I have often wondered about the significance of offerings made to Gods.
Why do we (South Indians) offer Vada Malai to Anjaneyar?
Clarification to this question was given once by Kanchi Sankaracharya, the learned Periyavar, when this was put to him by a North Indian (In North India, they offer Jilebi , instead of Vada )
When Hanuman was a child, he saw the rising Sun, mistook it for a ripe fruit and jumped to catch it. Unfortunately, this happened at the precise time Rahu was about to swallow the sun, as it was a day of Eclipse (As per the myth, Eclipse occurs when Rahu swallows the Sun). Curious at seeing Rahu on the verge of snatching his fruit, Hanuman grabs him and starts toying with him. After a while Rahu manages to get out of Hanumans grasp and approaches complaining to Indran, with tears streaming down his eyes. To make a long story short, Indran mounts the Airawatam, and uses his Vajrayudham on Hanuman, stunning him.
Vayu, the father of Hanuman, got upset on seeing his Son unconscious, carries him and withdrew from the three worlds, causing unease and discomfort all over.
To placate Vayu, and amazed at the fantastic ability of the young child, all the Gods came down and blessed the baby Hanuman, and gave him many boons, including protection from water, ability to change forms etc.
At his turn, Rahu, who by now was impressed by the strength of the baby, blessed him that any devotee who makes an offering of food made of Urad Dal (Urad Dal is the favourite of Rahu) in the form of a Malai ( a malai or string resembles a Serpent, which is the base form of Rahu) to Anjaneyar will be cured of any inflictions as a result of Rahu, which is essentially malefic in nature.
Salt is plentiful in South India while North India has more of Sugar Cane. Thus, in South India devotees offer Urad Vadai Malai, which is made of Urad dal dough and salt, while in North India, they offer Jilebi , which is also made of Urad Dal Dough in Sugar Syrup. And Jilebi has the shape of a coiled Serpent.
Thus it is basically to avert the ill effects of Rahu, that one offers Vada Malai to Anjaneyar
