Dr. Vijai S Shankar MD.PhD.
Published on www.academy-advaita.com
The Netherlands
21 April 2018
Rangoli
“Design and significance”
Rangoli in Sanskrit language means a design. It is applied with white chalk in a place in front of a house in India. Every morning as a ritual the rangoli of the previous day is washed clean with water.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAa8ILAQ8ng
Rangoli is also put elsewhere in and around the house, but not every day. The rangoli in and around the house is replaced when it fades away. In and around the house is nevertheless cleaned every day.
Rangoli is also put in every temple and in the temple of the house. Rangoli is also put on every religious occasion. It is evident that rangoli has a great significance in an Indian family and in an Indian house and in an Indian temple.
Rangoli are many and also in many shapes, sizes and patterns. The shape, size and pattern are symmetrical and in harmony. They are pleasing to the eye and mind. They are never asymmetrical, disharmonious or displeasing to the eye or to the mind.
The rangoli is usually put by the women in a family in and around the house, in front of the house and in the temple in the house. The rangoli is usually white in colour in front of the house, in and around the house and in the temple in the house or in a temple.
Rangoli is also of various colours while celebrating various, cultural occasions. The significance of rangoli helps everyone to understand a family, a house and God deeply.
Firstly, the colour white in rangoli indicates love. The front of the house indicates the mind, because the mind is always in front of you. That the front of the house is cleaned every day for a white rangoli indicates that the mind needs to be clean and loving.
The mind is clean and loving if every day you talk with members of the family or anyone with love. The mind is not clean if you talk with each other in a family or anyone with anger and hate.
Secondly, the symmetry in rangoli indicates that every member of the family builds the family symmetry and harmony in the house. The various sizes and shapes indicate that family members minds are different, are of different sizes and every size and shape is to be loved and talked to with love and not with hate or anger.
Rangoli in a temple indicates that if your mind is clean and loving in the house, you are close to God. If your mind is clean and loving only in the temple, you are not close to God. Rangoli is a tremendous gift by God to every member of the family.
Author: Dr. Vijai S. Shankar
©Copyright V. S. Shankar 2018
Editor’s Note:
The power of the rangoli, in its symbolism and in its artistry, emits a significant statement on the importance of the family in every community across the world. It includes your family and my family; it includes the family of nations. It includes the living and it respects those who have passed on. It is the greatest gift of the intelligence of life.
Julian Capper, UK.
German Translator’s Note:
Often one forgets the true meaning of everyday rituals, which means, that the true function of the ritual is lost. While watching the video in Dr. Shankar's article "Rangoli" the insight of many a reader into Indian culture is extended. But not only the insight into the Indian culture in the form of knowledge is the gift of this article. Pondering and deep understanding of all rituals of all cultures is also stimulated here. Every ritual has a deep meaning and a superficial meaning. The knowledgable proclaim and believe in the superficial meaning, while the enlightened ones give an insight into the deeper meaning, as described in this article by Dr. Shankar.
Marcus Stegmaier, Deutschland.