It was a happy Monday
morning when I saw newspaper headline about a political party planning to shed
its ‘Saffron’ image. I do not know whether its party’s policy
matter or writer’s own understanding about party’s plan. However, I
questioned myself why shedding the saffron image! On the other hand
another political party has associated saffron with terrorism and made
statements about it in the parliament and elsewhere. Is saffron so
disdainful? Then why national flag has this colour? And, if it is
so respected, then why such a hue and cry about someone being saffron?
Sanatan Vedic (Hindu) Dharma has holistic view about everything that exists in the universe. So is true about colours. Red, yellow, green, white and even black; each and every colour has got significance and are used in religious ceremonies. Saffron is the sacred colour for the Sanatan Vedic (Hindu), being colour of fire. The foremost hymn in the Rig Veda glorifies fire: "Agnimile purohitam yagnasya devam rtvijam, hotaram ratna dhatamam." Saffron connotes to holiness and asceticism. It marks the quest for light (Tamso Maa Jyotirgamay).
Clearly, saffron is associated with noble means and purposes. How could anybody ascribe this colour to demeaning motives? The one who has associated himself with this colour in true sense cannot use it for selfish and ulterior motives. Simply stating, saffron is something to be imbibed in the character and ‘not-to-shed-off’.
Saffron is not only the colour so misused and misinterpreted resulting in wrong notions. Red, blue, green, white, associated with different religions, all have been abused. Interestingly, as regards Hinduism, all these colours are sacred; and their significance is given below:
1. Red indicates purity and is most frequently used for auspicious occasions. A red mark (Tilak) is put on the forehead. Red attire is important part of marriage ceremony. It is also the color of associated with Goddess Durga (Shakti/prowess).
2. Green is a festive color. It represents life, peace and happiness. It green stabilizes the mind. This color represents nature and is very soothing. Green leaves and Durvaa (grass) are part of religious ceremonies.
3. Yellow color symbolizes knowledge, learning, happiness, peace, meditation, competence, active mind and mental development. Lord Vishnu’s dress is yellow symbolizing his representation of knowledge. Lord Krishna and Ganesha also wear yellow dresses. Yellow colour also relates to spring festivals.
4. White is colour of purity, cleanliness, peace, knowledge and ‘Sanyaas’. Maa Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, is always shown as wearing a white dress, sitting on a white lotus. White color dresses are worn during of mourning because it gives peaceful effect and helps in consoling the aggrieved. That is why a hindu widows wear a white dress in mourning.
5. Blue is associated with many natural entities such as the sky, the oceans, the rivers and the lakes. Blue colour is associated with Lord Shiva to signify bravery, manliness, determination, the ability to deal with difficult situations, of stable mind and depth of character.
Evidently, saffronization or Hinduism is not against any religion. No colour is alien for a Hindu. Then why despise saffron? It is better that correct words are used to describe the misusers and abusers of these colours rather then making a blanket statement. The point is that everything has got a specific meaning and purpose and it should not be used wrongly leaving scope for misinterpretation. A wrong use, use by wrong person or associating it to wrong deeds creates trouble for those who actually respect it.
Sanatan Vedic (Hindu) Dharma has holistic view about everything that exists in the universe. So is true about colours. Red, yellow, green, white and even black; each and every colour has got significance and are used in religious ceremonies. Saffron is the sacred colour for the Sanatan Vedic (Hindu), being colour of fire. The foremost hymn in the Rig Veda glorifies fire: "Agnimile purohitam yagnasya devam rtvijam, hotaram ratna dhatamam." Saffron connotes to holiness and asceticism. It marks the quest for light (Tamso Maa Jyotirgamay).
Clearly, saffron is associated with noble means and purposes. How could anybody ascribe this colour to demeaning motives? The one who has associated himself with this colour in true sense cannot use it for selfish and ulterior motives. Simply stating, saffron is something to be imbibed in the character and ‘not-to-shed-off’.
Saffron is not only the colour so misused and misinterpreted resulting in wrong notions. Red, blue, green, white, associated with different religions, all have been abused. Interestingly, as regards Hinduism, all these colours are sacred; and their significance is given below:
1. Red indicates purity and is most frequently used for auspicious occasions. A red mark (Tilak) is put on the forehead. Red attire is important part of marriage ceremony. It is also the color of associated with Goddess Durga (Shakti/prowess).
2. Green is a festive color. It represents life, peace and happiness. It green stabilizes the mind. This color represents nature and is very soothing. Green leaves and Durvaa (grass) are part of religious ceremonies.
3. Yellow color symbolizes knowledge, learning, happiness, peace, meditation, competence, active mind and mental development. Lord Vishnu’s dress is yellow symbolizing his representation of knowledge. Lord Krishna and Ganesha also wear yellow dresses. Yellow colour also relates to spring festivals.
4. White is colour of purity, cleanliness, peace, knowledge and ‘Sanyaas’. Maa Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, is always shown as wearing a white dress, sitting on a white lotus. White color dresses are worn during of mourning because it gives peaceful effect and helps in consoling the aggrieved. That is why a hindu widows wear a white dress in mourning.
5. Blue is associated with many natural entities such as the sky, the oceans, the rivers and the lakes. Blue colour is associated with Lord Shiva to signify bravery, manliness, determination, the ability to deal with difficult situations, of stable mind and depth of character.
Evidently, saffronization or Hinduism is not against any religion. No colour is alien for a Hindu. Then why despise saffron? It is better that correct words are used to describe the misusers and abusers of these colours rather then making a blanket statement. The point is that everything has got a specific meaning and purpose and it should not be used wrongly leaving scope for misinterpretation. A wrong use, use by wrong person or associating it to wrong deeds creates trouble for those who actually respect it.
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