Vadadra' are the followers of Vadad Mata a form of Amba Maa with eighteen hands. They lived in a town called Vadad or Valad near Ahmedadbad[1] in the northern part of Gujarat. The name of the town Vadad was adopted by the community living around the temple of Vadad Mata. Vadadras, Valadras, Varadra, Valadhra or Valandra - The vadadra brahmins receive their designation from the village Valad or Vada near Ahmedabad. Ther are Devi Bhakts. Many of them are mendicants. Considerable number of them are cultivators and merchants. They are cheifly found in Kaira. According to Charotar Sarv sangrah, they have two broad divisions 1) Tarpada Vadara Brahmin and 2) Mewada Vadadra Brahman. They have sixteen Gotras amongs them.
In the past century, many folks from the Vadadra community have migrated to countries such as East Africa, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, Australia and the gulf countries.
Notable Vadadra Brahmins
Vadadra brahmins are divided into main two castes Tarpada Vadadra and Mehwada Vadadra.
- Mohanlal Pandya, Freedom Fighter with Mahatma Gandhi
- Shweta Bhatt, First pure Vadadra to go to an Ivy League College