The vibrant clothing colors worn by Hindus reflect their appreciation of art. Still, colors are not just a matter of taste in Hinduism. They have deep-rooted spiritual and cultural significance.

Nonetheless, those on the path of spirituality must remove their obsession with appearances. Hence, Sanatana Dharma-based spirituality provides stage-by-stage color codes to help them with this.

Stage 1: Three Primary Colors

Most individuals naturally gravitate toward colors. Each hue we see blends three primary colors: yellow, red (magenta), and blue (cyan). In Sanatana Dharma, each of these represents a primary form of Divine Energy —

• Yellow: Vishnu, denoting bhakti and surrender.
• Red: Devi, denoting life force and energy.
• Blue: Shiva, denoting self-absorption and transcendence.

Stage 2: Purity of White

In this faith, white represents a commitment to self-purification of the body and mind. Its purity, serenity, and simplicity create an environment conducive to learning, meditation, and introspection. Hence, this is the color of Brahmacharya, the pursuit of divine conduct.

In Vedic civilization, the youth were all required to practice Brahmacharya. As a result, it became customary for youngsters (males) to wear white. This kept them free from distractions, which helped them focus on education and self-improvement.

Females practiced Brahmacharya at home but did not wear white (since it denoted a widow back then). Still, I’ve seen references indicating that girls were restricted from wearing jewelry and dressing up at this stage of life.

Stage 3: Choice of Colors

Upon completion of Brahmacharya, the youth chose their lifestyle:

• Grihasti: A family-oriented person.
• Sannyasi (celibate): A monk.
• Sannyasi (in relationship): A person living with a partner and raising a family but still adhering to the path of Sannyasa.

Henceforth, a person’s lifestyle determined their clothing colors:

• Those on the path of Sannyasa — monk or otherwise — moved to Stage 4 of clothing color restrictions.
• The priestly community continued to wear white because their profession needed them to maintain divine conduct for life.
• Ardent devotees wore colors aligned with their preferred divine form, reminding them of their love and devotion to their deity.
• Everyone else went back to wearing colorful clothing.

Stage 4: White of Waiting Period

Just because someone chose the Sannyasa path did not mean they were ready for it. As a result, people of all genders dressed in white for a waiting period to determine if this was indeed the path for them.

These individuals continued their Brahmacharya practices but with a much more rigorous schedule. This stage frequently came with a preliminary but significant initiation into spirituality.

However, many people abandoned spirituality at this point because they realized it required a lot of effort, sacrifice, and ego-burning (which was painful). Once the guru determined that the waiting period had ended, those who persisted advanced to the next stage.

Stage 5: Sannyasa Colors

People entering Sannyasa—regardless of marital status—had a couple of clothing color options depending on their chosen stream.

1. Saffron of Vedic Path

Saffron was the color for those on the Vedic spiritual path. This hue is formed in art and fabric dyes by blending yellow and reddish brown (or orange). Here —

• Yellow: Values associated with Vishnu: bhakti, wisdom, and surrender.
• Red: A reference to Gayatri Devi, the presiding deity of the Vedas.
• Brown: Those who lived in forests wore brown tree bark or clothing that had turned brownish from mud. These people mostly followed Shiva’s teachings: self-absorption, non-attachment, and rising above desires.

2. Black of Sadhana Path

Black was for those on the Sadhana spiritual path (including Sri Vidya). This hue is formed by mixing equal amounts of yellowness, redness, and blueness — a blend of Vishnu, Devi, and Shiva.

Sadhana practitioners, mainly of Devi, wear black to denote the synthesis of many spiritual streams. Beyond all, black is the color of this universe, representing Divine Energy—the core teaching of this route.

3. Colorlessness of Digambara

The ancient path of Sadhana often promoted a colorless existence because life, to them, was devoid of colors. These people shunned clothing or wore animal hides to cover their privates, symbolizing their detachment from material possessions and acceptance of naturality.

The followers on this path, primarily Shiva worshippers, were known as Digambara, which translates to clothed in space/sky. Everything about Shiva was natural — blue for the sky, brown for tree bark, and colorless for space.

Kali, a fierce Devi form, is also portrayed as Digambara. Even though not as common, a few Vishnu devotees also pursued the Digambara lifestyle.

Conclusion

Everyone must present themselves cleanly. It is non-negotiable because it is self-care and a courtesy to others who see you. Nevertheless, individuals on the spiritual path must remove their obsession with looks.

For instance, if necessary, I wear fine clothing to avoid embarrassing my family. But I generally wear plain black clothing to honor Divine Energy. Except for my wedding band, I have sold or given away my expensive jewelry collection. I only have a few inexpensive pieces to wear to essential gatherings. Today, if I had to wear a robe, I would do it without hesitation. Thus, I consider myself a Sannyasi, or renunciate at heart.

In fact, this is one of the aspects that distinguishes a Grihasti from a Sannyasi. If you crave fine clothing, jewelry, or anything else with your looks, I recommend you become a Grihasti. Like your sexual orientation, your spiritual orientation is also something you must discover. At heart, you are either a Grihasti or a Sannyasi; you cannot be both.

Do not be swayed by clothing hues and robes. Instead, follow your heart and choose the best path for you because this will lead you to spiritual fulfillment.

Love,
Sri Devi Om