A little knowledge about Shikha (Tuft )

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