clean shave (mottai/bowdigundu) makes one ineligible for Sattumorai Goshti

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Priya Bhagawatas,

Jai Srimannarayana!

 

One of the most important part of Bhagawadaaraadhana either in

temples or home is the Saattumorai after Nyvedyam, which consists of

mangalasasanams to the Lord, Azhwars, Emberumaanaar and all the

Acharyas. This seva as desired by all our acharyas/jeeyars needs the

attendance of as many Bhagawatas as possible. All the core participants

in this goshti need to be attired appropriately with oordhwapundram,

yagnopaveetham, sikha etc. This Saattumorai seva has a special

significance especially in the most prominent divyadeshams like Tirumala

and Srirangam where the Jeeyar lead the goshti. In such cases the

attire of all the goshti members need to be perfect as per the vedic

vaishnava sampradayam. Thus a clean shaven head (Mottai/bowdigundu)

becomes a non-eligibility, as there is perfect reason for sporting the

sikha for a true vedic. Though the Jeeyars/sthanacharyas ignore

this particular aspect of sikha many a times while allowing people to

join the sattumorai goshti, of late the present revered Chinna jeeyar

swamiji of Tirumala is insisting on people to refrain from clean shaven

head and sport a sikha while joining the daily sattumorai goshti. The

revered swamiji is advising all the goshti members coming from various

parts of the country to tell their vedic friends not to go for a

'clean shaven head without a sikha', if interested to join the

sattumorai goshti. Clarifications regarding the importance of sikha and

the misgivings in clean shaven head are as follows

 

1. Hair on the head is compared to the infinite desires of the mind

of various kinds. But in that infinite desires are also included the

desires for the Lord. Thus our acharyas say all the desires are not

detrimental to the individual as long as they are tied up with the

desire for the Lord. To indicate this, our sampradayic-vedics always

keep most part of their hair tied up as a knot, to indicate that all

the desires are tied up along with the desires for the Lord.

 

2. When visiting divya kshetrams like Tirumala, one needs to shed all

the desires but the desire for the Lord Venkateswara should not be

removed. To indicate this when offering the head gear, all the hair

including the mustache (most important one which displays the macho

tendency undesirable before the Purushottaman) needs to be removed and a

sikha needs to be sported at an ideal place (which is regarded as

Brahmarandhram). demonstrating that the desire for the Lord is still

intact. Otherwise a clean shaven head (mottai or bowdigundu) indicates

that all the desires including the one for the Lord is also removed,

which is suicidal.

 

Jai Srimannarayana

 

Sarvaaparaadhamulato

Dr.Kilambi Ramakrishna Ramanuja Dasan

 

Re: [sv-rituals] head shave?

 

At 09:46 AM 3/5/03 +0530, you wrote:

>

>> I was advised by an elderly vaishavaite that vaishhnavaites should

>not get

>> their head shaved (mottai in Tamizh). Is any such thing is being

>said any

>> where in sacred texts? Or is any such mores being adopted? I have

>a prayer

>> with Lord Venkateshwara in Thiurumalai in pending. Can I go ahead

>with

>> offering my hair?

 

>> Learned scholars, please advice.

 

>> Thanx,

>>

>> Narayanan