Badaga Proverbs – Doddaru SHLOKA
One of the fascinating and interesting aspects of Badaga [both people & language] is the free use of delightful but deep meaning proverbs called “ DODDARU SHLOKA”. When you engage an elderly Badaga into any conversation, you are sure to hear a lot of these proverbs thrown in to make / emphasis a point.
Prof. Paul Hockings, probably the most authentic researcher on and of Badaga lists more than a thousand Badaga proverbs, 1730 to be precise. May be he had extensively borrowed these from the unpublished manuscript of M.K.Bellie Gowder. He feels that 1730 could be a complete figure containing all the proverbs . See his book,’Counsel from the Ancients: Study of Badaga Proverbs, Prayers, Omens and Curses’. He has given the meaning in English as well thus making it easy to understand in a beautiful manner.
Though I find his collection extremely interesting and educative, I do not agree with some of the conclusions he draws on certain proverbs. For example, on the proverb, ‘Odhidhama Niddhana, Oddidhama Erandina’ .
Prof.Hockings interpretation is quite different to what I feel is the correct meaning. I think ‘a person who spends time learning and pondering (over a problem) is better than the one who runs away (in a hurry) and thus trips over. [Odhidhama – learned one , Niddhana – stops to ponder over[think] a problem, Oddidhama – one who runs away or is in a hurry, Erandina – trips over.
It is common practice for Badaga mothers to tell their young children ‘Oda beda , Erandiray’ – Donot run, you will trip over (a stone or any obstruction). That is ‘ do not be in a hurry and take a hasty decision’.
Another one is ‘Michidhavaga Morande Kolu Bangara’. The lady who does not listen to her husband /any one (Michidha Hemmathi) is bound to land up as a widow (when ‘Morande Kolu – a small stick of morende tree – replaces her jewellery [bangara] – nose ring and ear rings during the Ole Kattuva ritual of husband’s death / funeral ceremony). Prof.Hockings feels Mechidhavaga (see the difference between michidhava – one who does not listen- and mechidhava – one who is appreciated by all – even a morende kolu is enough as jewellery.
Actual proverb could have been, ‘Michi dhavaga Moranday kolu Bangara, Mechi dhavaga Morenday Kolu Singara’
Is it a case of beautiful wordplay (pun) by our ancestors??
I have listed a few of the proverbs below and hope to add more in future.
[Sources : Interaction with Fellow Badagas, ‘Naakku Betta’ monthly (1979) –Edited by K H Madha Gowder, Achanakal, Ketti Post & ‘Naakku Seeme’ monthly – May 2006, Edited by K.M Nanjan, Kil Cowhatty Village, Muthorai Post]
1. Akka Ghandana koda dhukka hegile, Makka maria buttu baa ennana
(When sadness is shared with elder sister’s husband, his advise is to come to him)
2. Aandama ellade Haandi Beya, Ullama ellade Gulla beya
3. Kiviga elladadu kombuga aeththaga
4. Guttige [Kuttige?] bathavu arai aaga beda, kunna thammanu mella aaga beda
5. Kumbala kaaya [Kumbakkeya] saaki handiga kottenge (Growing pumpkins only to feed wild boar)
6. Gumboonda Mola edda enge [Like the hare jumping out of the bush -element of surprise]
6a.Eragi holaga mola hugga enge [Like the rabbit in the ‘millet’ field – perfect camouflage – destruction by deceit]
7. Sadiga madi elle
8. Saththu biththa kaaye
9. Saththaduga hinde etha holae eana ? (After death, how does it matter where you go?)
10. Saththa Koyee, baththa mukkirava ? (Can a dead hen feed on grains?)
11. Gollaru mada kattida enge
12. Ghandu gundu, hennu helavu
13. Ghandu kulidu ketta, Hennu thirigi [hisithu] ketta (The boy wasted his life by idling/lazying around (sitting), the girl wasted her life by smiling (turning around) at strangers
14. Ghanda thoorile, kandamanu thoorina [when the husband neglects, everybody follows]
15. Ghanda ebbane buddi elle, buddi bappane ghanda elle (Wisdom did not come when husband was alive, when wisdom came husband was not there)
16. GaNa ellade sande aaga, sangadhi ellade daari sameya (Evening does not come without gossip, way does not end without some news)
17. Koyigu kothigu maake (Like a hen and a cat [always fighting])
18. Koy(iy)a Kaethaa maasu arappadhu (Do you ask the hen [being prepared for dinner] for grinding the chilli paste?)
19. Kona neeruga baggiravo, neeru konaga baggiravo [Will the bull bend to drink water, or, water bends for the bull. Implying impossibility]
20. Kothi aatta eliga prana sangada (The antics of a cat are matters of death to a rat)
21. Kothi kaala baase denge (Like the cat licking its leg)
22. Savi kanda kothi attalu hathidenege
23. Koduva cooli nodu, kathuva olaya nodu
24. Kodalia kaave, kolava kedu maadira
25. Kotta hennu nela arige
26. Kotta saalava kaeyade ketta, bithida holava nodade ketta (Suffering by not asking the loan to be returned, nor looking after the planted [with seeds] fields)
27. Kai yoge kannaadiya beethindu neeruna moga nodidha enge (looking for the reflection of the face on the water when there is a mirror in the hand)
28. Kai eelu aaga gudigilu masiya
29. Kaiga bandadu bega elle (What came to the hand did not reach the mouth)
30. Ketta arasa buda beda mikka kannava eda beda
31. Kulidhu athamaga kulidhu avvu, niddhu athamaga niddhu avvu (Cry sitting with the one who cried sitting with you, cry standing with the one who cried standing) – proper and equal reciprocation
32. Kuradaga hagalu ena eru ena (How does it matter whether it is day or night for a blind man?)
33. Sandhe jaamana meiyu, saaku hoththu bandha nattanu hoga (The evening rain and the guest who had come with a hesian cloth[bag] covering will not leave)
34. Sappodu saare, Haagottu doora
35. Chiikkavanaalenu Sivana buddi (Even though he is very young, has lot of wisdom like Lord Siva)
36. Ollitha ethi hollava thallu, olagodho ellava gellu (Take only the good leaving behind the bad and win all in this world)
37. Hallana neeru hattaleyu baavi neeru hechu
38. Thaaya palichileyu neera pallicha beda (Even if you [have to] show scorn to mother, never do it to water [the source of life])
39. Kasa aaleyu rusi maadi thinnu(Even if it is weed [rubbish], make it tasty to eat)
40. Natta maneye hattaleyu, ghanda mane hesara ethu
41. Kicha muttile attira (If you touch the fire, it will burn you)
42. Hottiya kitcha beethale kettara
43. Aaru kaasuna sambuva aaleyu, aranmaneya gelacha maadu
44. Adhista mooru p(b)aala, harakke aaru paala
45. Kitcha thindama karia Hedana (One who eats fire, excretes charcoal)
46. Nanga belli holladale thattana koda horatta ena
47. Ghandana ollithundhu undia dhottadhu ekka beda
48. Maneya nududhu mandhaga hogu
49. Maathu hetchi mane ketta, bithu hetchi hola ketta
50. Aadindu holae maathu, agadundu holae mannu [Agadhale mannu, Nudidhale maathu]
51. Hanja theedhara(theegira) maathu niddara
52. Thandeya koddamana paadhava hidi
53. Thindhu santhosha aappadhuna, nodi santhosha aagu
54. Avvaiya halladha nodile magava nodudhuga mane enaga
55. Huttone anna thamma, hoppane dhayada kaara
56. Sandhe aappile endhu hoga beda, baaga aappile endhu era (oraga) beda
57. Kathu potti, hethu baradi
58. Ethu elladhamaga edha elle, makka elladhamaga mane elle
59. Nangaga bandhale allu thundhu, Ooruga bandale opedha kai
60. Hasanooru haala kudipadhuna, Neelagiri neera kudhi
61. Moladha kanna neera, bettai kara aradhaneya
62. Hadadhe endhu hatta maada beda, kette endhu kaeda thora beda
63. kette endhu kaeda thora beda, baddendhu bava thora beda
64. Sikkanuna badakku batta baiyilu
65. Niri chikkira, hari chikka
66. Huttu daridharaga kottu dhandodhu daara
67. Thale thatty nela nodi nade
68. Aandama illade aandi bethadava, ullama illadhe gulla bedharava
69. Hitta andhu kondu, battaya nidhu kondu
70. Balla beethu baddiga hoga beda
71. Arasana makkaga hurikallu muthu
72. Aeye pyla moyae nodu
73. Anai koodi halla, theni koodi batha
74. Thitta thevara otha beda
75. Anna thammana agala maada beda
76. Thaaya maatha kethu nodadhey nyaya hadadheya, thandhya maatha kethu nodadhey handhi hadadheya
77. Madi buddu maaruga sedhara, hennu buddu nattaga sedara (Madi buddale maaruga, ele buddale meduga)
78. Badagava makka huttu , Badegega Athu AAgha Beda
79. Hothu Banda Kathiya , Ooruna ebba Kathe othara
80. Badavaga Badukku Bandale, Thinguva Beesiluna Kode Hidithana
81.Bendhamana Hunna, Nondhama Ariyakku
82.Usara Kotta Kothi , Nosala Nakkira
83. Thalaiyamana Maathu, Mundhuga Uppu – Hinduga Bella
84.Appana Maathu, Aneya Bala
85. Bae Aadileyu Bae ga Kedu, Seegi Aadile yu Bae ga Kedu [A word play-pun- on Bae which means both the mouth and crop [vellamme]
86. Mundhileyu Mookku Hagga, Hindileyu Kaal Kanni
87.Akka Ellade Natto, Avare Ellade Uttavo
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You can see the contents of this page here also
Badaga proverbs ♣♣♣…♥♥♥
Please have the courtesy to link back to www,badaga.co if you refer, copy or cut and paste any article or image from this website.
Wing Commander Bellie Jayaprakash B.E.(GCT,Madras Univ).,M.B.A (FMS, Delhi Univ)
Contact : bjaypee@gmail.com
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Mookuthi 
Chinna 
==
Badagas of the Blue Mountains 
□High effort – உயர் முயற்சி – Hechchina prayathna□
Hechchina prayathna…
(ஹெச்சின பிரயத்ன)
Unnatha prayathna..
(உன்னத பிரயத்ன)
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Really good proverbs Kindly keep posting more.
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Please add some more proverbs. I am so crazy about it.
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மந்தக ஹோதே மாத்து பப்பிலே
மாத்து பப்பனே மந்த கூடுலே
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simply superb
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BADAGAS ARE GREAT
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Uri oogile siri barale…
Proud to b a badaga
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Good one.
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Morana naalu avvaiya mallu onthu
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While reading this we must remember that /old is gold/ from 90’s it reflects the true fact in our life…..Must thank JP to establish our Baduga …
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IT’S REALLY INTERESTING TO KNOW ABOUT BADUGA…WHEN I READ THE HISTORY OF BADUGA IT SHOWS THAT HOW BADUGA PEOPLE ARE ENRICHED WITH LOVE AND CARE…..[edited – JP]
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seeda itha kanatamaga samosa e c kotala c ti tu sas attuna
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Great saying ma’am…modern proverb.
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I am proud to be a Badaga, I love Badaga language and culture. Exellent proverbs here.
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i am really touched by this website and first and foremost i should salute to those who designed this… as badaga people we need to contribute something to our community and should take some initiativeness to grow more so that, we help our younger generation to know about our traditional culture and values….
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Well said
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I love Nanjanad hatty
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Can you please add this “Bay Unnaley Aalu Kariyogava”
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I am really proved to be a BADUGA…. We the people of NAKKU BETTA…. Blessed by HETHA AMMA
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Really fascinated with the collections u have about badagas. Its the one stop treasure for all badagas. Can we include more badaga songs ?
By the way , I will get u the Photo of Mr.L.Krsihnan the great singer fropm Thangadu.
” Thank you very much – JP”
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I’m a Badaga also very interested in this kind of things
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badagas are working in various places in the world … proud of our community and if we work hard our community will became an record in the world level,we are the only people in india not getting any dowry.
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I am really thankful to all those people to design an web site for us, we are the best hospitality people in the world,I like badaga and nakku betta.
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I really did not understand why Mr. Sujan wants the history to be removed . It is good to have it , because many of us have no idea about the history and only since we started visiting our site that we learnt a lot of things and the learning is going on every time we visit the site…
As Ravi anna has rightly written , it is customary for many of us to visit the site and discover something new … and catch up with the updates in the site.. it is very true…in my case.
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My name is Sujan joghee. You are excellent however could you please remove hettay amma history because you are doing a great job and please donot publish that because you are publishing the hidden history of (known) 667 years of my mom ok.
This a REQUEST to you Please. DONOT PUBLISH THAT.ok?
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This site is very good…very informative……It will be great if you can bring a chat like thing….So chain of people will be more close…and it grows longer…nativity will continue…
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Saw your website… it is very interesting….I’m proud to say I’m a BADAGA
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I am really proud to be a Badaga…….. we the people of Neela Malai ..blessed by Hethe Amma…
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Amazing!!!!! My search for badaga proverbs really ended here…Cheers!!!
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need to publish more of recently used proverbs……… for better understanding & usages
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SUPERB COLLECTION ………
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Nagulan Joghee’s choice of some of the proverbs quoted by Prof.Paul Hockings in his book on ‘Badaga proverbs , curses and Omens’ with English meaning :
Badaga Proverbs:
“Akka iddale baava ; rokka iddale sule
Okkuva hana hattale Urella nattu”
If you have an elder sister, there is a sister’s husband;
If you have cash then it goes to a lose woman ( or prostitute);
If you have lots of cash , the whole village is related to you.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
“Hetta hotte ondaleyu huttu bere buddi bere”
The stomach that has given birth [to various people] is one;
[they are of] different sense and different complexion
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
“Nega evalikkile , ne baluga evalikkira”
If you give order to a dog, it will give order to its tail
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
“Kall aduvane ne ille ; ne ibbane kallille”
When the stone is there , there is no dog; when there is a dog there is no stone
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
“Tekkana illada teru nadeya ; badakanillade bandi nadeya”
A chariot won’t move without its wheel; A cart won’t move without the driver
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
“ Uppillada uta holla; kavalillada kote holla”
Food without salt is bad; and a fortress without a guard is bad
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
“Saranana gunava maranado: nodu”
The nature of the greeting gesture is seen in the death
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
“Ennega ele:ru kattuvaduna , hada nodi onderu kattu”\
Instead of tying seven[oxen] to the millpole[for pressing oil];
Tie one[pair] to plough the dampened soil
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
“Ondu kanasuno: bagarava:
With one dream will dawn come?
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
“Mane muridale kattaku; Mana muridale kattoga”
If the house breaks you can rebuild it ; if the heart breaks you cannot repair it
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
“Kalaga takkada kola ; desaga takkada base”
[Place the] ornamentation at the appropriate time;
[Speak the] language appropriate to the linguistic area
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
“Ondu tatte budda guiga handi endaleyu buva”
Even a pig , having once fallen once into that pit, won’t fall into the same pit again
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
“Ondu kopado: hallaga buddale, ombattu kopado:geyu ebbagugaga”
If in single anger[you have] drowned in a lake, you can’t come up again with nine[times that] anger
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
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