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 olours
In Hinduism |
For
the Hindus, colours play a very important role in the religion and culture
and have a very deep significance, transcending purely decorative values. The
symbolic use of colour has been a part of
life in India ever since
Vedic times. Hindu artistes use colour on the deities and their dresses
signifying their qualities. Proper uses of colours create an environment, which should
keep a person cheerful. Some of the main colours used in religious ceremonies
are red, yellow (turmeric), green from leaves, white from wheat flour etc.
Traditionally recognized as colour of passion, red colour
is of utmost significance in Hindu religion. This colour
is most frequently used for auspicious occasions like
marriages, birth of a child,
festivals etc. Red has always been the color of the bridal
chunari and the colour of Suhag or
Tilak- a red mark put on
the forehead during ceremonies and important occasions. As
a sign of marriage, women put red powder on their hair |
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parting. Red powder is usually thrown on statues of deities and
phallic symbols during prayers. It is also the colour of
Shakti (prowess). A red coloured dress is put on deities who are
charitable, brave, and protective and who have the capacity to destroy
evil. On the death of a woman, her body is wrapped in a red cloth for the
cremation.
Saffron represents fire and as impurities are burnt by fire, this
colour symbolizes purity. It also represents religious abstinence. It is
the colour of holy men and ascetics who have renounced the world. Wearing
the colour symbolizes the quest for light. It is the battle colour of the
Rajputs, the |
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Warrior caste.
Symbolising peace and
happiness, green colour is cool to the eyes and represents nature. It
is also an auspicious colour- colour of
Suhagan's
mehendi, markings of hands and feet of a married woman with Henna.
Red and green bangles are also considered as symbol of marriage.
Traditionally regarded as the colour of religion and asceticism,
yellow is the colour of knowledge and learning. It symbolizes happiness,
peace, |
meditation, competence, and mental development. It is the colour of
spring and activates the mind. Lord Vishnu's dress is yellow
symbolizing his
representation of knowledge. Lord Krishna and
Ganesha also wear yellow dresses. The yellow colored turmeric powder
is used to bathe the to-be bride, a ritual considered to purify her.
The
creator has given the maximum of blue to nature i.e. the sky
oceans, the rivers, and lakes. The deity who has the qualities of bravery,
manliness, determination, the ability to deal with difficult |
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situations,
and is of stable mind and depth of character is represented as blue coloured. Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, and Goddess Kali
spent their life protecting humanity and destroying evil, hence they are
coloured blue.
White is a
mixture of seven different colours hence it symbolizes a bit of qualities of
each. It represents purity, cleanliness, peace, and knowledge. The goddess of
knowledge, Saraswati is always shown as wearing a white dress, sitting
on a white lotus. The other prominent deities would also have a touch of white
on their dress. A Hindu widow would wear a white dress in mourning. |
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