Informative

Why do Sadhus Wear Saffron Robes?

Take any crowded Indian market street in the city. Thousands of people are walking in all directions. Identifying what these people do is an impossible task. But it’s straightforward to spot a Sadhu amongst them. How? By the distinguishable colour of his clothes.

In India, sadhus are identified with saffron-colored clothes. In spiritual places like Haridwar, Bodhgaya, Hrishikesh, or Rameshwaram, the entire place appears clad in saffron due to the sheer number of ascetics in these locations. In Sanatana, Buddhism, and Sikhism, the colour saffron has significant importance, and hence Sadhus wear it proudly on their bodies. Why? Let’s find out.   

 

Nature and saffron

Apart from marigold flowers, two places we encounter saffron are fire and during the time of dawn. In Sanatana dharma, fire symbolises creation, nourishment, and the end. Fire brings light and repels darkness. Yagya is an integral part of Sanatana, and fire is the soul of Yagya, yielding self-knowledge. The saffron symbolises this critical self-knowledge essential for reaching the divine.

During the Yagya, if you observe the fire, it’s red at the bottom, the middle is yellow, and the top is orange or saffron. Red is the colour of worship, yellow is the colour of piety, and orange is the colour of renunciation. Together, they form saffron, the holiest colour in Sanatana Dharma, representing worship, purity, and renunciation.

Another place where we meet the saffron every day is during the dawn. Divine Mother Usha is the goddess of dawn in Vedas and is portrayed in saffron colours. In her context, saffron represents the power of revival, repelling internal darkness and chaos. It represents new beginnings, the decimation of confusion, and the inducer of the cosmic and moral order called the Rta in Sanatana Dharma.

The story of Maa Parvati and Saffron

In Satya Yuga, Lord Mahadev sat with Maa Parvati and explained the Atmagyan (sacred knowledge of the soul) and the importance of Yog. As Lord Mahadev explained the nature of Atman (soul) to Maa Parvati, she experienced immense detachment.

During this phase, she felt an unshakable need to sacrifice. Being the Mother of the Universe, she decided to sacrifice herself instead of sacrificing something else. Thinking that she cut her veins with her nails, her blood colored her clothes and the shawl she was wearing. Henceforth, her shawl (Chola) became a symbol of sacrifice.

A few aeons later, when great sage Gorakshanath came to meet her, she was very happy to see him. Filled with matronly love (Mamatva), She offered her red-colored Chola to the saint. Since that day, saints, Sadhus, and ascetics started wearing saffron and red as a symbol of motherly affection towards all living and nonliving things. 

Around the world

In Buddhism, the highest state of being spiritual is illumination. Saffron is the colour of the illumination. It is believed that 2500 years ago, Buddha wore the same colored robes after gaining the Purna Gyan (absolute knowledge). Since then, Buddhist monks have followed in His footsteps.

Whenever an ordinary person decides to be a Buddhist monk, he approaches his master, wearing ordinary clothes and with saffron robes in his arms. Then his master welcomes him under his guidance and orders him to enter the order. The new candidate then takes his vows, grabs his begging bowl, and re-enters the world as a new entity by putting on the saffron robes. Hence, for Buddhists, this colour represents the new life, a candidate walking on the path of self-knowledge.  

Orange or saffron colour is also called Nishan Sahib or the sacred Sikh flag. In Sikhism, the colour represents pure bliss. Sikhs believe that this colour absorbs negativity, trauma, and bad life experiences. For them, this is the community’s colour, giving them a sense of belonging. And hence, on the dome of every Gurudwara, you will see Nishan Sahib, a holy flag flattering with pride.

What saffron symbolises?

In Vedic tradition, Agni is considered one of the four principal deities. In Rigveda, Agni or fire is called a priest of sacrifice and treasurer of knowledge. When a person wears saffron, he is connecting himself with the five-thousand-year-old traditions. By making self-sacrifices, that person is ready to do whatever it takes to attain absolute knowledge while being compassionate at the same time.

When the sun sets over the horizon, darkness spreads everywhere; it’s the time to be alert and look inwards for the self-illuminating light of the soul. Saffron colour is a representation of that sunset. It represents when a devotee has to look inwards for light, inspiration, and positivity.

Saffron is the colour of fire. In Sanatana, fire represents the burning of worldly desires and the renouncing attachments. When a Sadhu wears saffron, he says he has moved away from those earthly needs. Fire is considered an ultimate purifier. When a person wears saffron robes renouncing worldly pleasures, he purifies himself internally and prepares himself for the spiritual journey ahead. Fire burns everything into the ashes, underlying the futility and the temporary nature of everything. Sadhu wearing a saffron robe gives us a message that everyone and everything will end at some point.

Colours have an intimate relationship with our spirit. Seven chakras are very closely associated with specific colours. The Sacral or Svadhishthana chakra is the second among the seven primary chakras of the body. Located on the lower abdomen, the sacral chakra is represented by the orange or saffron colour.

Blocked sacral chakra causes wounded emotions, fear of being judged, repression, blocked emotional maturity, and nightmares. Imbalanced sacral chakra energy can cause physical ailments related to the lower back, urinary tract, bladder, kidneys, etc. Wearing saffron-colored clothes removes the blockage from the sacral chakra, making spiritual practitioners emotionally mature, creative, synchronicity, and letting out the inner child. This is one of the most important reasons why the Sadhus prefer saffron-colored clothes.      

It’s not easy being a Sadhu. One not just wears the saffron robes and becomes Sadhu. When one truly understands what it means to wear the saffron and walks on that path, one becomes the Sadhu. It means they have renounced all the earthy attachments. It means they have one objective, merging themselves with the divine at any cost. We hope you have gained some new insight into why Sadhus in India wear saffron.

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