SHIKHAS IN THE WIND!

By nature, I have always loved to study and learn. And you have probably heard me say often … “I learn three new things every day!”

Here in Varanasi I see things that have taught me so much! I’m intrigued. 

The other day, whilst travelling to my place of stay from the airport, I saw two guys on a two-wheeler whiz past our car at high speed. The guy sitting at the back was bald, but for the tuft of hair behind his head flying in the wind. 

Why do we see some have a shaved head with a tuft of hair in the back? 

I just learnt that this tuft of hair is called a ‘shikha’. When long enough, it is tied in a knot at the crown-point (right above the suture of the skull) on the central top of the head. 

Why? I am thinking!

For the religious Indian it represents a discerning intellect. A farsightedness. And the resting of knowledge on our head. It reminds the Indian of religious principles of morality, righteousness, responsibility and dutiful awareness. 

This point is a given distinctive importance in the science of spirituality as the point of contact with the brain-centre of intellectual and emotional sensitivity. It also indicates the body as a temple. This is respected Hindu culture. 

Whoa! Never knew that. 

It is said that in the Roman religion, growing a beard is an act of mourning for the dead. Is it also considered an act of mourning to shave the head? Maybe. 

This is also mentioned in the Bible.

In the book of Acts, we read of two accounts where people had their hair shaved off because they had taken a vow.  The first account is about the apostle Paul.

Act 18:18…He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow.

The second account is about four unnamed men.  Paul came to Jerusalem and met with the brethren.  The brethren said:

Act 21:23  Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow.
Act 21:24  Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, …

What were they doing and why?  Probably, they had taken a Nazirite vow.  What was this Nazirite vow?  The Nazarite vow is described in Numbers 6.

Num 6:1  Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
Num 6:2  “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When either a man or woman consecrates an offering to take the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD,

We see here that the purpose of a Nazirite vow was to separate yourself to God.

Whatever we see, all this is an indication outwardly to signify our inward feelings and convictions. 

So let me think some more now!

When I look into this, I see something that teaches me so many important aspects of our society. 

We love to keep the outward but have forgotten to look ‘inward’ at really who we are. When I look at the bribery, the corruption and lies that permeates our society…it is like an osmosis that doesn’t seem to stop but has entrance into every stream of our humanity affecting truth and culture. And as the years and generations have gone by we have become blind and without feeling. We are indeed the blind leading the blind. Sadly, it comes down from our leaders and those who seem to be in authority. 

So really are our ‘Shikhas’ flying in the wind? Do we care to change the inward and let the outward prove who we really are? Can we change our society to ‘go back’ to the original intent so our nation would be changed forever…and truth live on?

You choose. 

It’s your turn now!