Dress and Clothing: An Ayurvedic Perspective

Abstract

Dress and clothing is mostly restricted to human being and a feature of nearly all human societies. The amount and type of clothing worn is dependent on the physical stature, gender, as well as social and geographic considerations. In Ayurvedic texts there is already description of surprising varieties of clothing both for the purpose of therapeutics and habiliment. Ayurveda advocates that one should always wear clean clothes, preferably made from natural fibres such as cotton, wool, linen or silk. The clothing which is used in present days is mostly dictated by fashion or appearance and not on a sense of comfort. For many people fashion surpasses the health need. In Ayurveda change in clothing with seasonal variation, dressing in special occasions, effect of clothing on Dosha (bodily humours) and along with that very high value is given for maintaining the sanitation combined with an aesthetic appreciation of style form and colour.