Shikhaa … its need … evolution ... Yoga ... and spirituality
Interesting subject. Though I strongly agree with the opening statement by Swamiji "He who looks at benefits and gains, cannot make spiritual progress", all living beings generally seek the need almost always for every thought and action. The nature always goes by ONLY ONE RULE - NEED! That is the key for evolution. Humans were very hairy when they did not know artificial means to protect their bodies! As they used the cloths for millenniums, the nature observed that there was no need for the body hair ... and it receded!! Humans were mostly out-door animals until recently exposing their heads to harsh conditions. As they started increasing their indoor habitat more and more, hair receded from their head too!!! But, interestingly, the hair is receding from front (mostly) leaving the traditional Shikhaa area still fertile!!!!
FYI, hair is shaved off completely on certain occasions in certain communities. Hair, being symbol of pride, is often shaved off at temples in a sense of submission to the God. Hair, being the icon of beauty and all associated attractions, is shaved off while taking Sanyaasa as a step toward detachment. Hair, being the symbol of ancestral reverence, is shaved off at ancestral ceremonies symbolizing self-sacrifice in respect.
By the way, Shikhaa is the knot of hair to be braided at the lower-rear end of the head. ChuDaa is the ritual to initiate the child into education - hair on frontal lobe is shaved off. An interesting observation here is that ChuDaa ChuDa shaving retains hair to cover the skull sutures. I suppose, after observing the most balding trends, the nature still believes that this area needs hair. The hair recedes away from the Shikhaa area the last.
Interestingly, this knot of hair (shikhaa) has a deep relation with the three physiological SHIKHAAs (knots) in the human body which are functioning perpetually to keep one alive.
Agni Shikhaa: Tasya madhye mahaanagnirvishwaarchirvishwatomukhah …
The knot of matter and energy (stomach, lever and intestine) that recycles the matter continuously to supply energy and matter to the whole body through lymphatic and blood circulation.
Vahni Shikhaa: Tasya madhye vahnishikhaa aNeeyo'rdhvaa vyavasthitah …
The knot of fluid (heart, lung and kidney) that perpetually circulates the fluids all around the body to supply nutrients and remove toxins. This knot enables the energy knot's responsibilities of recycling matter and energy in the system effectively.
Pragnyaa Shikhaa: Neelato yadamadhyastaadvidyullekheva bhaasvaraa … tasyaah shikhaayaa madhye paramaatmaa vyavasthitah …
The third knot is at the juncture of spinal cord and brain - the power center for the system to function. The electro-chemical signals are perpetually received and dispatched to keep the other two knots functional. All voluntary and involuntary actions are controlled through this. The vitality of the being stays here. Any damage to this knot will paralyze the fellow into coma.
Interestingly, the hairy shikhaa is expected to lay at the Gnyaana Shikhaa that controls the life as such - this is the center of all motor controls (Cerebellum); the most important sense of all, vision, is actualized here (occipital lobe); and the juncture for receiving/dispatching signals from/to rest of the body (Brain Stem) stays here. Even animals know this vital center of life and attack the same for a quick kill of their victims. Humans would protect this region from such attacks (most often by their own fellow beings!) with a tough layer/braid of hair.
Whenever you want to focus on yourself or control yourself or meditate on anything, your attention settles here. Extrapolating from Patanjali's Yoga Darshana, one could visualize this Pragnyaa Shikhaa as the gateway for a Yogi to transcend the Aagnyaa Chakra and enter The Sahasraara.
From spiritual perspective, the Knot of Pragnyaa (AWARENESS) transcends the physiological frame work. It is often referred to as Gnyaana KunDa where the highest order of Yagnya - Gnyaana Yagnya - is performed ... Aatmasamyama yogaagnou juhvati gnyaanadeepike! This is THE SHIKHAA that one needs to stand-by firmly, worship reverentially and proceed through in conviction to advance spiritually ... as one immerse oneself in the AWARENESS thereof ...
Sa Brahma Sa Shivah Se'ndrah So'ksharah Paramah SwaraaT …
THAT verily is the body, vitality as well as mind in all ... THAT verily is the origin, destiny as well as support for all ... THAT verily is ETERNAL as such ... THAT verily is the whole universe and beyond ... THAT is The Self Effulgent that pervades all ...
Om! NaaraayaNaaya vidmahe | Vaasudevaaya dheemahi | Tanno VishNuh prachodayaat ||
Respects.
Naga Narayana.
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Shree Hari
Ram Ram
26th January, 2012, Thursday
Maagh Shukla Tritiya, Guruvar, Vikram Samvat 2068
Pertaining to the Need to Keep a "Shikha"
Question - What is the benefit of keeping a "choti" (shikha, no equivalent word in English) ?
Answer - He who looks at benefits and gains, cannot make spiritual progress. While doing some work, if you only look towards gains, then what reverence do you have for the words of the scriptures, and words of saints? What honour and respect do they hold in your heart? Even animals and birds do things for their personal gains, for serving there selfish needs. This is not humanity. Keeping a "choti" (shikhaa) is for your own good - in this I do not have even the slightest bit of doubt.
In reality, one should look towards "Dharma" without looking toward the gains and losses. It has come in the scriptures (Dharmashaastra) that whatever sacrifices, austerities, charity, fasts, etc. and whatever auspicious work that is done, without keeping a "shikha," will all become ineffective and unfruitful -
Sadopaveetinaa bhaavyam sadaa baddhshikhen cha |
Vishikho vyupaveetasch yatkaroti na tatkrutam || (kaatyaayansmruti 1/4)
Not only that, but those virtuous acts done without "shikhaa" become fiendish acts.
"Rakshasam tadhi vijyeyam samastaa nishphalaa kriyaah || (Vyaas)
Therefore the scriptures have commanded -
Snaane daane jape homm sandhyaayaam devataarchane |
Shikhaagranthim sadaa kuryaadityetanmanurabraveet ||
"During the time of bathing, charity, chanting divine name, oblation, prayers during sunrise and sunset and prayers to the demi-gods (devatas), one must always tie a knot to the "shikhaa" – this has been said by Maharaj Manu."
In the sixteen sacraments "sanskaars" in Hindu dharma, the "chudaakaran sanskaar" (ceremony of shaving one's head) has great significance. In this sacrament, by keeping a "shikhaa" one acquires a long life, power, strength and radiance –
Deerghaayutvaaya balaaya varchase shikhaayai vasht |
The hindus sacrificed their heads, but refused to shave off their "shikha" during the "Yavan" rule, only for the protection of the "shikha" which has great significance. It is such a sad plight that nowadays, that very same "shikhaa" is being shaved off by people's own hands! In the Scriptures the atonement for not keeping a "shikhaa" has been disclosed -
"Shikaam chindanti ye mohad dveshaadagyaanatopi vaa |
Taptakrucshren shuddhyanti trayo varnaa dvijaatayah || (Laghuhaarit)
All three "varnas", the twice born, that cut off their "shikha" out of delusion, aversion, or ignorance, they become purified after performing religious observance of undergoing pain and suffering."
Ath chet pramaadaannishikham vapanam syaat tatra koushim shikham brahmgranthi samanvitaam dakshinakarnopari aashikhaabandhaadavatishtet || (Kaathkaguhyasootra)
Upon coming under the sway of negligence and oversight if someone cuts of his "shikha" while hair cutting, then he can make one out of "Kusha" (sacred grass used in brahmanical ceremonies) and keep it over the right ear, until the hair is long enough to tie a "shikha" If after seventy years of age (in old age) due to loss of hair, if one cannot keep a "shikha" then one can make a "shikha" with whatever remaining hair from the surrounding area and perform one's daily routine work. If no hair remains, then keep a "shikha" of "Kusha" hair and perform your daily work, but never be without a "shikha" –
Akhil Bharatiya Pandit Mahaparishad (Varanasi) has enumerated various benefits of keeping a "shikhaa"
1. By keeping a "shikha" and duly following the conventions man gains wisdom, good thoughts, etc.
2. By keeping a "shikha" the inner powers continue to be strengthened.
3. By keeping a "shikha" man becomes righteous "dharmic", pure (sattvic) and abstinent (samyami).
4. By keeping a "shikha", man attains success in accomplishing both worldly and spiritual work.
5. By keeping a "shikha" man is able to properly do Pranayama, Ashtaangyog and various kriyas.
6. By keeping a "shikha" all "devatas protect the man.
7. By keeping a "shikha" man's eye-sight is protected.
8. By keeping a "shikha" man's remains healthy, sturdy, energetic, and has a long life.
Question - We are embarrassed to keep a "shikha" (choti), how to get rid of this embarrassment?
Answer - It is a surprising thing that while lying and cheating in business you are not embarrassed or ashamed; in abortion and other sinful acts you are not ashamed; in stealing, treachery, etc. you are not humiliated; but in keeping a "choti" you feel ashamed! Is your embarrassment proper, or is listening to words of God and Saints and making them happy proper? If you keep a "choti" then initially you may be embarrassed, but later on it will be O.K.
Question - Seeing the "choti" people laugh, how to be saved from such acts?
Answer - People may laugh, they may call you crazy, then bare it, but do not give up on "Dharma". Your "Dharma:" will go with you, laughter, fun and jokes will not go with you. Do not be afraid of other's laughter. Initially they may laugh, but later on they will have reverence for you, that he is firm on his Dharma. There was a loving gentleman named Shankaranand. He was very educated and learned. He told me that he had gone to Germany for his studies. He said he wore his "dhoti" over there. On seeing his attire, the people initially laughed at him, but later on they respected him, recognizing him as an honest man, a truly righteous man. Therefore fearlessly and boldly fulfil your Dharma, what is there to fear in this, tell me?
There is a story. There was a man whose nose was cut off due to some reason. His associates asked him what happened, and he said that between the two eyes the nose was coming in the way of being able to behold Brahma. If there was no nose in-between, then when the two eyes mean one can visibly and evidentially behold Brahma. On hearing this, his associates also cut off their nose. When they could not have a vision of Brahma, then he said, that it was not due to cutting my nose that I had a vision of Brahma. His associates said - "be quiet now, do not make a commotion! If someone asks you then tell them that you are seeing Brahma" Slowly and surely the word spread and others started cutting off their nose. Many cut of their noses but did not have a vision of Brahma. Now when any one with a nose would come, they all used to laugh at him, saying look him with a nose ! Similarly, the ones who have had their "choti" cut off, are laughing at the ones with "choti". Therefore do not pay attention to their laughter, one must follow their "dharma".
Na jaatu kaamaann bhayaann lobhaad
Dharma tyajejjeevitasyaapi hetoh |
Nityo dharmah sukhadukhe tvanitye
Jeevo nityo heturasya tvanityah ||
(Mahabharat swargaa. 5/63)
Out of desires, fear, greed, or even to save one's life, one must never give up their Dharma. Dharma is imperishable and pleasure and pain are perishable. Similarly "jeevatma" is imperishable and the cause for its bondage (attraction) is perishable."
Narayana ! Narayana !! Narayana !!!
From "Shikhaa Dhaaran ki Aavashyaktaa" in Hindi by Swami Ramsukhdasj
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If in doubt regarding the translation, please read the original Hindi message by Swamiji.
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