Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
This world is filled with colors. Just as nature expresses itself through countless shades, human emotions too reflect a spectrum of colors. Red signifies anger, green hints at jealousy, yellow radiates joy and vitality, pink blossoms as love, blue expands into vastness, white rests in peace, saffron symbolizes renunciation, and purple represents wisdom. Every human being is, in essence, a fountain of colors — constantly expressing, experiencing, and evolving.
Our ancient wisdom beautifully illustrates this truth through the story of Hiranyakashipu and Prahlad. Hiranyakashipu was consumed by ego and self-glorification, immersed in material power and dominance. In contrast, his son Prahlad was a symbol of innocence, unwavering devotion, and divine love for Lord Vishnu. Despite repeated attempts to change him — even placing him in a blazing fire with Holika — Prahlad remained untouched. Holika perished, but devotion protected Prahlad.
Symbolically, Hiranyakashipu represents gross materialism and the limited perception that life is merely physical. Prahlad represents the purity of the present moment — innocence, joy, and surrender. Holika signifies the burdens of the past. When devotion is deep and pure, it burns away accumulated karmas and impressions. Consciousness cannot be confined to the physical body; it belongs to the infinite realm of Narayana.
When there is joy in life, life itself becomes a celebration. Emotions, like fire, can burn us. But the same emotions, when transformed through wisdom, become colors that enrich our existence. In ignorance, emotions cause suffering; in awareness, they beautify life. Knowledge does not suppress emotions — it refines them.
Life is meant to be colorful, not dull. We play many roles — as parents, professionals, friends, seekers. Clarity in each role is essential. If we mix roles without awareness, confusion and conflict arise. When you are at home, be fully present as a father or mother. When at work, be fully immersed in that responsibility. Awareness brings harmony; confusion breeds mistakes.
All the joy you seek is already within you. Let go of what holds you back. When you sit quietly, that silence becomes meditation. Meditation gives deeper rest than sleep because, in that state, you are free from desires and agitation. It rejuvenates the nervous system, soothes the mind, and fills you with renewed vitality.
Celebration is the very nature of consciousness. Yet true celebration arises only from silence. When celebration is combined with purity, it becomes complete. Then it is not just the body or the mind that celebrates — consciousness itself rejoices.
And when consciousness celebrates, life truly becomes a festival of colors.
(The writer of this article is Sri Sri Ravishankar)