The Anjaneya Temple is situated in Nanganallur, Chennai. It is a Hindu temple where Lord Hanuman resides in the form of his 32 feet tall idol. This creation is famous because being one of the tallest, and it is made using a single granite stone. It was first installed in 1989 and sanctified in 1995.

Lord Hanuman, the prime deity of the Anjaneya temple, is known for his healing powers. People with ailments or any health condition come here to pray and get relief in their condition.

The temple offers a Garland of Vada among the neivedhyam objects to Lord Hanuman. Vada is considered one of the important elements in neivedhyam, which is offered while worshipping the Lord. Neivedhyam means food that is offered to God first before eating it or distributing it among people. Offering garlands of Vada is a must and popular ritual in the temples of South India.

Lord Anjaneyar in the Anjaneya Temple wears a huge Vadamala around his neck, which covers the entire length of the idol. His folded hands are also adorned with Vadmalas. The vada, after offering to the deity, also gets distributed among people as Prasadam.

Now we will learn the legends related to Lord Hanuman and why the Lord is offered with Vadmala.

The Legend of Vadmala Offering

When Rama returned to Ayodhya after being victorious over Ravana, Lord Rama celebrated the day with the coronation ceremony.

In that ceremony, Lord Rama announced that Hanuman will always be with him and he will always be dear to him. Mata Sita was also happy with the service of Hanuman, and seeing a true devotee in him, she prepared a Vadmala for Hanuman and offered it around his neck.

Thus, offering Vadmala to Hanuman is still in practice, and many temples in South India follow it. Several devotees in the temple come with Vadmala and offer it to the deity as they believe that doing so will bless them with the grace of the Lord. Visiting this temple and praying to the Lord brings people happiness and peace along with an ailment-free life.

Other than Vadas, there are other items too, such as Other some Butter, Curd Rice, Aval (Beaten Rice), Kesari (Suji Halwa), Pongal, Panakam (Jaggery Mixed in Water) and Fruits and Nuts. All these ingredients make neivedhyam together.

Vennai Kappu

Vennai Kappu is another type of offering that is offered to Lord Hanuman in Nanganallur Anjaneyar Temple. Vennai Kappu, or Butter Guard, is the element that Hanuman applied all over his body when he was going to search for Sanjeevini herb. Hanuman was told that Sanjeevini could only be found in Parvat hill to save the life of Laxman.

Hanuman applied butter to be protected from the bacteria in the process of searching for Sanjeevini. Thus the temple of Anjaneyar still offers Vennai Kappu to the Lord to remember the act.

The Legend of Hanuman’s Tail

Sri Ramani Anna was the prime person to build the temple of Nanganallur, Chennai. To proceed, he went to Sri Kanchi Matam and met Sri Maha Periyava to seek his blessings.

The hunt for a huge stone began, and the sculptor finished the work in the form of a 32 feet tall idol of Lord Anjaneyar. The idol was then brought to the place where the temple was to be built, and the installation was to be done. The Balalayam, in which they keep the idol separately in the water, milk, paddy, grains, and more, was also done.

Afterward, Ramani Anna went to Sri Kanchi Matham and met Ramani Anna went to Sri Kanchi Matham to get the instructions about the installation.

Maha Periyava asked some questions about the idol’s full shape, and Ramani Anna explained them all. Periyava then asked about Hanuman’s tail position, to which Anna replied that “the tail is curvaceously and beautifully raised above his head.”

Periyava was silent for some time, and then he said that “you said you are going to establish Shri Rama in the opposite of Anjaneyar!” Hanuman never stands with his tail
Raised above Rama, and hence the idol can’t be established in this way.

Periyava, however, said that don’t worry, Anjaneyar will make everything alright. To Ramani Anna’s surprise, the tail was not there anymore; it was perfectly cut as it was sculpted by a sculpture. The problem was solved then and there, and the idol was installed happily.