A little
knowledge about Shikha (Tuft):
https://ramamohanraocheruku.blogspot.com/2015/05/a-little-knowledge-about-shikha-tuft-1.html
There was an age where people of all Varnas used to have tuft for
the health of the body and mind. Gradually due to Islam rulers who cut the
heads of the tuft holders and the European invasion of both country and culture
the tuft start disappearing. People were more inclined to look trim and prim
like their European rulers and the rest everybody knows. Ho ever the Brahmins
continued to safeguard this tradition. Gradually it is going into oblivion. I
am trying to bring-forth a few facts about this custom.
It is my personal experience that people of all Varnas used to have
Shikha which suits to the Indian climate. Never itwas that only Brahmins should
have this. Daily morning the Barber used to go round the streets and attend to
the required. He was paid to his happiness and there existed no question of
'Upper or Lower.' Unfortunately things have changed and the tuft has emerged as
an awkward fashion among the youth, which is more glaring among the present day
cricketers. What ca not be cured is to be endured. Please continue your
reading.
1.) It is said that according to the karma of a soul, the living
entity at the time of death leaves the body from different places, from mouth,
nose, etc… But a devotee
who leaves this body from that chakra (sahasrara at the shikha) attains high
planets of the Spiritual world. Facilitating the soul to leave from Sahasrara,
the top most chakra which is on the head under the shikha.
2.) Also hair is needed to protect that chakra. Women do not cut
their hair, because their charm lies in the hair and the other lower chakras
are not protected well, because of the difference of structural built between
man and woman.If they have long hair they can protect these chakras with their
hair.
3.) One must have a shikha to perform any kind of yajna. Therefore
in Indian tradition all the Brahmins, keep a shikha. However “Gaudiya Vaishnava
shikha is an inch and a half across — no bigger.
Bigger shikhas are for various other sampradayas and they have to be knotted.”
To be continued.....
A little
knowledge about Shikha (Tuft)-2
4.) The shikha may be any length, but it should be kept tightly
knotted and only untied when you are washing, The Hari Bhakti Vilasa observes
that members of the upper classes even tie the shikha before taking the final
ablutions of a bath. This particularly applies when bathing in a body of water
such as a river or a lake, in which case to not tie the shikha prior to bathing
is considered low class and disrespectful to the sacred rite of bathing.
5.)You may tie it in a simple manner for bathing, retying it more
carefully after the bath. Also, when going to sleep, attending funeral rites,
or observing a period of mourning, you should keep the shikha untied.
6.) While tying your shikha after bathing, sandhya vandana with
Gayatri mantra, is to be performed in
trikalas i.e. twilight, mid noon and dawn. Silently chant the Brahma-Gayatri
(first line of Gayatri). The shikha should not be braided like women, nor
should it be kept long and disheveled. Naturally, if the shikha is too short to
be tied, it is all right to leave it open, but it should not be disheveled.
7.) Significance of Shaving head – It is a
symbol of renunciation, humility and obeisance. If you see materialists, they are
extremely fond of hair. Decorating hair etc pulls us into bodily consciousness.
This is not good for practicing spiritualists. So as an indication of
renunciation from material consciousness devotees shave head.
8.) Scientific Reasons for Having a Shikha:
“Deho Devalaye
prokto, Jeevo deva sanathana
Tyajeth agnana nirmalyam so hum bhavena Poojayeth”
‘Jeeva’ Living being and ‘deva’ God are very ancient, ‘Deha’ (human body) is Devalaya (Temple). It all ‘agnana’ (ignorance)
is gone, the God and the man are same (Advised). Then the ‘Soham' (He is me) can be realised.
When body is the temple then Shikha is the flag. This is the mark
of dignified values and virtues of humanity. Shikha represents the sirsha
(Head) of Gayatri Mantra. It reminds the devotee of the subtle presence of the
pure divine intelligence of the human mind. This is irrespective of VARNA.
Tightening the hair knot right above the structure induces marvelous physical
benefits like harmonious blood circulation in the brain and augments alertness.
It enhances mental alertness, concentration and meditation. In nut shell it
acts like antenna to sahasrara.
To be continued........
A little
knowledge about Shikha (Tuft)-3
9.) The shikha is a symbol of superiority and cleanliness. The
shika covers that part of the skull wherein lies the final chakra – the Sahasrara. Shikha attracts cosmic energy which
imparts enlightenment. It is believed
that the sun is the primary source of clean energy not just to the physique,
but also to the mind. The uninterrupted rays of the sun fall on his brain and
soak in. A dwija has to stand sun three times a day to give Arghya, and
meditate – facing the
sun.
10.) The small portion of hair that hangs from behind our head
applies little pressure on our brains that helps one to improve concentration
and mind control and improve memory.
From the time of the Vedas, the shikha was a distinguishing feature
of us the Hindus. At the time of Chudakarana (making a hole to the lobe or
lobule of the ear), a tuft of hair was left on the head, never to be cut. This
shikha covered a large part of the brain. According to Sushruta, the reason
that a few tufts are left on the head is that at the crown, an artery joins a
critical nerve juncture. Since an injury to this part of the head is believed
to be fatal, it was considered necessary to protect the area by keeping a tuft
of hair over it. The shikha is a symbol of superiority and cleanliness. The
shika covers that part of the skull wherein the final chakra – the Sahasrara
lies.
Any religious or auspicious ceremony required the shikha to be tied
in a knot. The knot was tied to the accompaniment of the Gayatri Mantra. An
untied shikha was a symbol of disgrace, impurity and mourning.
Swasti
