Tamil Proverbs on Heaven and Hell and Temple (Post No.14,787)

Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 14,787

Date uploaded in London –  22 July 2025

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

xxxx  

HEAVEN

3. அகதிக்கு ஆகாயம் துணை.
Heaven is the help of the helpless.

283. அரசுடையானை ஆகாயம் காக்கும்.
The heavens guard the king.

953. இடுவது பிச்சை பெறுவது மோக்ஷம்.
Alms-giving secures heavenly bliss

1947. கச்சற் கருவாடு மோட்சத்திற்குப் போனாலும், பிச்சைக்காரர் மோட்சத்திற்குப் போகமாட்டார்கள்.
Though dried fish may attain final emancipation-heaven-beggars cannot.

2387. காசிக்குப் போனாலும் கதி பெற வழி இல்லை.
Although he may go to Kasi, he will not find the way to heaven.

2653. குப்புற விழுந்து தவம் செய்தாலும் குருக்களுக்கு மோட்சம் இல்லை.
Though they may prostrate themselves and perform penance, religious teachers do not attain heaven.

2809. கூரை ஏறிக் கோழி பிடிக்கமாட்டாத குருக்கள் வானம் கீறி வைகுண்டம் காட்டுவாரா?
If a guru is not able to go to the house-top to catch a fowl, how can he rend the heavens and show vikundam to his disciple?

3335. சுவர்க்கத்துக்குப் போகிற போது கக்கத்திலே மூட்டை ஆமா ?
When on your way to heaven, do you carry a bundle under your arm?

3336. சுவர்க்கத்திலே போகிறபொழுது கக்கத்திலே ராட்டினமா?
When on your way to heaven, do you carry a spinning-wheel under your arm?

3437. செல்வம் பரமண்டலம் செல்லாது, எல்லா மண்டலத்தும் செல்லும்.
Wealth goes any whither but to heaven.

3936. தெய்வப் புலவனுக்கு நா உணரும் சித்திர ஓடாவிக்குக் கை உணரும்.
To a heaven-inspired poet, the tongue, to an artist, the hand are skilful.

3937. தெய்வம் துணை  கொள் தேகம் அநித்தியம்.
Secure divine help,- the body is transient.

4508. பத்தி கொள்பவன் முத்தி உள்ளவன்.
The devout attain heaven.

4511. பத்தி இல்லாத புத்தி அசேதனம்.
Reason without devotion is folly.

4512. பத்தி உண்டானால் முத்தி உண்டாம்.
If there be piety, there will be final happiness.

5247. மானத்தின் மேலே கண்ணும் மாப்பிள்ளை மேலே சிந்தையும்.
The eye is on the heavens; the mind is on the bridegroom.

5540. வயித்தியனுக்கு மோக்ஷம் இல்லை, உவாத்திக்கு மோக்ஷ வழி உண்டு.
A physician does not attain heaven, a teacher may.

5674. வானமும் பூமியும் கொள்ளாதான் மரத்திலும் கல்லிலும் இருப்பானா?
Will he whom heaven and earth cannot contain, dwell in wood and stone?

5675. வானமே ஈன்றது பூமியே தாங்கிற்று.
The heavens produced, and the earth sustained.

****

TEMPLE

6093. வைத்தீசுரன் கோவிலுக்குப் போயும் வயிற்று வலி தீர இல்லை.
His belly-ache is not cured even after going on a pilgrimage to Vaidisvaran’s temple.

5310. முட்டுக்கு முட்டல்ல மூடக் கதவும் அல்ல, சன்னிதிவாசலுக்குச் சார்த்தக் கதவும்அல்ல.
It is neither an obstruction, nor a door to shut, nor even mani screen to the temple gateway.

5027. பொன்னை வைக்கிற கோயிலிலே பூவையாவது வைக்கவேன்டும்.
Flowers, at least, must be offered in a temple in which gold is offered.

4756. பிள்ளையார் கோவிலில் திருடன் இருப்பான், சொன்னாலும் கோள்.
The thief has taken refuge in the temple of Pillaiyar, it would how-ever be a slander to mention it.

4456. படிக்கிறது திருவாய்மொழி, இடிக்கிறது பெருமாள் கோவில்
To read Thiruvaaymoli, and to break down the temple of Vishnu.

****

HELL

2190. கலகத்திலே புளுகாதவன் நரகத்திலே போவானாம்.
It is said that he who does not exaggerate when a tumult occurs will go to hell.

3100. சந்நியாசியைக் கடித்த நாய்க்குப் பின்னாலே நரகமாம் சந்நியாசிக்கு முன்னாலே மரணம்.
They say that the dog that bites an ascetic will go to hell eventually, the ascetic will die before.

3101. சந்நியாசியை நிந்தித்தவனுக்குப் பின்னாலே நரகமாம்.
It is said that hell awaits him who reproaches an ascetic.

4185. நாய் கோவிலுக்கு போவான் ஏன்?  கோயில் காத்தவன் தெண்டம் இருப்பான் ஏன்?
Why should a dog go to a temple, or why the keeper of a temple pays a fine?


3966. தேரோடே நின்று தெருவோடே அலைகிறான்.
He wanders along the street with the temple car.

3822. திரு வாசல் ஆண்டியும் ஒரு வேளைக்கு உதவுவான்.
Even a religious mendicant at the temple gate will be of some use at times.

3505. சோற்றிலே கிடக்கிற கல் எடுக்கமாட்டாதவன் முகனைக்கல் எடுப்பானா?
Can he who would not pick a stone out of the rice, lift up the stone lintel of a temple gateway?


3013. கோயிலையும் குளத்தையும் அடுத்து இருக்கவேண்டும்.
One should reside near a temple and a tank.

3014. கோயில் இல்லா ஊரிலே குடியிருக்கலாமா?
May one dwell in a village in which there is no temple?

3015. கோயில் மணியம் என்று கூப்பிட்டால் போதும்.
It is enough to be called the manager of the temple.

3016. கோயிற் பூனை தேவருக்கு அஞ்சுமா?
Will the temple cat reverence the deity ?

3017. கோயிற் பூனைக்குப் பயம் ஏன்?
Why should a temple cat fear ?

760. ஆயிரம் பொய் சொல்லிக் கோயிலைக் கட்டு.
Tell lies by the thousand and build a temple.

791. ஆலயம் அறியாது ஓதிய வேதம்.
The temple understands not the hidden meaning of the Vedas.

911. ஆனை துரத்திவந்தாலும் ஆலயத்தில் நுழையலாகாது.
Though chased by an elephant, it is not right to enter a temple.

1449. ஊருக்கு இளைத்தவன் பிள்ளையார்கோயில் ஆண்டி.
He who was too feeble for the service of the community became a devotee in the temple of Genesha.
In Sanskrit a similar proverb exists : “The dancing girl being old has become a devotee”. It is a case not of breaking away from sinful habits, but the power of sinning is gone.

1471. ஊர் நஷ்டம் ஊரிலே தேர் நஷ்டம் தெருவிலே.
Loss occurring in a village affects the community, injury occasioned by a temple car is apparent in the street.

1607. எலி தலையில் கோபுரம் இடிந்து விழுந்தாற்போல.
As if the tower of the temple should fall on the head of a rat.

1787. ஐயனார் கோவில் மண்ணை மிதித்தவர் அத்தனையும் பிடாரி.
Those who have trodden the ground of Aiyanar’s temple are so many Pidaris.

1788. ஐயனாரே வாரும் கடாவைக் கைக்கொள்ளும்.
Come, Aiyanar, and accept a goat, a sacrifice.

2053. கண்ட கண்ட கோயில் எல்லாம் கை எடுத்துக் கும்பிட்டேன்.
I worshipped with raised hands in every temple I visited.

2667. கும்பிடப் போன இடத்தில் கோயில் இடிந்து விழுந்தது.
When I went to worship the temple fell.

2668. கும்பிடப் போன தெய்வம் குறுக்கே வந்ததுபோல்.
As the deity one went to worship came to meet one cross wise.

2669. கும்பிட்ட தெய்வம் குலதெய்வம்.
The deity I worship is my hereditary deity.

2739. குழந்தை பட்டினியும் கோயில் பட்டினியும் இல்லை.
Infants and temple servants do not suffer from hunger.

2954. கொட்டிக்கிழங்கு வெட்டுகிறவளுக்குக் கோயிலில் வந்து ஆடத் தெரியுமா?
Can the woman who digs up roots dance before a temple idol?

 —Subham–

Tags- Tamil Proverbs, Hell, Heaven, Temple

Tamil Proverbs on God- Part 2 (Post No.14,781)

Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 14,781

Date uploaded in London –  20 July 2025

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

xxxx  

3081. சத்தியத்திலே சாமி சாட்சி என்கிற சத்தியம் பெரிது.
To say God is the witness of what one testifies, is the highest of all forms of oath.

3167. சாக்கும் போக்கும் ஏற்காது ஐயன் முன்.
Excuses are of no avail before God.

3203. சாமி வரம் கொடுத்தாலும் பூசாரி இடம் கொடுக்கமாட்டான்.
Though God may bestow the gift, the priest will not suffer you to enjoy it.

3325. சுய காரிய துரந்தரன் சுவாமி காரியம் வழவழ.
He who is intent about his own affairs will not mind the things of God.

3338. சுவாமி வரம் கொடுத்தாலும் முன்னடியான் வரம் கொடான்.
Though God may grant a boon, the devotee in his presence will not.

3373. செங்கோல் ஓங்குவன் திரித்துவ தேவன்.
He who holds the sceptre is the triune God.

3478. சொல்லுக்கும் பொருளுக்கும் எட்டாதான் சோதிக்கும் சாதிக்கும் நடுவானான்.
He whom neither language nor wealth can influence, has come between God and man.

3679. தன் வாய்ச் சீதேவி முன்வாயிலே.
The presence of the goddess of prosperity, will be evinced in the speech.

3758. தானாக வந்த சீதேவியைக் காலால் உதைத்துத் தள்ளலாமா?
When the goddess of prosperity unsought visits you, is it right to kick her out?

3791. திக்கு அற்றவனுக்குத் தெய்வம் துணை.
God in the help of the destitute.

3825. திருவிளக்கு இல்லா வீட்டில் பேய் குடியிருக்கும்.
Demons dwell in the house that is not illumined by a sacred lamp.
To smear a room with cow-dung, especially on Friday, and to keep a lamp burning through the night, ale observances pleasing to the goddess of prosperity.


3826. திருவிளக்கு இட்டாரைத் தெய்வம் அறியும், நெய்வார்த்து உண்டாரை நெஞ்சு அறியும்.
The Deity knows those who place sacred lamps, and the mind knows who eats ghee and rice.

3849. தீதுறும் பாவச் செய்கை அற்றவன் தேவன்.
He who abstains from evil deeds is God.

3862. தீராத நெஞ்சுக்குத் தெய்வமே சாட்சி.
God himself is the witness of the unquiet mind.

3863. தீரா வழக்குக்குத் தெய்வமே சாட்சி.
God is the witness in an undecided cause.

image of Vishnu.

3935. தெய்வ சித்தம் இருந்தால் செத்தவனும் எழும்புவான்.
God being willing, even the dead may rise.

3956. தேடித் தின்றவர் தெய்வத்தோடு ஒத்தவர்.
He who earns his own bread is like god.

3972. தேவரைக் காட்டிப் பூதம் பணி கொள்ளும்.
Under pretence that gods require it, goblins exact service from men.
Goblins or ghosts of the kind referred to, are employed by magicians. They are supposed to haunt grave yards, places of cremation, buried treasure &companies of them attend Siva, Ganesa &c.

3978. தேனும் தினைமாவும் தேவருக்கு அர்ப்பிதம்.
Honey mixed with tinai flour is offered to the gods.

4029. தெளவையின் மனதுக்கு ஒவ்வுதல் இல்லை.
Nothing gives satisfaction to the goddess of misfortune.

4043. நடக்கிறது நடக்கட்டும் தெய்வம் இருக்கிறது.
Let things take their course ; there is a God.


4046. நடந்தவன் காலிலே சீதேவி, இருந்தவன் காலிலே மூதேவி.
The goddess of fortune dwells in the feet of the industrious, the goddess of misfortune dwells in the feet of the sluggard.

The goddess of prosperity or fortune, and the goddess of adversity or misfortune, two sisters, mentioned in this proverb, exercise a mysterious influence over the minds of the vulgar. These remarkable beings are said to have been produced when the celestials, in search of ambrosia, churned the milky ocean. The opinion expressed in the proverb is also contained in a stanza of Niti neri villakkam a poem on moral subjects, justly admired by the learned, for the terseness and beauty of its composition, as well as for the general purity of its moral sentiments. The poet says:-


“When the goddess of prosperity finds that her favours are not appreciated, she introduces her elder sister, the goddess of adversity, to the sluggard, and then takes her departure.”


The goddess of fortune, whose presence is a guarantee for happiness andprosperity, is said to dwell in the face of a horse of superior caste, -with the wise and good,-in all fragrant flowers,-in the tree of paradise that bestows whatever it’s votaries may desire,-in the beauty ofa good and obedient wife, -in the ocean,-in the portal of a house where a marriage is being celebrated,-in a well governed country,-in grain in brilliant lamps and flaming torches,-in the words of the great,-with truth-speaking men,-in the arrows of Cupid, -and in vessels of milk.


The goddess of misfortune is said to have her habitation with the glutton.-the irascible, – with liars and other abandoned characters, – with those clothed in rags,-with vicious women,-in a flock of sheep, and in the face of the dead.

4138. நா என்னும் அட்சரம் நாதன் இருப்பிடம்.
The letter நா is the seat of God.

4237. நான் நட்டேன் நாதன் பயிர் ஆக்கினான்.
I planted; god caused it grow.

4241. நிஷ்டூரன் கண்ணைத் தெய்வம் கெடுக்கும், நீதிமான் கண்ணைப் பரிதானம் கெடுக்கும்.
God will destroy the eyes of an oppressor, and a bribe will destroy the eye of an upright man.

4287. நீ பிறர்க்கு உதவி செய்தால் தெய்வம் உனக்கு உதவி செய்யும்.
If you help others, God will help you.

4370. நொண்டி நொண்டி நடப்பானேன் கண்டதற்கு எல்லாம் படைப்பானேன்?
Why walk limping, and why offer oblations, to every god you see ?

—Subham—-

Tags- Tamil Proverbs, on God, Part 2

MY GUIDING LIGHT ! (Post No.14,474)

Compiled by London Swaminathan

Post No. 14,774

Date uploaded in London –  18 July 2025

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

xxxx  

Tirukkural was translated by Kavi Yogi in prose and poetry .

KAVI YOGI SHUDDANANDA BHARATI (11 May 1897 – 7 March 1990)

Spurning the glitter of God

Forlorn I left my home

A pilgrim soul calm and bold

Taking refuge in Thy name.

Minakshi, O Mother of Love

Thy grace guided me from above

It is with me then and now

And its glory I can prove.

In the thick of mental fight

In dark despair, dreadful glens

A lightning smile removed the night

And illumined my existence

Thy dawn-like form, Thy fawn like gait

Thy fire like purity

Thy bird like voice and sun like sight

O Thy simplicity.

Thy benign hands streaming with gifts

Thy heart so large and kind

Thy limitless grace uplifts

To godhood aspiring mankind.

Wiped are my tears

At the thought of Thy Grace

Driven are my fears

At the sight of Thy face

Thy faith is my strength

Thy love is my wealth

Thy service is my creed

From worries I am freed.

Picture of Kavi Yogi

Thou singest in my soul

The song that is for all

Thou feedest my hunger

To be Thy silent singer

Minakshi, Thy magic name

Is a delightful thrill

That wins the frightful game

Of life which in Thee full

Lead me to love Thee more and more

In all beings high and low

Live O Light in my heart’s core

And bless my act with a Jai HO.

–Subham—

Tags- Poem, on Minakshi, KAVI YOGI  SHUDDANANDA BHARATI

God did not join Brains with Beauty! Proverbs on Gods Part 4 (Post No.14,772)

Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 14,772

Date uploaded in London –  17 July 2025

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

xxxx  

God Almighty never shut eye.

After God, then the white people.

Everyday Devil help thief, one day God help watchman

(In Tamil we  say Pala naal thirudan our naal agappaduvaan, meaning many day thief will be caught one day ).

–Negro

****

One may go around a ravine or around a hill, but one cannot go around God.

God gives and doesn’t remind us continually of it; the world gives and constantly reminds us.

No one who trusts in God will ever fall .

(Tamil Poet Bharati also said this; whoever trusts in God will never fail; this is the conclusion of Four Vedas)

God will outlive eternity.

God who made the mouth will not close it up (i.e. Lord will provide.

(This is in Tamil as well; Padaiththavan Padi alappaan, meaning Creator will measure the grains  (for the person created).

God knew how to hide the shame (nakedness) of the maize with the husks.

–Nupe (Northern Nigeria)

****

Call upon the name of God and ask for what is good for you.

God does not kill everyone with a club, but takes away his understanding.

God has never spoken except to an Arab.

If God is our friend, our business is accomplished.

Where God is, there is everything.

God loves good accounts.

There are no two together but God makes a third.

Hurry is of the devil, but slow advancing comes from God.

Oriental Proverbs.

The liberal man is the friend of God.

What can your enemies do if you enjoy the favour of God?

You can’t have both God and dates.

If you have God as your protector, what affliction have you?

God gives much cold to the well clad, but little to those who lack clothing.

God has in store many hidden mercies.

Your saviour is your deeds and God Himself.

God is a tray of plunder.

God provides the Dervish’s kitchen

God rights him that keeps silence.

God will not seek thy race nor will He ask thy birth; alone He will demand of thee what hast thou on earth?

God’s club makes no noise; when it strikes no cure for the blow.

The legs of those who require proof of God’s existence are made of wood.

To do things quickly is of Satan, because God works slowly.

When God wills the destruction of an ant , He gives it wings.

–Persian

****

You will noy buy much with God Bless You.

Fear God and next to God, him that has no fear of God.

Trust in God and put your shoulder to the wheel.

Offer the candle to God, and to the devil the butt.

Hold God by the feet, and he devil by the horns.

God can shave without soap.

God did not join Brains with Beauty.

When praising God, do not bow to the devil.

To him whom, God favours ,a bitch will  bear a litter of pigs.

To him who rises early God gives.

God gives the wideness of the mouth according to the bigness of the spoon.

Man shoots, but God guides the bullet .

God has given all to all and not all to one.

God has given; God has taken.

What God has given will not be taken away by envy; what God has not given will fall out of your hands.

When it pleases God, He likewise gives behind the hearth.

Thou wouldest do little for God if the devil were dead.

He who swims with God never goes to the bottom.

Where God puts one finger the devil puts his whole hand.

God saves the moon from the wolves.

Man carries the powder and God the bullets.

God will afflict; God will console.

God will help a ploughing man.

If God wills even a cock will lay an egg.

(In Sanskrit they say even a dumb will speak fluently, even a lame will climb the mountain)

When God wishes to punish, He will deprive of his reason.

In time of need one turns first to God and then to Jew.

In want to the Jew; in distress to the priest; in fear, to God.

Polish Proverbs

–subham—

Tags-Polish, proverbs, Part 4,Persian

Baffling Questions and Beautiful Answers in Spirituality Part III

Namste photos

Post No.1805; Date: 17th April 2015

Written by S NAGARAJAN

Uploaded from London at  8-36 am

By Santhanam Nagarajan

Here is a new Question – Answer series for the benefit of all.

From time to time we have baffling questions.  But there is nobody to answer them.

But here is an effort to compile the answers from the great scholars, sages and saints of India. This is in continuation of the earlier article.

05) How is that our faith in him not enduring?

A devotee went and met M who has jotted down all the happenings of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa’s life. He put forth his question like this:

Well Sir!  Even knowing a man to be good, through reason, by his deeds, knowing that he always does good, never does any harm, how is that our faith in him is not enduring?   Why does doubt linger in the mind?

M (Mahendranath Gupta Birth: 14-7-1854 Death 4-6-1932) answers his question:

It is nature that does so.  Whatever Karma resides in a man’s nature makes him do it.  But one must pray to Him alone, secretly and longingly.  And one must keep company of the holy men.  Then alone all obstacles will vanish.

Devotee: If the prayer does not emanate from within, longingly, what then to do?

M – In the beginning, let one force oneself to pray verbally.  Practicing in this way, at last one achieves longing.

Source: M – The Apostle & the Evangelist, Page 60

06) How many kinds of Liberation are there?

Lord Rama put forth this question to Sage Vanish and he answers thus:

Sinless one! The state of liberation of two kinds occurs in the world.  One is with the body and the other, without the body.  This is their division.  Hear this:

Know that state as one of liberation while living here, (in which) there is no desire in the taking or the leaving of activities for one who has an unattached mind.

Rama! On the dissolution of the body, that (state of liberation while living) alone is described as the state of liberation without the body, destitute of rebirth.  Those existing in that state do not become visible.

There is not even a little difference between the one liberalized with the body and the one liberated without the body, as wind is only air whether it is with motion or without motion.

Source: The Vision and the Way of Vasistha by Samvid P 405

Photos are from my face book friends;thanks;london swaminthan

Summary

Here is a new Question – Answer series for the benefit of all.

From time to time we have baffling questions.  But there is nobody to answer them.

But here is an effort to compile the answers from the great scholars, sages and saints of India. 05) How is that our faith in him not enduring? Mahendranath Gupta answers.

06) How many kinds of Liberation are there? Lord Rama put forth this question to Sage Vasistha and he answers.