ఇంటి దేవత ఈడిగలబడితే, పొరుగు దేవతకు జాతరట

inti devata idigalabadite, porugu devataku jatarata

Translation

When the household deity is neglected and left to starve, a festival is celebrated for the neighbor's deity.

Meaning

This proverb is used to criticize people who neglect their own family, relatives, or responsibilities at home while spending lavishly or showing great concern for outsiders. It highlights the irony of ignoring local needs to gain approval elsewhere.

Related Phrases

When the household deity is starving to death, the field deity asked for a grand festival with baskets of offerings.

This proverb describes a situation where someone makes extravagant demands from a person who is already struggling with basic survival or poverty. It is used to highlight the absurdity of asking for luxuries or heavy contributions from those who cannot even afford their own basic necessities.

A goddess of ghosts before entering the mother's womb, and a goddess of death (Yama) after being born on earth.

This proverb is often used to describe someone who is inherently troublesome or destructive from before birth until death. It refers to a person whose very nature is perceived as unlucky or harmful to those around them throughout their entire existence.

If the food-god becomes thin, it is a festival for Golconda.

This proverb highlights the grim reality of scarcity. 'Annadevara' refers to the food supply or crops. When crops fail or food becomes scarce (sannagiste), people are forced to sell their belongings or migrate to the city (historically Golconda) to survive, leading to a busy but desperate rush like a festival. It is used to describe situations where one person's misfortune becomes a source of activity or profit for others.

Before he entered his mother's womb he was the prince of devils; after he was born into the world he became the god of death. Said of a exceedingly wicked and relentlessly cruel man.

This proverb is used to describe an extremely troublesome, wicked, or cruel person. It implies that the person's existence is cursed or malevolent from the very beginning to the end, causing suffering to everyone around them.

From the tom-tom to the worship of the idols, he has but one word. Said of an ignorant man, who has but one idea in his noddle.

This expression is used to describe a person who remains consistent, stubborn, or repetitive regardless of the situation. It signifies someone who says the same thing or behaves the same way from the beginning to the end of a process, often used to point out a lack of flexibility or a persistent obsession with a single point.

When the household deity was dying of hunger, the goddess of the field demanded a basket procession.

This proverb describes a situation where someone demands extravagant favors or celebrations when even the basic necessities are not being met. It is used to mock unrealistic or poorly timed demands made by people who are unaware of or indifferent to the dire financial or physical state of others.

After an abundant harvest, an earthen image of the goddess of the field is placed in a basket, and carried in procession, with musical instruments and much rejoicing. To be asked to give to others when badly off one's self.

If the neighbor makes dosas, the wife at home creates a commotion.

This proverb describes a situation where a person becomes jealous or competitive after seeing a neighbor's prosperity or actions, often leading to domestic strife or unreasonable demands. It is used to mock people who unnecessarily compare their lives with others and disturb the peace at home.

If the mountain turns black, it rains; if the nipple turns black, a child is coming.

This is a traditional folk saying (Sameta) used to describe natural signs of inevitable events. It compares the darkening of clouds over mountains (signaling rain) to the physiological changes in a woman's breast during pregnancy (signaling a baby). It highlights the predictability of nature and life through observation.

Farming without fertilizer is like playing music for the Goddess of Famine.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of using fertilizers or manure in agriculture. It suggests that if a farmer neglects to enrich the soil, the crop will inevitably fail, leading to poverty and hunger. It is used to highlight that success requires the right inputs and preparation.

Why would a wicked person have devotion towards teachers or gods?

This expression suggests that a person with a mean or narrow-minded nature is incapable of true respect or spiritual devotion. It is used to point out that genuine reverence and character go hand-in-hand, and one cannot expect noble qualities like 'Guru Bhakti' (devotion to a teacher) from someone with a corrupt heart.