Monthly Archives: January 2010

Let us seek the blessings of Elders, ‘Doddavakka Harichili’

One of the wonderful and deeply meaning ful customs of Badagas, is the seeking of the blessings of elders. That is, whenever any person meets/visits an elder, he or she seeks the blessings of the elderly person [elderly does not mean aged/old but only elder by age] by bowing the head and requesting “Harachu (bless me)”. If any headgear like cap/turban is worn, the same is removed. Also, on social occasions, like when the’earmarked’/ selected devotees proceed towards the Hethay mane or at certain festivals the village elders bless the others who prostrate in front of them. Similarly, when the newly weds seek the blessings – ‘adda bubbadhu’, these blessings are given, though at times it is a shorter version that is used.

ondhu, ompaththu aagali,
[ondhu – one, ombaththu – nine, aagali – happen]
ondhu, saavira aagali,
[saavira – thousand]

harachchava kodali, sogava kodali,
[haracha – health, soga – happiness, kodali – given]
baNda hechchali, badhukku hechchali,
[banda – cattle, badhakku – wealth/prosperity, hechchali – increase]
bE hechchali, haalu hechchali, haNNu hechchali,
[bay/be – crops, haalu – milk, hannu – fruits)

manE katti, maaru kattili,
[mane – house, katti – build, maaru – marriage]
ondhu manE, saavira manE aagali,
[ondhu – one, mane – house, saavira – thousand]

beNNE bettu aagali, thuppa theppa aagali,
[benne – butter, betta – mountain, thuppa – ghei, theppa – well]
hulla muttilE hoo aagali, kalla muttilE kaai aagali,
[hullu – grass, hoo – flower, kallu – stone, kaai – (unripened) fruit]
honna muttilE sinna aagali,
[honnu – iron, sinna – gold]

bettadhudhu bandhalEyu, beraluga adangali,
[bettadhadhu – (like a big) mountain/lots, beralu – small finger]
attudhadhu bandhalEyu, aangai adangali,
[attudhadhu – (lile a deep) valley, aangai – palm/fist]

Kattidhadhu karEyali, biththidhadhu bEyali,
[Kattidhadhu – tied (cow), karyali – yield (milk)
aanaiya balava kodali, ariyaa siriyaa  kodali,
[aanai – elephant, bala – strengh, kodali – given, ariya – a lot, siri – happiness]
budhdhi bevarava kodali,
[budhdhi – intelligence, bevara – wisdom]

uri hOgi, siri barali, siri sippaaththi agali,
[uri -envy, hogi -(be) gone, siri – happiness, sippaththi – plenty]
HOppa edE, bappa edE ellaa, oLLiththE barali,
[Hoppa -going/ travel, ede – place, bappa – coming, ella – all, olliththe – only good things]

nooru thumbi, naadu jaradhu, dheera pooraNa aagi,
[nooru – hundred, thumbi – filled, naadu – nation, jaradu – envious, dheera – wise, poorna – full]
OLLiththa Eththi, Hollava ThaLLi, olagodho ellaava Gedhdhu,
[olliththa – good deeds, eththi – taken, holla – bad, thalli – reject, olaga – world, ellava – complete, gedhdhu – win]

sangatta salippu illaadhe,
[Sngatta – illness, salippu – problems/hinderance]
hoppa dhaari, Bappa Dhaari yo, edinjilu iLLaadhe,
[dhaari – path, edinjilu – blockades]
padippEri mundhuga hesareththi,
[paddippu – education, mundhuga – forward, hesaretthi – name and fame]

kumbE kudi haradha engE, angaalu muLLu muriyaadhE,
[Kumba kudi – pumpkin, haradhu – spread, aangaalu – foot/sole, mullu – thorn]
kO endhu korachchi, bO endhu bokki,
[korachi – calling, bokki – overflow]
ManE thumba makka hutti, gOttu thumba sosE kondu,
[ mane – house, makka – children, hutti – born, gottu – corner, sose – daughters in law]

paava pariya nOdi, olagadha hesaru eththi
[paava – dear, paria – near ones, nodi – look after, olagadha -whole world, hesaru – name and fame, eththi – get]
badhukki baa[Badhukki – prosperity].

During the present visit to the Nilgiris (Jan,2010) I came across another book on Badaga by Jakkanaarai SIVAJI RAMAN. The book is in Tamil and titled ‘படுக சமுதாயம் [Badaga Samudhayam]’ – Badaga Community. It appears to be a private publication with a forward by Rev.Malli (Originally of Kerbetta Village).

One of the most interesting information Sivaji Raman conveys in his book is that Badaga language finds extensive mention in old – purana – Tamil literature like  ” Tholkaeppiam” where it is  clearly mentioned that Badaga was a separate language spoken in a northernnation to Tamil nadu called ‘VADAGAM [Badaga]’, the other ‘countries’ being Karnadagam [Kannada], Konganam [Konkani], Kudagam [Coorgi], Thuluvam [Thulu], Telingam [Telugu] and  Kalingam [Oriya]. He goes on to quote a few verses where ‘vadaga’ is mentioned. He is of the opinion that Badaga can be traced back to 2300 years.
Sivaji Raman laments :
படுக மொழி தற்பொழுது படிப்பு, தொழில் ஆகியவற்றில் தமிழ் மற்றும் ஆங்கில்லத்தின் தாக்கம் காரணமாக மிகவும் மாறுபட்டு பேசப்படுகிறது. தூய படுகு தெரிந்தவர்களே இல்லை என்றாகிவிட்டது. இது படுக மொழியில் சொல் பஞ்ச்சத்தால் ஏற்பட்டதன்று. படுக மொழியின் ஏராளமான சொற்கள் மறக்கப்பட்டு மறைந்து விட்டன. இதற்கு காரணம் படுகு மொழிக்கு வரிவடிவம் இல்லாததேயாகும் (Badaga is spoken very differently due to the influence  by Tamil and English on education and profession. It appears that there are none who know ‘PURE’ Badaga. This is not due to lack of words in Badaga. Lot of Badaga words have been forgotten [due to the influence of Tamil and English] and hence become extinct. The reason for this is that BADAGA language DOES NOT HAVE A SCRIPT).

I totally agree with him.

There is a lot of information on Badaga Habbas like ‘Dhodda Habba, Biththu Ikkuva Habba, Uppu Attuva Habba, Sakkalaaththi’ etc apart from a variety of topics on and of Badaga.

Another laudable effort by a Badaga on Badaga. Very interesting book. Hope to write more on this book soon.