గుడి చిన్నదైనా గుళ్ళో దేవుని మహిమ మిన్న

gudi chinnadaina gullo devuni mahima minna

Translation

Even if the temple is small, the greatness of the god within is superior.

Meaning

This expression is used to convey that the size or outward appearance of something does not determine its value or power. It suggests that one should not judge someone's talent or a thing's effectiveness based on its physical scale or simplicity.

Related Phrases

Having put the lamp in the wind, he prays "O God! show thy power."

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone takes an unnecessary risk or acts carelessly, and then expects a miracle or divine intervention to prevent a disaster. It highlights the folly of not taking basic precautions and blaming fate or expecting God to fix self-inflicted problems.

Like placing a lamp in the wind and saying 'Oh God, show your miracle'

This proverb describes a situation where someone takes a foolish risk or acts with extreme negligence and then expects a miracle or divine intervention to save them. It is used to criticize people who do not take necessary precautions yet blame fate or ask for God's help when things inevitably go wrong.

Like ignoring the god in your house and praying to the god on the street.

This proverb describes a situation where someone overlooks the resources, talent, or solutions available right at home or close to them, while searching for them in outside places. It is used to point out the irony of ignoring local or domestic value in favor of external alternatives.

While the idol in the temple was in want of Naivêdyam, the priest cried for Puḷihôra. Puḷihôra is a more expensive offering prepared with acid.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone makes selfish or excessive demands when the basic necessities are not being met. It highlights the irony of someone worrying about their personal luxuries or specific desires in a moment of extreme scarcity or crisis where even the essentials are unavailable.

The temple priest is more important than the God in the temple.

This expression is used to describe a situation where an intermediary or a subordinate has more influence or power than the actual authority figure. It suggests that one must please the gatekeeper or the middleman to get access to the main person or result.

Offering jaggery from the shop as a sacrifice to the God in the temple.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone tries to gain credit or show devotion by using someone else's resources or by performing an act that costs them nothing personally. It refers to a person who makes hollow promises or offers things they do not truly own or have not worked for.

While the deity inside the temple lacks even a cloth, the deity at the entrance is offered a colorful saree.

This expression is used to describe situations where basic needs or essential priorities are neglected while resources are wasted on superficial or secondary matters. It highlights a lack of common sense or misplaced priorities, similar to 'neglecting the core while decorating the surface.'

Bring it to me and I will show you my miracle, he said.

This expression is used to describe someone who makes grand, empty promises or boasts about their capabilities, but only under the condition that someone else does the hard work first. It highlights a person's tendency to take credit for an outcome while contributing nothing to the effort required to reach it.

Like placing a lamp in the wind and saying, 'O God, it is your miracle.'

This proverb describes a situation where someone acts recklessly or fails to take basic precautions, and then expects a divine or miraculous intervention to save them. It is used to criticize people who do not take responsibility for their actions and instead leave everything to fate or luck.

If the aunt had a mustache, she would be the uncle.

This proverb is used to point out the pointlessness of 'if' and 'but' scenarios that involve impossible conditions. It suggests that speculating about hypothetical changes to fundamental facts is a waste of time and does not change reality.