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: 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