So you need to understand what’s colour, first of all. The colour of any substance is not because of what it is. It is what it rejects, or what it gives away, or what it reflects. Something looks red not because it’s red. Because of the seven colours, that the white light contains, it holds back everything and reflects red. So it looks red. So red does not mean it is red. Red means it is not red. Do you understand? Yes. Something is red not because it’s red, because it doesn’t want red. That’s why it looks red. So whatever you give away, that will be your quality in the world also, isn’t it?
Sindoor – the important thing is that it is turmeric
So Devi’s colour is red because she gives away red. Red means – if you’re walking in the forest, it’s all green. But there will be one spot of red somewhere, one red flower blossoming that draws your attention, because in your perception red is the most vibrant of all the colours. All other colours may be pretty, good, nice. But red is vibrant, vibrant, vibrant.
Sindoor, you must understand – the important thing is that it is turmeric. That is, it’s properly made. If you take the sindoor from the Devi, it’s made of turmeric. If you buy elsewhere, it’s a chemical powder. If you want to chemically poison yourself, you must use that. Turmeric has phenomenal benefits. So there is a certain way of using the turmeric. Turmeric and lime together makes this, and it is very very beneficial. And the colour turns red, and it is also used as a symbolism in the society.
If a woman is wearing sindoor, she’s married. That means she’s not approachable. Essentially, it was a social way of discerning, who is who in the society. And it has certain health and other benefits to apply. Turmeric, the colour is – you don’t want to put yellow colour on your head like Mussolini. So red is better, and it is also the colour of the Devi always. Not just here, always.
If a woman is wearing sindoor, she’s married. That means she’s not approachable
So, it is also a symbolism that – one aspect of it is, it may not end up like that for everybody, but this is the aspiration in the society. This was the aspiration in the culture. Once a woman is married, she was referred to as a devi. I was amused that, in some of the airlines – I think in Air India only they are doing this – when they make announcements, they are saying ‘sajjano aur deviyon’ [gentlemen and ladies]. Have you heard this? No? In Hindi, when they make the announcements, they are referring to the men as ‘sajjano’ – that means gentlemen. They are referring to ladies as ‘devis’. It is very common. In our families, my grandmother, and others were always referred to as devi by her husband, always. To recognise that there is an element of divine in her.
