భక్తి లేని పూజ పత్రి చేటు.

bhakti leni puja patri chetu.

Translation

Worship without devotion is a waste of leaves,

Meaning

For a true worship of gods, it is not the external paraphernalia that is as important as devotion.

Related Phrases

Even after singing hymns all night, the devotion is zero.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone puts in a lot of effort or goes through the motions of a task, but the actual result or the core intent behind it is missing. It highlights hypocrisy or performing actions superficially without genuine commitment or output.

Even if any worship is missed, the worship of the stomach cannot be missed.

This proverb highlights the absolute necessity of satisfying one's hunger. It means that while one might skip religious rituals or other commitments, one cannot ignore the basic physiological need for food. It is often used to emphasize that survival and livelihood come before everything else.

The leaves (offerings) are on the God, but the devotion is on the sandals.

This expression is used to describe a person who is physically performing a task or ritual but is mentally distracted by something else, often material or worldly concerns. It highlights hypocrisy or a lack of focus, similar to the English idea of 'going through the motions' while your mind is elsewhere.

A prayer without devotion is a waste of leaves.

This proverb suggests that performing rituals or tasks without genuine intent or sincerity is a waste of resources and effort. Just as offering leaves (patri) during worship is useless if one lacks devotion (bhakti), any action done mechanically without heart is unproductive.

Do they offer to a god as great as a mountain, leaves and flowers as much as a mountain? A worshipper is accepted according to his faith, not according to greatness of his offering.

This expression highlights that some things are practically impossible or unnecessary even if they seem logically proportional. It is used to explain that one's devotion or service should be sincere and appropriate to their capacity, rather than trying to match the immense scale of the person or deity being honored with literal material equality.

Squirrel's devotion

This expression is used to describe a small but sincere contribution to a much larger cause. It originates from the Ramayana, where a small squirrel helped Lord Rama build the bridge to Lanka by carrying tiny grains of sand. It is used when someone wants to humbly acknowledge that while their help might be minimal in the grand scheme of things, it is offered with great sincerity.

A worship without sacred leaves, a debt without a written document.

This proverb highlights the importance of necessary prerequisites or evidence. Just as a Hindu ritual (pooja) is considered incomplete without offering sacred leaves (patri), a financial loan (appu) given without a legal document or promissory note (patram) is insecure and lacks validity. It is used to advise someone to ensure proper documentation or to follow essential procedures to ensure a task's success or security.

Worshiping Shakti on Friday and Shiva on Saturday

This expression refers to the traditional Hindu practice of dedicating specific days of the week to specific deities. Friday is considered auspicious for Goddess Lakshmi or Shakti (representing prosperity and power), while Saturday is dedicated to Lord Shiva or Shani (to ward off obstacles and seek spiritual strength). It reflects a disciplined and ritualistic way of life.

A senseless speech, a tuneless song.

This proverb is used to describe speech that lacks intelligence or logic. Just as a song without proper scale or rhythm (shruti) is unpleasant to hear, talk that lacks sense or wisdom is useless and annoying to the listener.

Talking in the day time spoils one's business ; talking in the night time spoils one's sleep.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of time management and focus. It suggests that gossiping or talking excessively during the day hinders productivity, while doing the same at night disturbs necessary rest. It is used to advise someone to stop talking and get back to their responsibilities or to sleep.