Lights and colors in the divine books

Referred from the holy books of various religions, including three major monoteistic religions (judaism, christianity, islam), all are presented in chronological order:

Judaism, 2085BC – (The Holy Torah)

  • “And God said, let there be light: and there was light” – Genesis – Bereshit (Torah) (1-3)
  • “And God saw the light, that it was good” – Genesis (1-4)
  • “… and God divided the light from the darkness” – Genesis – Bereshit (Torah)(1-4)
  • “And God set them in the firnaments of the heaven to give light upon the Earth” – Genesis – Bereshit (Torah)(1-17)
  • “And to every beast of the Earth and to every fowl of the air and to everything that creeps upon the Earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so” – Genesis – Bereshit (Torah)(1-30)
  • “And the israelities named it as Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey”-Exodus-Shermot (Torah)(16-31)
  • “…blue, purple and scarlet material, fine linen, goat hair.” – Exodus (25:4)
  • “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.” Isaiah(1:18)

The conversation between God and Moses (May he be blessed) on the Mountain of Sinai proves the importance of colors and light.

  • “And God spoke to Moses to tell the children of Israel that they bring me devotement from everyone that gives it willingly with his heart. These are the devotement, which you will take from them; gold, silver and brass, blue, purple and scarlet yarn, fine linen and of goat’s hair, ram’s skin dyed red, sea cow’s skin and acacia wood, oil for the lamp, spices for anointing oil and for sweet incense, onyx stones and stones to be inlayed in the ephod, and in the brassiere. And let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them” – Exodus (25-1:8)
  • “Purify me with hissop, and I shall be clean. Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow” Psalms (51-6,7).
  • “The lamp of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness” – Mathew (6: 22, 23).
  • “The voice of thy thunder was in the whirlwind; the lightning lightened up the world” – Mezmor of Asaph (77:19)
  • “His lightings lightened the world; The earth saw, and trembled” – Psalms (97-4)
  • “light is sown for the righteous” – Psalms (97-11)

Hinduism 1500 BC – (The Holy Bhagvad Gita)

One of the great scriptures of Hinduism, The Bhagvad – Gita, written perhaps in the 2nd century B.C., deals with our topic in compelling fashion. According to this text, as with the Upanishads, the Light of the spiritual path is glorious and divine:

  • “If there should be in the sky, a thousand suns risen all at once, such splendor would be of the splendor of that Great Being..”

In Hindu Holy Books, Veda Rig, Atharva, Sama, Yajur Holy Upanishads and Bhagwad Gita, these are many verses about colors and light:

  • “I am the inner light. I am outer light. I am the all pervading light. I am above all (the greatest of the great). I am the light of the lights. I am the self-luminous. I am the light of my own self. I myself am Siva the self of the self. There is neither East nor West here. The sun never shines nor sets there. There is neither day nor night here. It is the light of the lights sublime of ethereal. Here there is no intoxication of caste, creed or colors. You, making light where no light was, and form, O men: where form was not, was born together with the Dawns” – Rig -3
  • “Away, from the sun’s realm of light, the wise invoking Preist shall bring All Gods awaking with the dawn” – Rig – 9
  • “Sarasvati, the mighty flood, – She is with light, illuminates, and she brightens every pious thought” – Rig – 12
  • “You are like heaven; one form is bright, one holy, like Day and Night Dissimilar in color. All magic powers you aid, self-dependant! Auspicious is your bounty here, O Pusshan” – Sama Veda – 3
  • “Win to protect you, Rudra, Lord of worship, priest of both worlds, effectual sacrificer, Agni, invested with his golden colors, before the thunder strikes and lay you senseless” Sama Veda – 7
  • “High souled death, being well pleased, said to Nachiketa: I will now give you another blessing this fire shall be named after you. Take also from me this many colored chain” – Katha Upanishad-16.
  • O Agni, Bring us radiant light to be our mighty succour, for you are our visible deity” – Sama Veda – 10.
  • “He indeed is the great Purusha, the Lord of creation, preservation and destruction, who inspires the mind to attain the state of stainlessness. He is the Ruler and the Light that is imperishable” – Katha Upanishad (Chapter II-16).
  • “Two there are who dwell within the body, in the intellect, the supreme akasa of the heart, enjoying the sure rewards of their own actions, The knowers of Brahman describe them as light and shade, as do those householders who have offered oblations in the Five Fires and also those who have three times performed the Nachiketa sacrifice” – Katha Upanishad (Chapter III-1).

According to Veda teachings and Hindu philosophy, there are three dynamic departments functioning:

1. Sattwa: This is a high-quality of good deed, peace and light – The color of this agency, according to veda teachings, is white.

2. Rajas: This is an emotion and action – the color of this agency is red.

3. Tamas: This is a darkness and sluggishness (stagnation) – the color of this agency is black.

The blend of these three departments makes up the human personality. The dominance of a certain color assembles the same kinds of attributes and qualities in a person.

Zoroastrianim, 1000BC (The Holy Avesta – Gatha)

According to the Zardusht’s teachings, the role of light and colors is very significant in the creation of the universe. According to their religious book, the Gatha, he creation of the universe was caused by the creator of the universe “Ahura Mazda’s memory” “Faravashi”. The memory of Ahura Mazda through the law of vibration (Zurvan) and under its influence turned into Ahunavar. This reverberation, in the form of the holy white light, emerged from the universal consciousness of Ahura Mazda. This white light created the colors, the universe and all its colorful entities(stars, sun, planet, etc.). According to Ahura Mazda’s teaching, He created two powers to run the universe;

1. Spenta Mainyeu (The power of light)

2. Anghre Mainyeu (The power of darkness)

The power of light agrees and acknowledges the laws of Ahura Mazda, whereas the power of darkness doesn’t acknowledge the laws. In the holy book, Zenda Avesta, there are a number of occasions when Ahura Mazda (The Creator) told men about the importance of color and light.

  • “God conqueror of light, smitter of fiends, all made of light, who moves in a golden vehicle, with sonorous rings”… (Verse 15, Page xiv, Vendidad)

Zarathustra addressed Vishtaspa, saying:

  • “O young king Vishtaspa! The Law of Mazda, O my son! Will give your offspring the victorious strength that destroys the devils. Let no thought of Angra Mainyu ever infect you, so that you would indulge in evil lusts, make derision, idolatory and shut (to the poor) the door of your house.” (Vere-37, Zenda Avesta)
  • “Then he will reappear when he comes with an army of light, riding upon bright clouds, for he is the child conceived by the word which established the natural order.” (Zenda Avesta)
  • “The first step that the soul of the faithful man made, placed him in good thought Paradise; the second step that the soul of the faithful man made, placed him in the good word Paradise; the third step that the soul of the faithful man made, placed him in the good deed paradise; the fourth step that the soul man made; placed him in endless light.” (Verse 61 Zenda Avesta)

Zoroaster’s teachings, as noted above, centered on Ahura Mazda, who is the highest god and alone is worthy of worship. He is, according to the Gathas, the creator of heaven and earth; i.e., of the material and the spiritual word. He is the source of the alternation of light and darkness. Holy Avesta further pronounces that after the judgment, the follower of God will be rewarded and will enter the kingdom of everlasting joy and light.

Shun-To, 660 BC – (The Holy Kojiki)

Shinto is an ancient Japanese religion. Starting bout 500 BC (or earlier) its name was derived in the 8th century from the Chinese words “shin-tao” (“The Way of the Kami”) or the way of God. Here is what its holy book “ The Door of he heavenly Rock-Dwelling” says about the light:

  • “SO when the Heaven-Shinig-Great-August-Diety had come forth, both the plain of High Heaven and the Central-Land-of-Reed-Plains of course again became light”-(Sect XVI-35)
  • “Therefore, did he enter obscurity and emerge into light, and the Sun and Moon were revealed by the washing of his eyes; he floated on and plunged into the sea water, and Heavenly and Earthly Deities appeared through the ablutions of his person.” Yasumaro – Records of Ancient Matters – Vol-1 (8, 9).
  • “….out of this boundless, shapeless mass something light and transparent rose up and formed the heaven.” – Beginning of the World – Japanese Creation Myth – Tales from Kojiki (712 CE)

Judaism, 599 BC – (The Holy Akaranga Sutra)

Maharishi Mehi Paramahan, a great saint and scholar with a vast and deep research on several books of different religions books says:

  • “The Jiva (Individual Soul) is employed by three layers: The Darkness; The Light and The Sound. To remove these veils hiding he Soul, we should practice Drishti Yoga (Inner Light Meditation)”.
  • “The mendicant with pirified mind should meditate on the sky with rainbow, lightning, and the sound of thunder, and full of clouds.” – The Jnanarnva – Srga (36)

The holy book of Judaism, Holy Akaranga Sutra, says:

  • Therefore a wise man should neither be glad no angry (about his people): you should know and consider the happiness of living creatures. Carefully conducting himself, he should mind this: blindness, deafness, dumbness, one eyed, hunch backed, blackness, variety of color (he will always experience); because of his carelessness, he is born in Man’s birth, he experiences various feelings.  – Verse -061.
  • “The unwise sleep, the sages always wake. Know that in this world, the (cause of) misery brings along evil consequences! Knowing the course of the world, one should cease from violent acts. He, who correctly possess these (sensual perceptions), Through sounds, colors, smells, tastes, and touches.” – Hot and Cold – First Lesson 94

Buddhism, 560 BC – (The Holy Tripitaka)

It was Gautama Buddha (Siddhartha) who started Buddhism. The word ‘Buddha’ is a mere designation or title, which means ‘one who is awake’ – in a spiritual way just as in the sense of having’ woken up to reality’. Sidhharta Gautama, the real name of The Buddha, was born around 2500 years ago in Nepal. He was deeply enlightened. There are several instances uttered by Buddha and sung by His followers on light and its role in the creation of the Universe:

  • “There was no place that the light did not penetrate, just as you have seen it light up these Buddha lands now.”, The supernatural powers of the Buddhas and their wisdom are rare indeed; by emitting one pure beam of light, the Buddha’s illuminate countless lands. – Lotus Sutra – Virtues – 1.

The flower Ornamnet Scripture, written between 359 and 710 CE, contains an overwhelming number of references to the Buddha as a Divine Light. Most of the references are in verse. To qoute just a few:

  • “The Buddha’s great light of knowledge illuminates all lands in ten directions…”
  • “The Buddha-body is peerless, it has no compare; its light shines throughout ten directions…”
  • Traversing all reals of existence for countless ages, His light is everywhere as pure as space..”
  • “Emanating inconceivable nets of lights, Everywhere purifying all conscious beings…”
  • “All the lights in the world cannot match the light of a single pore of the buddha – This is how inconceivable the Buddha’s light is…”
  • “Buddha emanates a great light….that light touches all with its glow, pervading the whole cosmos…”
  • “The Buddha sits on the site of enlightment Pure and clear is his great radiant light, Illuminating all over space…Illuminating the world with light that has no end..”

Christianity, 30 AD – (The Holy Bible)

In the Holy book, The Bible, the effectiveness and the power of creation in colours and light is described on various occasions:

  • “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your Good Works” Matthew (5:16)
  • “All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made. In him was life and the life was the light of men. And the light shined in the darkness and the darkness apprehended it not. There came a man sent from God whose name was john. The same came for witness that he might be witness of the light that all might believe through him. He was not the light but [came] that he might bear witness of the light. There was true light [even the light] which lighteth every man, coming into the world” (John 1-3:9).
  • “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid” Matthew 5:14
  • “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world, he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12)
  • “And the lord commanded the unjust steward, because he had done wisely; for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light” (Luke 16:8)
  • “who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen; nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting” Timothy (6:16)
  • “In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” – 2 Corinthians (4:4)
  • “Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas” – Acts (16:29)
  • “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass, the grass withers, and the flower falls off” – 1 Peter (1:24)
  • “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the True Light, which lighteth very man that cometh into the world” – John (1:6-9)
  • “Kabbalistic term for an emanation of divine energy; containers are the divine forces that channel, define, and focus the light. A soul is a light, while a body is a vessel”… Soul migrations: Hartman and Zimberoff.

Islam, 610 AD– (The Holy Quran)

In the Holy Quran, God has drawn the attention of mankind towards colors, their role in the process of creation and their advantages:

  • “Allah is the light of the Heavens and Earth” – (Noor – 35)
  • “And whatever is spread for you on the Earth, of many colors, thus there are signs for those who ponder” – (Nahal- 3)
  • “And one of his signs is the creation of the heavens and earth and the diversity of your dialects and colors; most surely there are signs in it for the learned.” (Rome – 22)
  • “Have you not observed? How God sends down water from skies, then We produce fruits of various colors; and in the mountains are ravines, white and red, of various hues and others intensely black?” – (Fatir – 27)
  • “And there are various colors of humans, reptiles and animals, only those comprehend the graciousness of God, who have wisdom, insight and are assured that God is glorious and merciful.” – (Fatir-28)
  • “Do you not see that Allah sends down water from cloud, then makes it oenetrate the earth in springs, then brings forth vegetation of various colors, then it withers so  that you see it becoming yellow, then He makes it a thing crushed and broken into pieces? Most surely this is an admonition for the wise men.” (Al-Zamar : 21)
  • “There emerges from the abdomen (of a bee) a drink of many colors (attributes) that cures the diseases of people; most surely this is a sign for those who contemplate.” – (Nahal – 69)

In this last verse (Nahal – 69) the Qurn points toward the colorful substance that comes out of the abdomen of a honeybee, also known as enzymes. This valuable substance (honey) is a very useful for healing various diseases . Modern medical science also agrees with usefulness and antibiotic effects of honey in many diseases.

Sikhism, 1500 C.E. – (The Holy Guru Garanth Saheb)

Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism says, “In Thy creatures is Thy light..” Indeed, “in every heart here is the same light…” In this ultimate union, “our light blends with the light eternal,” and Nanak encourages followers to “merge your light with the light eternal” As the Guru himself put it, within everybody, is the Lord hidden; withing everybody is His light. Searching his body his home, By the master’s instructions one finds the Name revealed within.

The Holy book of Sikhism Guru Garanth Saheb says in Raag Raamkali

  • “Your light is prevailing everywhere” – Raag Ramkali Part-1 (876-15)
  • As He said, “within everybody is His light,” therefore, “Wherever I look =, there I see the Lord”. Means, seeing light. – Raag Ramkali Part- (876-16)
  • “God, being Truth, is the one light of all.” God “shines out in His own splendor.” Moreover, “His brightness shined forth” with “the blaze of the splendor dazzling like the sun.” 5.

Guru Nanak added more on this issue in other writings. For Nanak,

  • “God is the light of all light.” The light of God “illuminates lands and seas.” God is “the embodiment of light; the lamps of the sun and moon and al their light emanate from Him..” God is “pure light”..the “ever pure light”. This “all-wise Being of light sits on the throne eternal.” God’s light is “infinite,” and God himself “is immaculate and all light.” 6.
  • “The best light is the light of God in the heart”, As waves blend with water, so my light is blended with the Lord’s light.” 7.

Guru Nanak goes on to say that:

  • “In Thy creatures is Thy light…” indeed, in every heart there is the same light…In this ultimate union, our light blends with the light eternal, and Nanak encourages followers to merge your light with the light eternal. As the guru Himself put it.”
  • “Within everybody is hidden; within everybody is His light. Searching his body, his home, by the master’s instructions one finds the Name revealed within.”8.

“It is brilliantly dazzling, yet it is neither the moon nor the stars, neither the sun-ray, nor the lightning of the skies. Words cannot describe it, nor can any sign or symbol” – 52.