#037, Philosophy and practices of monkhood in India
Wearing ochre robes as an external token of monkhood seems to have started from the Buddhist influences. Though Valmiki Ramayana mentions Ravana wearing ochre robes and approaching Sita as a "Sanyasi" (3-46-2) and Sita was also found to be wearing ochre robes, we have to keep in mind that Valmiki Ramayana and many other Sanskrit codes and scriptures took shape in 3rd Century C.E. i.e. after the advent of Buddhism. Though Hindu scriptures and codes speak of a first stage celibite student (brahmachari) directly moving to monkhood, skipping the 2nd stage of householder and 3rd stage of forest-dwelling, there are very few instances of monks gradual fourth stage or direct fourth stage. The munis (ascetics) and rishis (sages) of the Hindu mythology are mostly householders with sons and daughters. The ascetics and sages were living in forests as householders either teaching or undertaking penance (practices intended to taming the body of its desires, likes and dislikes and concen...