Lord Shiva is the only ascetic among the Gods. Lord Shiva choses a life of meditation and hardships. That is why, Lord Shiva's symbols are all very different from the other symbols in Hinduism. They relate to the nomadic nature of the Mahadev himself. One of the main symbols of Shiva is his matted hair. Shiva has a 'jata' or heap of matted hair that is typically considered to be a sign of uncleanliness. But when it comes to Lord Shiva, 'jatadhari' is a positive adjective. He is beyond such worldly ideas. His matted hair or 'jata' shows that He is beyond the standard definitions of beauty and holiness.
Among some Sadhus and Sadhvis, Hindu holy men and women, locks are sacred, considered to be a religious practice, an expression of disregard for profane vanity. The public symbol of matted hair, known as jata, is re-created each time an individual goes through these unique experiences. about Shiva and his flowing locks, there is a continual interplay of extreme asceticism and virile potency, which link the elements of destruction and creation, whereas the full head of matted hair symbolizes the control of power. Gangadhara Shiva captures and controls the river Ganges with his locks, as its descent from the heavens would have deluged the world. The river is released through the locks of his hair, which prevents the river from destroying earth. As the Lord of Dance, Nataraja, Shiva performs the tandava, which is the dance in which the universe is created, maintained, and resolved. Shiva's long, matted tresses, usually piled up in a kind of pyramid, loosen during the dance and crash into the heavenly bodies, knocking them off course or destroying them utterly.
Locks in South Asia are reserved nearly exclusively for holy people. According to the "Hymn of the longhaired sage" in the ancient Vedas, long jatas express a spiritual significance which implies the wearer has special relations with spirits, is an immortal traveler between two worlds and the master over fire ~ The long-haired one endures fire, the long-haired one endures poison, the long-haired one endures both worlds. The long-haired one is said to gaze full on heaven, the long-haired one is said to be that light ... Of us, you mortals, only our bodies do you behold. ...For him has the Lord of life churned and pounded the unbendable, when the long-haired one, in Rudra’s company, drank from the poison cup (The Keshin Hymn, Rig-veda). The Shaiva Nagas, ascetics of South Asia, wear their jatas in a twisted knot or bundle on top of the head and let them down only for special occasions and rituals. The strands are then rubbed with ashes and cow dung, considered both sacred and purifying, then scented and adorned with flowers.
Jai Bholenath ๐๐ป๐๐ป
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