One of the unique traditions of Badagas is the naming of their Villages - called hatti (individual village) or Ooru (can be an individual village or a cluster of villages of a 'commune').
Generally, the names are based on a topographical feature. Prof.Paul Hockings has elaborated this aspect in his book 'Ancient Hindu Refugees - Badaga Social History 1550-1975'.
Some of these interesting names and their meanings as mainly given in the above book. Hope to cover all the 380 odd hattis.
Achinakal - Achuna + Kallu - Achu [well proportioned like 'printed'] + Stone
Akasu - Akasu -sky , very high hill
Arebennu - Aray + Bennu - Large flat rock + Upper back [shoulder]
Attubailu - Attu + Bayilu - Steep valley -place + Entrance
Bearhatti - Beru + Hatti - Roots + Village
Beraganni - Beru + Hanni - Root + Swamp
Bettatti - Bettu + Hatti - Hill + Village [Village located on a small hillock?]
Betlada -Bettalu + Hada - Betlu -threshing pole + Flat Ground [Or is it Bettalu - hunting (fighting) Hada - Ground??}
Bikkolu - Bikkay + Godalu -Olive (linden) + Valley
Chinna kunnuru - Chinna + Kunna + ooru - [both chinna and kunna mean] Small - little + village
Dhadahatti - Dhada + Hatti - Path Way + Village
Dhoddanni - Dhodda + Hanni - Big + swamp
Edakkadu - Eday + Kaadu - centre (middle) = Forest
Ekoni - Ekoni - Milky way [Head Star] in it
Godalatti - Godalu + Hatti - Dale-Valley + Village
Halada - Haalu + Hada - Milk + Flat Ground
Hubbathalai - Hubbay + Thalay - Chinese pagoda tree + Top (headland). Interestingly, my mother who is 99yrs, tells me that her village Hubbathalai was also known as Ammanalli
Iduhatti - Idu + Hatti - Dell + Village
Kerbennu - Keru + Bennu - Pond + [Curving] Upper back
Kethorai - Ketti + Toray - Ketti Village + Riverside
Jakkadha [Jagathala] - Jakkalu + Thalay - Nilgiri Berry [Jakkala Hannu (Fruit)] + Headland
Manjakombai - Manju + Kombay - Cloud + [could be a] Kuruma Hamlet [earlier]. If Kambay - then it means a ridge
Maralakambe - Marala + Kambay - [An unknown] plant + Ridge
Pedduwa - Ped + To - Big + Buffalo pen
Pororatti - Mora + Ore + Hatti - Tree + Slope + Village
View next topic View previous topic
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum