Prayagraj: The style of living of sadhus and seers are an enigma for devotees and pilgrims, and the several feet long dreadlocks dangling from their shoulders and their queer arrangements draw curious looks and are a big attraction.
The strange hairdos of matted hair and dreadlocks of sadhus camping at Akhil Bharatiya Shri Panch Terah Bhai Tyagi Akhara at Khak Chowk and other camps at the ongoing Magh Mela are captivating visitors, including kalpwasis, who are keen to interact with sadhus to know the secrets of their unique hairstyles.
Over 100 ash-smeared, semi-clad sadhus, performing hatha yoga and various other religious and spiritual activities at Tapasvi Nagar attract thousands of visitors every day. Most of them want to know the secret to maintain such long hair.
Swami Gopal Das Maharaj, camping at Akhil Bharatiya Shri Panch Terah Bhai Tyagi camp, has over eight-foot long dreadlocks.
He says, “Majority of sadhus wear their hair in thick dreadlocks called ‘jataa’. Sadhus are known for their jataas that are an integral part of their spiritual pursuits and help them to connect with God,” he added.
“Sadhus only use ‘multani mitti (fuller’s earth) to wash their hairs. Majority of seers and sadhus wash their hair in the water of river Ganga once in week or in a fortnight,” revealed Swami Gopal Das.
“Visitors are very curious and think we make a lot of efforts but it’s not so, though it’s not easy. We become experts in maintaining our dreadlocks gradually and don’t use any soap. The dreadlocks are our pride and help in our spiritual progress,” said Mahamandleshwar Swami ShriSarjudasji Maharaj of Ramjharokha Kailash Dham.
“Jataa keeps a great significance in every sadhu’s life,” he added.
National president of Akhil Bharatiya Dandi Sanyasi Parishad, Pithadhishwar Swami Brahmashram Maharaj, says, “The dreadlocks are a matter of pride and provide deep spiritual connection, as a symbol of their closeness to God.”
“There are some sadhus in many akharas and camps who have jataa which are 10 to 30-feet long. Maintaining them is an art and we know how to bind the hair. It took me over 20 years to get seven-foot dreadlocks. Most sadhus arrange their jataas like a crown on their head, and often too big than their faces,” he adds.
He also pointed out that sadhus don’t cut their hair since childhood and as a result, these hairs turn into jataas and are two-feet longer than their heights.
The strange hairdos of matted hair and dreadlocks of sadhus camping at Akhil Bharatiya Shri Panch Terah Bhai Tyagi Akhara at Khak Chowk and other camps at the ongoing Magh Mela are captivating visitors, including kalpwasis, who are keen to interact with sadhus to know the secrets of their unique hairstyles.
Over 100 ash-smeared, semi-clad sadhus, performing hatha yoga and various other religious and spiritual activities at Tapasvi Nagar attract thousands of visitors every day. Most of them want to know the secret to maintain such long hair.
Swami Gopal Das Maharaj, camping at Akhil Bharatiya Shri Panch Terah Bhai Tyagi camp, has over eight-foot long dreadlocks.
He says, “Majority of sadhus wear their hair in thick dreadlocks called ‘jataa’. Sadhus are known for their jataas that are an integral part of their spiritual pursuits and help them to connect with God,” he added.
“Sadhus only use ‘multani mitti (fuller’s earth) to wash their hairs. Majority of seers and sadhus wash their hair in the water of river Ganga once in week or in a fortnight,” revealed Swami Gopal Das.
“Visitors are very curious and think we make a lot of efforts but it’s not so, though it’s not easy. We become experts in maintaining our dreadlocks gradually and don’t use any soap. The dreadlocks are our pride and help in our spiritual progress,” said Mahamandleshwar Swami ShriSarjudasji Maharaj of Ramjharokha Kailash Dham.
“Jataa keeps a great significance in every sadhu’s life,” he added.
National president of Akhil Bharatiya Dandi Sanyasi Parishad, Pithadhishwar Swami Brahmashram Maharaj, says, “The dreadlocks are a matter of pride and provide deep spiritual connection, as a symbol of their closeness to God.”
“There are some sadhus in many akharas and camps who have jataa which are 10 to 30-feet long. Maintaining them is an art and we know how to bind the hair. It took me over 20 years to get seven-foot dreadlocks. Most sadhus arrange their jataas like a crown on their head, and often too big than their faces,” he adds.
He also pointed out that sadhus don’t cut their hair since childhood and as a result, these hairs turn into jataas and are two-feet longer than their heights.