One of the fascinating and interesting aspect of Badaga [both people & language] is the free use of delightful but deep meaning proverbs called “DHODDARU 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. He feels that 1730 could be a complete figure containing all the proverbs there are. See his book,’Counsel from the Ancients: Study of Badaga Proverbs, Prayers, Omens and Curses’. He has given the meaning in English as well as 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 ponders (over a problem) is better than the one who runs away (in a hurry) and thus trips over. [Odhidhama – one who has learnt (spent time learning), Niddhana – stops to ponder over[think], Oddidhama – one who runs, Erandina – trips over]. We can hear mothers telling their young children ‘Oda beda , Erandire’ – 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’. In my opinion . the lady who does not listen to 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) 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. Is it a case of 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,
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Prof. Paul Hockings, probably the most authentic researcher on and of Badaga lists more than a thousand Badaga proverbs, 1730 to be precise. He feels that 1730 could be a complete figure containing all the proverbs there are. See his book,’Counsel from the Ancients: Study of Badaga Proverbs, Prayers, Omens and Curses’. He has given the meaning in English as well as 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 ponders (over a problem) is better than the one who runs away (in a hurry) and thus trips over. [Odhidhama – one who has learnt (spent time learning), Niddhana – stops to ponder over[think], Oddidhama – one who runs, Erandina – trips over]. We can hear mothers telling their young children ‘Oda beda , Erandire’ – 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’. In my opinion . the lady who does not listen to 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) 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. Is it a case of 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,
Counsel from the Ancients: A Study of Badaga Proverbs, Prayers, Omens and Curses
By Paul Hockings]- 1. Akka Ghandana koda dhukka hegile, Makka maria buttu baa ennana (When the girl shares her sadness/ thoughts with elder sister’s husband, he advises her 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. Gumbunda Mola edda enge[Eragi holaga mola huggeda enge]
- 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 Koye 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 spoilt his life by idling(sitting), the girl spoilt her life by smiling (turning around)
- 14. Ghanda thoorile, kandamanu thoorina
- 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, sangadi 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 for grinding the chilli paste?)
- 19. Kona neeruga baagiravo, neeru konaga baagiravo
- 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 ole 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 rubbish, eat it after making it tasty)
- 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
- 88.Agala aalay haridhara, uddha aalay muraddhara
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Badaga proverbs ♣♣♣...♥♥♥
Dhoddaru Shloka
♣♣♣...♥♥♥
“ Satha hinday etha holay eana?- After death how does it matter where one goes?-சத்த ஹிந்தெ எத்தெ ஹோலெ ஏன.” - Doddharu Shloka
Chosen by Wg Cdr JP
