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Clothing (Hinduism)

Hinduism and Tribal Religions

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Indian Religions ((EIR))

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Introduction

In Hinduism, there is a philosophy behind choosing the right kind of clothing, and accordingly various types of clothes are prescribed which not only protect us from negative energies but also imbibe in us positive and spiritual energies. A specific line of clothing is prescribed for dharmaacharan “righteous behavior,” which includes attire, such as dhoti, uparna “a shawl,” mala “rosary,” gandh “sandalwood paste,” etc. It is believed that wearing a right type of clothes attracts positive waves from the atmosphere toward an individual. The Hindu Shastas forbid the followers to remain impure and naked. According to Apastamba Dharmasutra (1.5.15.8-9), naked state and impurity attract negative energies. The clothing of gods and goddesses tell us a lot about Hindu mythology and what would have been the clothes and dressing styles of our ancestors [2].

In Hinduism, there are three chief deities at the head of hierarchy of gods: Brahma (creator), Vishnu (administrator), and Shiva...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Humanities & Social Sciences – Languages & Literature, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, India

    Amitabh Vikram Dwivedi

Authors
  1. Amitabh Vikram Dwivedi
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Correspondence to Amitabh Vikram Dwivedi .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Anthropology, The University of North Texas Dept of Anthropology, Denton, Texas, USA

    Pankaj Jain

  2. The Graduate Theological Union , Berkeley, California, USA

    Rita Sherma

  3. Jamia Millia Islamia, Centre for the Study of Comparative Reli Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India

    Madhu Khanna

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Dwivedi, A.V. (2018). Clothing (Hinduism). In: Jain, P., Sherma, R., Khanna, M. (eds) Hinduism and Tribal Religions. Encyclopedia of Indian Religions. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1036-5_452-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1036-5_452-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-024-1036-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-024-1036-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Religion and PhilosophyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Humanities

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Clothing (Hinduism)
    Published:
    18 June 2021

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1036-5_452-2

  2. Original

    Clothing (Hinduism)
    Published:
    20 March 2018

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1036-5_452-1

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