WHY BABA SUGGESTED A SEVEN-COLORED FLAG

 
To prevent stray cows and goats from destroying the jasmine saplings, a wire fence was erected on all four sides of the Jhopdi. Later it was proposed that a flag be flown near the Jhopdi and, on April 23rd [1924], a debate ensued about it. The Hindus said the color of the flag should be red, but Ramjoo objected, saying that red reflected only Vedant, and that green was better. Then the Hindus took objection, arguing that green was typically a Mohammedan color. The Parsis and Iranis disapproved of both colors, and to bring about accord, Baba proposed, "The flag should be of seven colors."

Naval prepared a flag accordingly and, after it was sewn, it was hoisted near the Master's Jhopdi in the evening. As the flag stirred, Baba remarked, "Do you know why I suggested a seven-colored flag? The seven colors represent the seven planes of consciousness."

Meher Baba then specified the positioning of two colors: "Red should be at the bottom of the flag and sky blue at the top. Arrangement of the other five colors is your decision."

Then he later added: "Besides representing the seven planes of consciousness, these colors also represent sanskaras — impressions. The colors in the flag signifies man's rise from the grossest of impressions of lust and anger — symbolized by red — to the culmination in the highest state of spirituality and oneness with God — symbolized by sky blue."