Secrets behind Rangoli – traditional Indian art
Photo copyright Veena Shivanna
Rangoli _ traditional Indian art In front of the house is one of the sacred and age old secret phenomena of Intention. It is really an age old secret never got passed to current generation. other day I saw an young lady drawing a film star in front of the house and I asked her “are you an artist?” She replied back telling me that that is a new age Rangoli. I felt bad for young lady, Not because of her drawing which in-fact was very good, But her understanding of this art. I thought of sharing few secrets behind it.
Rangoli is originated from two words Rang which means colors and Holi which means celebration. So Rangoli is an artistic celebration of colors. If some of you are science students then you may recall your early lessons in physics that all colors originate from white light. That’s why prayers to light or Sun god is one of the most important prayers you offer in your daily life in Indian tradition. Sandhya-vandana (twilight zone prayer) was nothing but to remind that all colors lead to just one color and that is white color. Similarly beneath all emotions, thoughts, feelings, reactions – there is deep stillness always available to you. That is the true nature of you. Light is a mystic significance of cosmic stillness available to you beneath all colors of emotions.
Coming back Rangoli; it is nothing but spiritual distribution of colors. If you look back at the designs of the Rangoli then you can see most of them used to maintain Symmetry in their design. Which means left and right side of the Rangoli always used to look similar. It is same like yin and yang symbol, or swastika or Egyptian symbols where symmetry is important. Worldwide in all religions symmetric designs are symbol of prosperity, luck and growth. Interestingly most of this Rangoli designs used to be rounded edges unlike sharp edges. IN Indian temples in it’s center piece (garbha) always maintains symmetry. Quite a number of Rangoli designs were inspired by Shapes of flowers, coconut, Indian idols, nature etc. Temple designs at the periphery of temples across India significantly influence Rangoli border designs. Dots which can be extremely attentive creation are important part of Rangoli creation. that’s why Indians keep Tilak or dot on their forehead. Because it is also known as spot of Attention ( pituitary gland) .
Typically Rangoli is always drawn at the early sunrise by house lady. In early tradition the leading lady or the mother of the house used to lay Rangoli immediately after taking bath & prayer. Rangoli’s were drawn first thing after taking bath, Over a period of time it just passed to any young lady at home( mostly younger ones as the older ones got lazy! J. Rangoli creators immediate physical make up was that of cleaning, fragrant, and tranquility.
Before I talk about Rangoli Intention, I need to tell you a practice from Amazon jungles. In Amazon jungle there is a African tribe which draws art similar to Rangoli in middle of the forest after praying for nearly half a day. Animals in the forest invariably get attracted to this Art and Tribesman wait near the art patiently for the animal to kill it and use it as their food. This tribe never hunts for animals but they make animals come to them through rituals of art.
Rangoli had exactly similar science behind it for different reasons. While creating Rangoli, Ladies used to sing sacred mantras and used to believe that this will guard them from evil forces. While creating Rangoli intention energy behind this creation is of welfare of the family. When you create intention spot it is capable of changing you thoughts. That’s why temples, churches and mosques were created – to basically create energy centers which can aid your inner growth. Similarly -when you visit church or temple, or when you visit graveyard, or when you visit hospital – your feelings and emotions in each of the places are so different because of the pool of energy available to you in each of these places.
Whenever you enter a house with Rangoli, then colors would bring tranquility to you as early Rangoli’s only had colors from powders which were used in prayers. Turmeric, kumkum which were used in Rangoli drawings are used as decorating items to idols. These colors used to bring certain tranquility in you as they used remind you of temples.
The rounded designs of the Rangoli used to kind of bring down energy levels in you. Do a small experiment – keep a sharp pencil in front of your eyes close to middle of your eyes. Keep it as close as possible and stare at it without blinking, then you feel like your eyes are getting sucked. Try the same thing with rounded object and you will not feel the same. Energy always leaves shaper sides. It is not accidental that Meditators across the world use hand to bless, because your fingers are the energy dissipating centers. That’s why you touch someone on head with your hand because hands dissipate energy and at the same time head point absorbs energy. Irrespective of which religion you belong to this head and hand blessings are common. In reality this is energy transferring mechanisms.
Symmetry of the Rangoli brings undivided attention. In other words the moment you pass thru Rangoli you are disconnected from the past and future. You are forced to remain in present. If you are entering a house then you feel good to enter a house and if you are leaving a house then come you out in a good mood. Rangoli is subtle art of influencing you to stillness. In marriages, Deity festivals, Religious celebrations, Rangoli plays very important role in India. I
Rangoli is really not a mechanical or ornamental phenomenon. It is science of creating energy pool. You need to go thru certain ritual of bath, mantras, Intention to create a Rangoli. For old Brahmin ladies of south India this is the most important ritual of their lives. In Mexico (Don Juan – Castaneda) science drawing as attractive of energy centers are practiced intensively. Across the world Tattoos on bodies have significant influence on bodies.
Rangoli is the origin of spirituality thru art in India. Much before Leonardo DaVinci’s of the world created magic with their symbols and drawings, Mystics in India left indelible mark in every home about art and spirituality. If you all have read recent blockbuster novel from Dan brown on Da vinici code then you realize the science behind symbols as well.
This topic is so vast – I can write at least 100 pages on it but I hate writing so I am sharing glimpse of mystic science. I’ll definitely cover couple of Occult practices associated with Rangoli some other time. Occult practices and Rangoli have very complimentary in nature. Let’s keep it for another day.
Interesting links on Rangoli : http://bellurramki18.wordpress.com
Love you all
Suresh
Amazing suresh.!
how you balance science, philsophy, occult and Modern thinking( davinci code). Your depth and breadth on each topic is mind boggling!. I have been traditional south indian girl and I never knew this about rangoli.
Tomorrow onwards I will pay more respect and attention to my Rangoli.
I happen to read your site for the first time but looks liek I am going spend here for rest of my week.
Hats off to you! for a rich and thinkign blog! I also read yoru secret theory on garbha temple! It blew me away!
I am sure you have many fans and I am the new one!
I know about this amazon jumgle tribe story. I have seen it on discovery. I really did’t know scince behind it.
the way you have written it reads like davinci code!
brilliant suresh! and I love that photo!
Inshalla,
suresh - just when I thought you have exhausted all your secrets you came up with an outstanding piece.
can u please write about occult practices and rangoli next time? I know you are master of occult practices and I am eager to hear about it.
Mansoor,
good to see you again!
You know i am not for writing too much occult or witchraft. however I’ll share something about it in coming days!
don’t call me master of occult practice! you are master yourself!
Suresh - I thought you would be on a long break.
Your post takes me back to my childhood days in a small south indian town. I had a horde of friends and festival days would begin with our rangoli sessions. We took days to draw out the patterns in our books and then decide which pattern would adorn whose house.
Although the regular rangoli powder is made from granite stones, some people add rice flour to the powder. I was told that this was for the ants to feed on - eco-friendly art! Some patterns of rangoli are used exclusively in tantric hinduism. There are some patterns used for “homam’s” or “yagnas”. In Tamil Nadu, I have seen the use of a red powder which is used to decorate the borders. Families in mourning do not use rangoli in their homes.
Many farmers in Pennsylvania believed that square barns gave evil spirits places to hide, so they built octagonal or even round barns to protect themselves. they also placed round Hex signs on their buildings… also for protection. It seems like many cultures have found the power of the round, symmetrical shape. thanks for the great post!
Priya and npanth
Thanks for sharing wonderful insights. As many of you might know lot of respected mystics say “srichkra’ symbol of prosperity and luck is greatest rangoli ever drawn. scientific communities across the globe have published various papers on srichakra.
Love
GREAT POST
GREAT POST
simply superb and importance and the so much of information you have gathered and put it is simply amazing hats off to you SG.
yes it is true during mourning and also whenever there is a ceremony ( death anniversay)no Rangoli will be there. even I remember the people who come to beg will skip those houses earlier as they don’t want to trouble the people who are indistress
I learned SO much from this post. It is amazing, and I can’t begin to absorb it all, but I intend to keep trying. Wow. Wow. Wow.
WOW. will definitely give them a second look (and try to notice any difference within myself) from now on!
Veena’s picture was definitely very apt for this post!
yea sanjay
vena’s picute has given a colourfull delight to the post. In the interesting link it is Bellur’s blog. this post is unique with both top and bottom to teh beautifu write up is from Muktabalaga memberes.Thank you suresh for this honour to MB
As many of us those who know, there is a proverb in Kannada, “Angalada Mallige Hoovige suvasane illa!” (Gist: normally we never search for or give any significance for the things that are at our finger point, that are ours. We give scant respect to our own things. Nor we make an attempt to find the significance hidden behind it. “Our own jasmine flowers grown in front of our own house do not give much fragrance!”.)
Many of our religious or inheritted good-old rituals have a profound meaning and significance. Over the time we have fogotten it or we lost the track and link. And just out of fear or guilt or just for fulfilling the norm, we perform the ritual in a throw away mechanical form. And so we are more blind doing the rituals mechanically and there by missing the “actuals”!
Thank you so much Suresh for unravelling the mystery behind our very common “Rangoli” ritual.
I agree with sulochanosho completely
So many of our traditions have not been understood properly by our forefathers and they never passed it to us. It is amazing to see now someone writing about all this in a scientific manner. I for once never agree with anyone if someone says importance of traditional beliefs. But lot of beliefs when I read on suresh blog made so much sense to me because of my scientific mind. I guess this is what all we need. We need someone tell us in micro way why this is important to us.
Suresh, You have amazing knack of telling these secrets. I have enjoyed your blog and i learned new things every day.
My favorite one is “every woman is virgin till death” - I really enjoyed your master piece on Woman.
Great write up suresh!!..Is thr anything left which i can say… ?
and thanks!!
Thanks Veena for your photo! Obviously lot of them liked it!
Cheers
it is very nice.my aim from my 5th standard is to prove OLD IS GOLD.im very happy to see this.I feel more happy if you can gather any information about “ideals,homas, vedas…..”every actions performed by our ancestors have some meaning.
THANK YOU
am ofiokidem from nigeria, i want to get your postal address for me to write to.
you can send it to my mail address , ofiokidem@yahoo.com .
thanks,
ofiokidem.
In true words I am very thankful about your article on Rangoli.
thank u Sir!
I am 13 years old. i have to make a project on “Science behind religious practices”. I chose this topic because i thought there must be some mystery behind this practice of rangoli that people are following since years. I really did a great job by opting this topic. I learnt so many things. Thats amzing…
very good articles. i am glad to read this. thank you.