ROLE OF COLORS IN AYURVEDA AND OTHER ASPECTS OF LIFE

Colors play a huge role in our lives. That is why we must be mindful of them, not only for choosing the right color for cloths, paints etc. but also in our food and drinks.

In the visible spectrum, red color travels farthest due to longest wavelength whereas violet travels shortest (which is why traffic lights to stop are in red color as this color can be seen from a far-off distance). Hence when we consume foods and drinks of these colors, the quality of that food travels accordingly in our body too. For example, during summers when lot of heat is touching our skin, we should consume red but cold foods and drinks like rose milk or water as red color of rose will push its soothing cold qualities to farther areas of our body i.e. towards skin and brain.

That is why red and hot things like chilies should be totally avoided during summers as their red color pushes their hot nature towards peripherals including brain making them hot and agitated resulting in insomnia, skin allergies, inflammation, bodyaches, etc. Even tomatoes should be avoided during summers especially when it becomes very hot as tomatoes are very acidic apart from being hot and red. The story reverses during cold weather when tomato works as nectar. This is the reason that kanji (a drink) made from violet carrots with mild pungency of rye (small mustard seeds), is served at the end of winters whose aim is to melt excess tissues (Kapha in ayurvedic terms) in the core of the body (as violet keeps the warmth and nutrition of kanji inside). This is because during winters when most of the blood is towards the core, there is a tendency to deposit excess tissues/Kapha in the core which due to stagnation turns into toxins (ama in ayurvedic language) thereby causing issues like fatty liver.

Since green color falls right in the middle of the spectrum, it ensures that the quality of green food consumed spreads equally in the entire body. On the other hand, white color spreads food in the entire spectrum (including invisible spectrum) thereby ensuring that its quality spreads even in the vicinity i.e. in the collective conscience. That is why milk which nourishes the body with its wholesome sweetness (proteins, fats, carbs, minerals, vitamins) is not just calming to the consumer but it will also create a calming aura of the person thereby positively influencing the people around. Of course, the quality of the milk will depend upon what has been fed to the cow including food as well as emotions. This is one reason that even the site color of white color (whether it is cloths you are wearing or the walls around) brings peace as it doesn’t differentiate and spreads its quality including knowledge.

Black color works opposite to white as it absorbs everything indicating desire to accumulate. It doesn’t mean it is bad. It is just a phase of life for the soul to accumulate whether it is knowledge, money or other possessions. Remember that accumulation is also an essential phase because it is through accumulation that one learns to differentiate between good and bad and then release the newly created knowledge subsequently. Thus, black is associated with Ketu.

Orange and yellow colors which are towards red end of the VIBGYOR indicate stimulated or curious minds. This is the reason that seekers wear orange color as they wish to know more of the world. Of course this happens at a sub conscious level. Remember, that this is also an essential stage of life as the soul can progress only when it learns more.

All in all, colors play a huge role in every aspect of our life. Hence their wise use must be employed even in medicines to deliver the quality of the medicine to the right place. Possibly that is why herbal medicines make more sense than the manufactured ones (through industrial processes) apart from the former not creating pollutions of all kinds which latter do during the process of their manufacture as well as disposal.