Significance of Vada mala aaradhanai for Anjaneya Swamy

Why Vadamala aaradhana for Anjaneya Swamy ?

यत्र यत्र रघुनाथ कीर्तनम् तत्र तत्र क्रित मस्तक अन्जलिं बष्पावरी परीपूर्ण लोचनम् मारुतिं नमश्च राक्षस अंतकम्।

That wherever the deeds of Sri Rama are sung,
At all such places does Hanuman cry tears of devotion and joy,
At all such places does his presence remove the fear of demons.



Once a person hailing from North India was among the many who came to have darshan of Paramacharya of Kanchi Mutt. He was seen in hesitancy and Maha Periyava invited him to ask his doubt. The Northerner cleared his throat and said that Anjeneya Swamy is worshiped all over India but he was not able to understand why in South the people adorn Anjaneya with 'Vada-mala' made of Urud dhal mixed with pepper where as in North India they do with sweet Jangiri. He also added that he had not received a convincing answer from anybody.

Paramacharya
- was pleased to talk about Hanumanji. He began to explain first that children when they make some fuss to eat, the mother coaxes them to see the Moon outside and the child enjoys seeing the bright Moon and the cool breeze outside and finishes eating.

Similarly when Hanuman was a child, he took a liking to look at the Sun blazing in the Sky. He didn't stop with that. He went on to catch the Sun with his hand.
At the same time, 'Rahu Devatha' was also racing to catch the Sun God to eclipse the Sun. In the race between Hanuman and Rahu, Hanuman, being the son of Vayu, the Wind God (Vayuputhra) won with ease. In appreciation of Hanuman's valor, Rahu Deva sanctioned a boon in whoever worshiped Hanumanji with a food item made of urud dhal, will get relieved from 'Rahu Dosha' or that Rahu Graha will not trouble them anymore. Further the item offered to Hanumanji should be in the form of a garland or bent like a serpent which is how 'Rahu God' appears. Rahu also admitted that Urudh Dhal is his favorite cereal and food item prepared with Urudh Dhal is to his immense liking.

Paramacharya, having explained the significance of Vadamala aaradhana to Anjaneya Swamy went on to bring out the background for the differences in the culture between the people in the South and North. South India is famous for salt cultivation as North is for sugarcane. Vada is a food item made of urud dhal mainy with salt, also some pepper added for improving the taste. So people in South offer vadamala aaradhana to Anjaneya Swamy.

But the Northerners prefer sweet to salt. However Jangiri is made of mainly urud dhal only which condition satisfies the rule imposed by Rahu God.


Sugarcane grows in plenty in North only. Hence the people have developed it as a custom to worship Anjeneya Swamy with the garland of Jangiris.

The mass of people who had gathered to listen to Paramacharya, let lone the Northerner, went rapturous and fell at the feet of the Jagad Guru and the then Paramacharya of Kanchi Peetam.

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