What is "thiruppavai"

The Tiruppavai ( Tamil:திருப்பாவை) is a collection of thirty stanzas (paasuram) in Tamil written by Andal also Nachiyar, in praise of the Lord Perumal, (Vishnu). It is part of Divya Prabandha, a work of the twelve Alvars, and is important in Tamil literature. Kodhai Devi or Andal incarnated on this earth in the 98th year after the beginning of the Kali Era (3102 BC). She performed a wonderful vratham or prayer called Dhanurmasa vratham to tell us that, by practicing this vratham, one can attain all materialistic happiness along with the eternal bliss. The period,from when the sun moves into the constellation of Dhanurrasi or Sagittarius and until it moves out to the constellation of Makara or Capricorn is known as Dhanurmasam. In Thiruppavai Andal gives a universal call to all people to recite the name and glories or Lord.