India is a country with many religions & castes, where all the religions have their own customs. Just like the mark on the forehead (तिलकम्), tuft hair (शिखा) is one of the most prominent, visible features of Sanatan Dharma. शिखा is a tuft of hair on the head. Usually a simple knot is tied near its end. Keeping a tuft hair (शिखा) is a pious attribute of Hindu culture. Since ancient times, people used to have a tuft hair on their heads. The tradition of having a tuft hair (शिखा) on the head has been considered so much more important, that it was considered to be the identity & dignity of the Brahmins & Gurus.

     During the Vedic period, people used to keep tuft hair (शिखा) according to different caste (वर्णाः). There were different beliefs in all caste (वर्णाः) but, a tuft hair (शिखा) was very important in every caste. A person used to keep a tuft hair (शिखा) according to his caste. Only the Shudras never used to keep a tuft hair (शिखा) as they have to serve all the above three castes. According to the Vedic culture, a tuft hair (शिखा) is kept after undergoing the चूडाकरण संस्कारः (the ceremony of tonsure, one of the 16 Samskaras of life), चौल संस्कारः (the ceremony of tonsure, one of the 16 Samskaras of life) & उपनयन संस्कारः (sacred thread ceremony), he must shave his head, leaving a tuft hair (शिखा). When the Gurukul system of education prevailed, the pupil was eligible to study only after having a tuft hair (शिखा) & the sacred thread (यज्ञोपवितम्). The Scriptures declares that, any religious rite such as a yagna/homa, is fruitless without a tuft hair (शिखा). It was also kept by Kshatriyas & Vaishyas during Vedic period. At the age of 08 Brahmins have to undergo the उपनयन संस्कारः (sacred thread ceremony), at the age of 11 Kshatriyas have to undergo the उपनयन संस्कारः (sacred thread ceremony) & at the age of 12 Vaishyas have to undergo the उपनयन संस्कारः (sacred thread ceremony) & has to start their studies at the teacher’s (गुरुः) house (आश्रमः).

     The hair contributes to one's pride & therefore increases ego. The duty (धर्मः) of the Brahmins, Kshatriyas & Vaishyas is to pursue intellectual knowledge with the goal of getting Liberation (मोक्षः). Ego is harmful for seeking the knowledge. So, men were therefore required to shave their heads when they enter the ब्रह्मचर्य आश्रमः (1st stage of life), when they officially start life as a student at a gurukul. In such rituals, men used to keep a small tuft hair (शिखा) at the centre of the head & staying in the ashram. Now a days a tuft hair (शिखा) is usually kept by Brahmins, Vaishnav sadhus, Spiritual Gurus & especially those performing sacrificial rituals. A tuft hair (शिखा) also reminds the devotee of the subtle presence of the pure divine intelligence in the human mind. In terms of its sublime spiritual effects, a tuft hair (शिखा) works like an antenna in the outer domain of the सहस्रार चक्रम् (topmost extra-sensory centre) to link the Individual Consciousness with the Cosmic Consciousness.
One should keep a tuft hair (शिखा) untied when going to sleep, attending funeral rites or observing a period of mourning. Since an untied tuft hair (शिखा) is a sign of a death in the family, it is inauspicious to go with an untied tuft hair (शिखा). It is also said that, if one keeps a tuft hair (शिखा) untied, the body may become weak.

Significance of the position of a tuft hair (शिखा) on the head –

     Our human body has seven energy centres known as चक्रम्, starting from the first at the base of the spine (मूलाधार चक्रम्) to the seventh & the last one, the सहस्रार चक्रम्. The Sushrut rishi, the foremost surgeon of Ayurveda, describes the master sensitive spot on the head known as Adhipati Marma, where there is a connection of all nerves & a tuft hair (शिखा) protects this spot. Above this spot, in the brain, occurs the सहस्रार चक्रम् (top-most extra sensory centre), where the सुषुम्ना nerve arrives from the lower part of the body. In Yoga, सहस्रार चक्रम् (top-most extra sensory centre), is the highest, seventh centre, with the thousand-petaled lotus. It is the centre of wisdom. The knotted shikha helps boost this centre & conserve its subtle energy known as ओजस् (lustre). In Yoga Scriptures, it is said that the सहस्रार (top-most extra sensory centre), is the ultimate destination (for the coiled serpent like energy at the base of the spine i.e. मूलाधार चक्रम्) through the seven centres (चक्रम्) of body. The more one cultivate & develop this centre, the more one can experience & discloses the mysteries of this universe, the mysteries of the soul & the complete & true verification of events of the past & future. Our sages & ascetics were able to predict the future by concentrating on this very centre. When the fully enlightened person attains the Liberation (मोक्षः), the soul is said to be departed from this सहस्रार चक्रम् (top-most extra sensory centre). Scientists have researched, experienced & found that this portion of the brain acts as a receiver. Another symbolic belief is, when a pupil is drowning in the sea of the Great Illusion (माया), a tuft hair (शिखा) will be used by the teacher (गुरुः) to pull him out of the sea of the Great Illusion (माया) & brings him back into the Spiritual Enlightenment.

Scientific Reasons for Having a tuft hair (शिखा) –

1. A tuft hair (शिखा) is beneficial to increase one's intellect & memory power.
2. It helps to attain self-discipline, since it keeps the intellect under control.
3. It helps a person to control his desires, generate noble thoughts, observe righteousness, attain wisdom & gain spiritual strength.
4. A person who keeps a tuft hair, attracts cosmic energy which imparts spiritual enlightenment.
5. The small portion of hair that hangs from behind the head applies little pressure on the brain that helps one to improve concentration & mind control.
6. Due to the slight pressure of a tuft hair (शिखा), blood flow increases & the brain gets benefit.
7. By keeping a tuft hair (शिखा), an eyesight is protected.
8. By keeping a tuft hair (शिखा), a person becomes healthy, strong, bright & gets longevity.
9. By keeping a tuft hair (शिखा), a person achieves success in both the material & spiritual paths.
10. It is believed that the one who is on the path of spiritual enlightenment his soul comes out of this tuft hair (शिखा), & he attains the Liberation (मोक्षः) from this life. And due to a tuft hair (शिखा) on the head, the life goes out easily.
11. Even after death, there are some components in the body that are not easily removed, so when the body is burnt after death, the head automatically bursts & those components comes out but, if there is a tuft hair (शिखा) on the head these components comes out easily.
12. The most important scientific reason is that, a tuft hair (शिखा) portion, below which the spinal cord is attached, is more sensitive than other open spaces of the cranial nerves. Due to its openness, heat & other cosmic electromagnetic waves from the atmosphere are easily exchanged with the brain. So, in the absence of a tuft hair (शिखा), the temperature of the brain changes along with the local environment. But scientifically, it is necessary for the brain to control its temperature for smooth, most efficient & proper use, which is absolutely impossible in the absence of a tuft hair (शिखा).

     Thus, a tuft hair (शिखा) balances the heat & prevents the automatic exchange of heat from the atmosphere. Many thousand years ago, our forefathers were well aware of all these scientific reasons. The sages & ascetics (ऋषिः/मुनिः) of India have discovered so many laws of the subtlest nature but, we are still running crazy after Western culture. The sages & ascetics (ऋषिः/मुनिः) have left an invaluable treasure for us on how to lead a practical & spiritual life, but in today's modern age, the importance of all these things has decreased considerably & today's young generation does not know the importance & reasons of all these things & also they think that these are old traditions & abandoned it for adopting Western culture. What a misfortune!

आषाढः कृष्णपक्षे ८, २०७६

अस्तु।