VADA MALAI/JHANGIRI MALAI TO ANJANEYA SWAMI ON SATURDAY, SRI
RAMA NAVAMI DAY
We are planning to have a Anjaneya Seva on the auspicious Sri
Rama Navami day, falling on Saturday, 13th April 2019 with an
Anjaneya Vahanam and a procession of the lord in the Vahanam on that day.
This is the first time we are blessed to have the Anjaneya
Vahanam. We have also made arrangements for all devotees to offer a garland
(Malai) of Vada and Jalebi, which will be made by special cooks who have come
all the way from INDIA.
Getting an opportunity to Offer Vada Malai, on a Saturday and
that too on a Sri Rama Navami day is a
once in life time opportunity for all devotees. This Malai after offering to
lord will be given back the Bhaktas as prasadam, for those who have booked it
in advance.
VADA
MALAI
|
JALEBI
MALAI
|
21 nos Vada Malai
– AED 100
|
11 Nos – Jalebi
Malai – AED 250
|
108 Nos Vada Malai
– AED 500
|
21 Nos – Jalebi
Malai – AED 500
|
SIGNIFICANCE OF OFFERING VADA MALAI
Why Vadamalai or Jaangiri Garland is offered to Hanuman?
From Devotees experiences
with Maha Periava
Once a person from
North India came to have darshan of Maha Periayava. After having had a
very hearty darshan also, he was still standing squirming a bit.
Observing that perhaps some question was troubling his mind, Periavaa told him,
“What is your doubt, Please ask”. That North Indian was having a doubt
since a long time, concerning Anjaneya. He had asked for clarification on
this from many people. But the correct answer had not come from
anybody. When he was thinking whether to ask that doubt to Maha Periavaa,
Swamigal himself had given the permission.
The devotee, rather
sheepishly said, “I have a doubt relating to Anjaneya”. Swamiji said,
“Oh, about Vaayu Puthra (son of Vaayu Bhagawan or Wind God)? Ok, ask”.
The devotee said
that Anjaneya is a deity loved by many and people worship him and obtain his
blessings. But my doubt is about the garland offered to be worn by
him. As Periavaa remained silent, the devotee himself continued, “In
South India, devotees offer the garland of Vadas mixed with hot pepper.
Whereas in north India, where I live, people offer garland made of sweet
Jangiri (traditional sweet made of urad dal). Why is this
difference?” The devotee from North India, after asking thus, was looking
at Maha Periavaa for the response. His face reflected his expectation to
get a reply from at least Periavaa, for his long standing doubt. Not only
the north Indian devotee, but also all the people who were there, waited
anxiously to listen to the response of Periavaa.
After a smile,
Periavaa began to reply. When small kids refuse to take food, in most
households, the ladies would take the child outside in their hips and say, “See
there, the moon …..” and divert the child’s attention and make it have the food.
The children, exposed to fresh air and on seeing the beautiful moon, would
obligingly eat the food. The mother concerned would also become
happy. This must have happened in many of your houses. If moon is a
play toy for ordinary children, Sun God became the play toy for Hanuman, the
messenger of Rama. Immediately on seeing the Sun which appeared
like a fruit, Hanuman developed an insatiable desire to eat it. When
Hanuman was playing as an infant, got greatly attracted to the Sun, which was
like a reddish fruit in the sky. He mistook the sun, which is basis for life on
this earth, for a fruit fit for eating.
Is he not the son of
Wind God (Vaayu Bhagawan)? The very next moment, he desired that it
should come in his hands. He flew in the sky at the speed of wind.
Devas, were perplexed on seeing a just born infant flying in the sky seeking to
gulp the sun itself. No one was able to stop the speed of the son of Wind
God. At the very same time, Rahu Bhagawan was also moving towards Sun, to
create the period of eclipse. However, Rahu could not move at the same
speed as that of Hanuman. In this race to capture the Sun, Rahu Bhagawan
was defeated by Hanuman.
As an outcome of
this event, Rahu gave a boon to Hanuman that whoever worshipped Hanuman offering
any food item made of black gram (Urad dal), which was his favourite grain, he
would never afflict them and that all adverse effects (dosha) that may have
been caused by him would get nullified. Rahu Bhagawan also detailed to
Hanuman, how this food item made of black gram, should be. That is, he
said that it should be a winding one, like a snake, as that of his body.
That is why, we are preparing garlands made of black gram vadas and offering to
Hanuman. Therefore, it is evident from this episode that whoever is
afflicted by adverse effects of the planet Rahu, would be relieved of the same,
if they worshipped Hanuman, offering the garland of Vadas.
Now, let me come to
the matter of pepper Vada and Jangiri. Be it Vada or Jangiri. Both
are made of only urad dhal. People in south India, offer Vada mala to
Hanuman. Here, salt pans are abundant. Salt is exported to many
foreign countries also. Therefore, there is a popular custom to prepare a
garland (of vadas) like the structure of a snake, made by mixing the black
gram, salt and also black pepper.
The sweet Jangiri –
Cultivation of sugarcane is predominant in many districts in north India.
The sugar produced in large quantities are even exported to foreign
countries. This apart, north Indians are quite fond of eating
sweets. That too, they include sweets to eat along with regular
refreshments, even during the morning breakfast. They are sweet
lovers. That is why, they are worshipping Hanuman, offering garlands of
Jangiri, made of black gram.
Whatever it may be,
garlands made of black gram continue to be offered in troves to Hanuman, as
desired by Rahu Bhagawan. What if it is made of salt or sugar? So
long as the devotees, who are worshiping by offering the garlands, are relieved
of the defects, it does not matter. Saying this, Maha Periavaa gave out a
hearty laugh.
Hearing this
detailed explanation, there was ecstatic delight on the face of the north
Indian devotee. Instantaneously, he fell at the feet of the great saint
and offered his Namaskarams. All those devotees, who were around were
also delighted by the explanation of Maha Periavaa.
