When Hanuman was a child, he took a liking to look at the Sun blazing in the Sky. He did not stop with that. He went on to catch the Sun with his hand. At the same time, ‘Rahu Devata’ 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 (Vayuputra) won with ease.

In appreciation of Hanuman’s valor, Rahu Deva sanctioned a boon that whoever worshipped Hanuman with a food item made out of urad dal, would get relieved from ‘Rahu Dosha’ and that Rahu Graha would not trouble them anymore. Further the item offered to Hanumanji had to be made in the form of a garland or bent like a serpent which is how ‘Rahu God’ appears. Rahu also admitted that urad dal was his favorite cereal and the food item prepared with urad dal was to his immense liking.

Maha Periyava, having explained the significance of Vadamala aaradhana to Hanuan 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 urad dal mainly with salt with some pepper added for improving its taste. So people in the South offer Vada mala aaradhana to Hanuman Swamy.