వైష్ణవులలో లింగయ్య ఉండడుగాని శైవులలో రామలింగయ్య ఉంటాడు

vaishnavulalo lingayya undadugani shaivulalo ramalingayya untadu

Translation

Lingayya is not found among Vaishnavites, but Ramalingayya is found among Shaivites.

Meaning

This saying highlights the inclusiveness or syncretism of certain traditions over others. While Shaivites (worshippers of Shiva) often incorporate names of Vishnu (like Rama in Ramalingayya), Vaishnavites (worshippers of Vishnu) traditionally strictly avoid names associated with Shiva (like Lingayya). It is used to describe a situation where one side is more accommodating or pluralistic than the other.

Related Phrases

A beautiful parrot ( Râmachiluka ) among coals. A good thing found in a bad place.

This expression is used to describe a person of exceptional beauty or talent who is found in a very poor, dirty, or unfavorable environment. It highlights the striking contrast between someone's inherent quality and their humble or bleak surroundings.

When someone said 'Somalingam, Somalingam', he asked, 'Is he Ramalingam's son?'

This proverb is used to describe a person who is completely out of touch with the context or topic of conversation. It signifies a person who asks an irrelevant or foolish question after listening to a whole explanation, showing they haven't understood a single word.

A head among monitor lizards, a tail among snakes.

This expression describes a person who strategically chooses their position to avoid responsibility or danger. Among monitor lizards (which are slow/harmless), they act like a leader (the head), but among dangerous snakes, they act like the tail to stay inconspicuous and safe. It refers to someone who is opportunistic or cowardly, changing their status based on the company they are in.

The master is a quarter-and-a-seer, while the Lingam is half-a-visha.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a subordinate, accessory, or appendage exceeds the master or the main object in size, cost, or importance. It highlights the absurdity of an overhead or an attachment being more burdensome than the primary entity itself.

A person who converts to Vaishnavism midway through life wears excessive religious marks.

This expression is used to describe someone who has recently acquired wealth, status, or a new belief and flaunts it excessively. It suggests that those who are 'new' to a position often show off more than those who have been in that position for a long time.

Out of a billion Shiva Lingas, he asked to look for his bald one.

This expression is used when someone makes a ridiculous or impossible request for personal attention or recognition in a massive crowd or a very large collection. It highlights the absurdity of expecting something insignificant or ordinary to be singled out among millions of similar, or superior, entities.

Everyone is a devout Vaishnavite, but the basket of prawns has disappeared.

This proverb is used to describe hypocrisy or a situation where people pretend to be pious, righteous, or honest, yet engage in dishonest acts behind the scenes. It implies that while everyone claims to be a vegetarian/saintly, the non-vegetarian food (prawns) has been stolen, suggesting that one of the 'pious' people is the culprit.

A cheat, literally one who swallows the temple as well as the deity inside.

When greed grows excessively, a person wishes to acquire all – without caring for the means to attain his immoral goal.

Like tying Rudrakshas around the neck of a Vaishnavite.

This expression describes a situation where something completely inappropriate, contradictory, or incompatible is forced upon a person or a situation. Since Rudraksha beads are symbols of Shaivism and are generally avoided by devout Vaishnavites, it represents a profound mismatch of traditions or values.

Shambulingam's lid/cap, Ramalingam's magic trick

This expression refers to a situation involving deceit, manipulation, or a clever trick where one person creates an illusion or cover-up (kuppekattu) while another performs a deceptive act (kanikattu). It is often used to describe two people conspiring together or to mock someone performing meaningless rituals or suspicious activities that lack substance.