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- Thread starter Maya3
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Permissible, sure, advisable, probably not. Depends what you believe about the entire process.
Speaking of dressing for temple (I did in the other thread), I'm curious (more like OCD 
)...
Can a dhoti/veshti or angavastram be one color, like plain white or cream with no borders? Are the colors and borders just a bit of interest, pizzaz and panache or do they have some significance? I've seen sets of plain color on-line, but I wouldn't want to look like a tool. I understand that lay devotees should stick with white or cream; other colors (red, orange, yellow) are reserved for priests, sannyasins, etc.
)...Can a dhoti/veshti or angavastram be one color, like plain white or cream with no borders? Are the colors and borders just a bit of interest, pizzaz and panache or do they have some significance? I've seen sets of plain color on-line, but I wouldn't want to look like a tool. I understand that lay devotees should stick with white or cream; other colors (red, orange, yellow) are reserved for priests, sannyasins, etc.
Speaking of dressing for temple (I did in the other thread), I'm curious (more like OCD
Can a dhoti/veshti or angavastram be one color, like plain white or cream with no borders? Are the colors and borders just a bit of interest, pizzaz and panache or do they have some significance? I've seen sets of plain color on-line, but I wouldn't want to look like a tool. I understand that lay devotees should stick with white or cream; other colors (red, orange, yellow) are reserved for priests, sannyasins, etc.
Yes, you can have plain dhotis. Not that common, but you see them. I've had a couple.
Now, how did I know you'd know for certain!?
Thanks. Truth to tell, I did get a length of cream colored cotton fabric cut to the right size, right off the bolt, no stitching. I got it a few years ago and have only worn it around the house.
Now, how did I know you'd know for certain!?
Thanks. Truth to tell, I did get a length of cream colored cotton fabric cut to the right size, right off the bolt, no stitching. I got it a few years ago and have only worn it around the house.
Back when I was a pandaram, I wore plain white all the time. By preference, I like the ones with green on one side, red on the other. They're quite traditional. Where do you get yours? Hard to find good ones in Edmonton. The thin North indian ones, sometimes, but the trimmed South Indian style, it's not easy. I've ordered successfully on-line. Direct from India.
In Mauritius they didn't know about the colours reserved for priests thing, so the men were all very colourful. Kind of cool. The only time I've bought a richly coloured one was either a gift for Ganesha, or for a priest.
I have five, the aforementioned DIY from Jo-Ann's Fabric Shop, one from the temple gift store, and two from Krishna Store. Or was it Krishna Culture?
Those last two are heavy white cotton with blue and maroon borders and stripes. One was a gift from my friend at the temple. Its a thin cream color with gold borders and stripes. The one from the gift shop is cream colored with light green and maroon stripes and dark green and maroon brocade borders. With the exception of the one from the fabric shop they all came from India. But hey, for all I know even that came from India or Bangladesh.
I have five, the aforementioned DIY from Jo-Ann's Fabric Shop, one from the temple gift store, and two from Krishna Store. Or was it Krishna Culture?
I've worn several out. They get demoted to home sadhana, and then tossed. Usually there's about 10 around, in various stages of wear. Boss has about a hundred saris.
I used Krishna.com. too, and last time I actually can't remember but it was directly from a store in India.
I've been thinking that I don't know if I'd wear a kurta with a dhoti (I use 'veshti' for the towel wrap style
) because the kurta is so long, much less wrap the angavastram around the waist. I haven't seen that. I see kurta and pyjama pants. I wear a regular collared dress shirt with dhoti.
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
Like what Vinnayaka said. However, a tribal woman offere half-eaten berries to Lord Rama with love and the Lord ate them lovingly. She tasted all of them to check whether they are sweet. Fresh flowers better, you may press the later. Permissible if a special flower (Brahma Kamal) is brought from Himalayas to be offered to the deity. It will surey dry up during the journey. The intent makes all the difference.
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
No reservation about colors (at least in North India). In abhishekams, I have worn saffron silk dhotis. Loved them. A border is preferable. Plain dhoti is business wear.
Does she wear them all the time, or bought because of colors and designs?
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Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
We have what is known as 'bundi' (u as in bun) in North India. It is like a T-shirt without buttons which covers just the top of dhoti. It is worn by villagers and priests. Popular and comfortable. At one time stitched at home. Grandpa used to wear it at home. Could have pockets on the chest or at the waist.
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Then I'm on the right track... I've often worn a t shirt. Not the undershirt type, but a good quality colored shirt that's somewhat loose fitting.
User14
Member
Why not advisable? Is there reason to believe a deity would prefer fresh over dried flowers, I mean.
Fresh flowers better, you may press the later. Permissible if a special flower (Brahma Kamal) is brought from Himalayas to be offered to the deity. It will surey dry up during the journey. The intent makes all the difference.
The intent is to be able to reuse the flowers and not have to buy (or pick, but there aren't many relevant flowers around for me to pick) new flowers for every day's puja. Is that being a cheapskate?
Yes, from a mystical POV. The Gods can smell fresh flowers from that side ... all part of invoking the presence. But from the non-mystical it's all symbolic POV it wouldn't matter at all.
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
No. It is not that. It is love. Like we go to Timbuktoo and bring something nice for wife or children. Like we give a bouquet of nice smelling flowers to our beloved persons. It is the same with deities for theists (though I am a strong atheist). Like we prepare something nice from family or deities to eat. Sure, they may not eat it physically, but it is all psychological. We try to offer the best possible to deities.
Varies a lot from temple to temple. It's often more casual than for my liking.
That's about as casual I get. I don't even like jeans. Despite the sign saying no shorts for men, guess what I still see.
Islington
Member
Hey there, everyone!
Great news, we moved into a new flat and now, I'm much closer to the local temple than before.
I hope you wont mind me ranting about my small joys.
We went together, with my sister and, for her first visit she was like "do you think we can have one of these dots?" as she saw the devotees. My partner and I reassured her that she certainly would.
As we introduced her to the gods, the pandits came over and blessed us 3 times over, with some of Hanuman's biscuits and sindoor, Narayana crown and of course vibhuti. We also had a small archana so she would formally be introduced to Ganesh -she has had a picture of Him for some years now, in her car.
By the time we came out, she had a column of 4 (or was it 5?) tilakas on her forehead that she wore proudly in the street of Paris.
I'm delighted, really, and proud that her first experience in a Hindu temple was better than mine and how she showed genuine interest and respect!
Great news, we moved into a new flat and now, I'm much closer to the local temple than before.
I hope you wont mind me ranting about my small joys.
We went together, with my sister and, for her first visit she was like "do you think we can have one of these dots?" as she saw the devotees. My partner and I reassured her that she certainly would.
As we introduced her to the gods, the pandits came over and blessed us 3 times over, with some of Hanuman's biscuits and sindoor, Narayana crown and of course vibhuti. We also had a small archana so she would formally be introduced to Ganesh -she has had a picture of Him for some years now, in her car.
By the time we came out, she had a column of 4 (or was it 5?) tilakas on her forehead that she wore proudly in the street of Paris.
I'm delighted, really, and proud that her first experience in a Hindu temple was better than mine and how she showed genuine interest and respect!