SIGNIFICANCE OF VADA MALAI/JHANGIRI MALAI FOR ANJANEYA SWAMI

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, 13^th 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

Vada Malai and Jalebi Malai bookings can be done in the following link.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfkO1KmrdADOUWfYT1Ixl_B5az0VvX4AVfbr6qnEFK8CjyUxQ/viewform?hl=en

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.