Ranganatha Swamy is fulfilled.
The wish came to true and she merged with Srirangam Ranganatha Swamy. But she was unable to keep her word as she was no longer in her human form. Years later Sri Ramanujacharya performed the offering on behalf of Shri Andal at the Kallazhagar temple on the 27th day of Margazhi masam.
Since then, on the 27th day of Margazhi every year, akkaravadisal is offered at the temple.
The 27th day of Margazhi corresponds to the 27th pasuram of Andal’s Thiruppavai. The 27th pasuram describes gopis of Vrindavan offering a unique naivedyam to Bhagavan Sri Krishna known as ksheerannam.
Akkaravadisal is prepared using rice, moong dal, milk, jaggery, ghee and sugar.
In temples, large quantities of milk, roasted rice, ghee, and rock candy sugar or kalkandu are boiled in a slow fire. When the milk is thickened to consistency fried ghee fried cashew nuts and almonds are added to it.