Cosmetics, Costumes and Ornaments in Ancient India
by Remadevi. O. | 2009 | 54,177 words
This page relates ‘Dress of a House Holder’ of the study on cosmetics, costumes and ornaments of ancient India based on Sanskrit sources. Chapter one deals with cosmetics and methods of enhancing beauty; Chapter two deals with costumes, garments and dresses; Chapter three deals with ornaments for humans and animals. Each chapter deals with their respective materials, types, preparation and trade, as prevalent in ancient Indian society.
2.22. Dress of a House Holder
Smṛtis and Sūtras furnish us with the knowledge of dressing of a householder. Āpastamba-dharmasūtra[1] insists on the necessity of wearing upper garment by a householder. In the absence of an upper garment he is permitted to wear only the sacred thread on his upper body.
It is stated in Smṛtis[2] that a householder should not wear worn out or dirty clothes. Similarly they were permitted to wear white clothes only. Purāṇas[3] also prohibit the use of coloured garments by a householder.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
1.11.30,10,13
[3]:
Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa, 40,16, 33