Vedic scriptures provide the earliest known written evidence of dreadlocks.

Vedic scriptures provide the earliest known written evidence of dreadlocks. Their exact date of origin is still in dispute, ranging from 2500 and 500 BCE. The dreadlocked Shiva & his followers were described in Vedic scriptures as "Jataa", meaning "wearing twisted locks of hair", most likely derived from Dravidian word "catai", which means to twist or to wrap. According to Roman accounts of the time found in the writings of Julis Caesar himself (the Celts wore dreadlocks as well), describing them as having "hair like snakes". Jata, the Sanskrit-English dictionary to mean: "wearing twisted locks of hair" and "the hair twisted together (as worn by ascetics, Shiva, & persons in mourning)" and a contemporary Hindi dictionary translates it as "matted hair". At the stage of renunciation in life of Buddha, he was said to have lived on a few hemp seeds a day and allowed his hair to grow long and lock up.

Dreadlocks in India are reserved nearly exclusively for holy people that still maintain such practices. According to the 'Hymn of the longhaired sage' in ancient Vedas, long jatas express a spiritual significance which implies the wearer has special relations with spirits, is an immortal traveller 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 Lord of life churned and pounded the unbendable, when long-haired one, in Rudra's company, drank from poison cup (The Keshin Hymn, Rig-veda)”

Shiva is always shown with mass of dreadlocks twisted on top of his head, & his followers are described wearing twisted locks of hair as well. ~ “Shiva takes the weight of the mighty Ganges in his locks & imprisons her. She is released through locks of his hair, which prevents the river's force from destroying earth, and waters bring purification to planet.” The Shaiva Nagas, ascetics of India, wear their jata in a twisted knot or bundle on top of their head & let them down only for special occasions and rituals. ✨👁✨

Sankat Rahe Na Bhay ; Sada Raho Nirbhay ~ Bum Bum Bhole 🙏🕉🙏