Abstract:As the Ramayan Era is too old i.e., thousands of years back, some people used to say it mythology but its not a myth. We can observe so many geographical proofs of Ramayana right from Ayodhya -Panchvati -Ramsetu to Shri-Lanka and when you will read it and study you will find amazing facts related to industrial development also. Here we are limiting ourselves up to the development in textiles only. The points related with textiles are having variety in Ramayana but the development related with colours and value addition is more surprising. Here, we will go with original Sanskrit Shlokas (verses) one by one. (Note: We are sticking with Valmiki Ramayana, Geeta Press, Gorakhpur strictly).
Keywords: Kand (Bigger part of story), Adyaya-smaller Chapter, Shloka-lines of poetry
A) Introduction: Ramayana is poetic biography of ‘ShriRam’, the king of Aayodhya written by Maharshi Valmiki in Sanskrit language. It is thousands of years old. (About number of years there is dispute, nobody can tell perfectly). In this biography seven big Chapters called as ‘kand’ are there like-1) Balkand 2) Ayodhyakand 3) Aaranyakand 4) Kiskindhakand 5) Sundarkand 6) Yuddhakand 7) Uttarkand. In these kands, many small chapters called as ‘Sargas’ are included and these sargas are having number of Shlokas. For searching these glimpses of Textiles, we have read every shloka and found some significant facts related with development in textiles. This was a gaint task. Here, we are putting the study in short about different colours of fabric
B) Different colours of fabrics in Ramayana
White colour is natural colour but in Ramayana it has been
used by Kings. It is mentioned like this. ‘Shuklmalyambardharo Lakshmnen Samagataha |‘ Shlok 10,
Sarga 27, Sundarkand It means wearing white mala, Ram came there with Lakshman. The same is mentioned ahead about Vibhishana but limiting the length of write up we will see another colours.
Black colour:
This colour is mentioned clearly in ‘Ayodhya kand’ and Sundankanda also but both time it is related to indicate the once for king Dasharatha and once for king Ravan respectively.We will see here the shlok related with king Dasharath. ‘Pithe Karshnayse Chaiva Nishann Krushnavasasam |’ Shlok 14, Sarga 69, Ayodhyakand It means Raja (Darsharatha) was seating on Irorn seat wearing black cloths.
3) Red colour: Red colour has been used by a lady. Prahasantiv Rajanana Pramada Raktavasini । Shloka 16, Sarg 69, Ayodhyakanda It means ‘A lady wearing Red was laughing at the king.’
4) Yellow colour: When Hanuman found the Sita in Shrilanka, she was wearing silk clothing with yellow colour. The verse is like this. ‘Pitenaiken Sanvita Klishtnottamvasasa ।’ Shloka 21, Sarg 15, Sundarkanda It says that she covered herbody with old silk wearing of yellow colour (may be saree).
5) Safferan colour: We have seen two colours Red and Yellow uptill now but we know that the mixture of these two colours will give us safferan colour so will see reference of this colour now. The shlok showing use of Safferancolour is like this. ‘Maharhvastrasambandho Bhutwa Chirsukhochitana । Kashay paridhanastu kathan Ramo Bhavishayati Shlok 98, Sarga 12 Ayodhyakand Meaning of this is having habit of wearing costlier cloths and living lavishly how Rama will wear these simple safferen cloths.We will find few more references of this colour but leaving its aside, we will go for next colour.
6) Blue Colour ‘Nilan Satoyameghabham Vastram Samavagunthita ।’ Shlok 18, Sargea 26, Uttarkand. It is about ‘Rambha’. It means she was wearing cloud like Blue Saree.
7) Golden colour: Sita was wearing yellow coloured sari but she was having another cloth called uttariya or Uttarvastra which was shining like gold. It is written like this. ‘Teshammdhye Vishalakshi Kauisheyam Kamakprabham ।’ Shlok 2, Sarga 54, Araynakand Here ‘KausheyamKanakprabham’ the words are clearly indicating silk with golden shining. After observing various colours of fabrics in Ramayana, we will observe the value addition ideas in Ramayana.
8) Silver colour – When hanuman saw Ravan in Lanka, he found him like this ‘Lohitakshm Mahabahum Maharajatvasasam ।’ Shlok 7, Sarga 10, Sundarkand Here,‘Maharajat-wasasam’ the word indicates the clothing of silver colour silk.
- Value addition ideas Ramayana: It is really very surprising observing the modern ideas of textiles used in a history of Ram thousand years back.We will see it now.
When Ravan visited Sita to propose her again, he worn very impressive Dhoti. it is mentioned like this.
- Apparel with flower decoration : ‘Mathitamrutafenabhamrajovastramuttamam । Sapushpamavakarshantm saktamangade ‘ Shlok 24, Sarga 18, Sundarkand It means like this – His (Ravan’s) wearing was just like colour of fresh butter with high quality. Flowers were attached to his dhoti. At this moment, the dhoti was intangeled with the ornaments in his hand and he was trying to make it free.
Thus, this attachment of marval and flowers is really surprising. We will see another example. It is like this… ‘Niljimutsankashan Hemsanchaditambaram ‘ Shlok 5, Sarg 40, Yudhakand
i.e. Ravan was looking like dark cloud. He wore the dhoti with golden decoration. In ancient Bharat, it was well known fashion to use gold and silver yarn with silk for decoration purpose. It was well known as ‘Jarikam’.
2) Saree with border:
Yes! In those days border of different colours was also used and it was used by ‘Anjana’ i.e. mother of Hanuman. It is mentioned with birth story of Hanuman like this. ^Tasya Vastram Vishalakshyha Pitam Raktadsham Subham।‘ Shlok 12 Sarga 66 Kishkindhakand Jambhavan says that the lady with bigger eyes worn yellow saree with Red border. After observing these important features of apparels or wearing of human being will try to find other products.
C) Conclusion:
After going through the literature of Valmiki Ramayana, we found use of various colours for fabrics. It is surprising that many more things, modern fashion like bordering the saree with different colour attachment of flowers to wearing we got the idea of development of textiles in Ramayana and the great heritage of textile industry also.
