VEDIC/HINDU/SADHUS/ASIA DREADLOCK HISTORY
VEDIC
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. (but are most probably much older in origin due to a long oral tradition)The dreadlocked Vedic deity Shiva and his followers were described in the Vedic scriptures as "jaTaa", meaning "wearing twisted locks of hair", most likely derived from the Dravidian word "caTai", which means to twist or to wrap. The Vedas are the primary texts of Hinduism and had a vast influence on Buddhism, Jainism, and also influenced the Celtic religion, society and folklore. According to Roman accounts of the time which can be found in the writings of Julis Caesar himself (the Celts wore dreadlocks as well), describing them as having "hair like snakes".
The earliest evidence of dreadlocks, however, comes to us from the ancient Vedic scriptures. Although this evidence is not as substantial as that of the ancient Egyptians, it suggests that dreadlocks could have existed even earlier. According to the Butterfly Tribe article on the History of Dreadlocks.
The word describing them is jaTa, within the Sanskrit-English dictionary to mean: "wearing twisted locks of hair" and "the hair twisted together (as worn by ascetics, Shiva, and persons in mourning)" and a contemporary Hindi dictionary translates it as "matted hair". In the word and concept of jaTa we find the retroflex T which is not of Indo-Aryan origin but from Dravidian languages. As legend has it, the fair skinned Indo-Aryans entered India from the north, but already living there were the darker skinned Dravidians, whose origins remain uncertain but are believed to have founded the Indus Valley culture. Some research and study has proposed that the Dravidians were migrants from northeast Africa, in the land of Kush, or Ethiopia and Kemet. The ancient people and traditions of these lands were also known to have certain kings, mystics, and monks with dreadlocks, as well as many parallels with the Dravidian rites, rituals, linguistics, symbols and beliefs. Indias Ethiopian settlers built the great city Harrapan with its running water and sewage and had been involved in high volume trade. Before the coming of the Aryans, who came down from the North and plundered the city and surrounding villages, forcing the Ethiopians (Dravidians) or Dalits as they are now called, to go down toward the south. They are the people in India who are called untouchables the very same people that Gandhi referred to as the children of god from who the majority of Indians in the Caribbean descended. Although they would resist and blatantly deny their African blood, history has recorded the African presence in India. The Europeans used the term Abyssinian or Negro in describing the people found in India for they resembled the Africans in their culture and custom
At the stage of renunciation in the life of the 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 as well as shamans in many of the ethnic groups that still maintain such practices. 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 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 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 10.136)”
Hindu Mythology: “Shiva takes the weight of the mighty Ganges in his locks and imprisons her. She is released through the locks of his hair, which prevents the river's force from destroying earth, and the waters bring purification to the planet.”
The Shaiva Nagas, ascetics of India, wear their jata (long hair) in a twisted knot or bundle on top of the head and let them down only for special occasions and rituals.
the Hindu god Shiva is always shown with a mass of dreadlocks twisted on top of his head, and the followers of Shiva are described as wearing twisted locks of hair as well, as elaborated in the encyclopedia History of Dreadlocks article
below is a depiction of Shiva
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. (but are most probably much older in origin due to a long oral tradition)The dreadlocked Vedic deity Shiva and his followers were described in the Vedic scriptures as "jaTaa", meaning "wearing twisted locks of hair", most likely derived from the Dravidian word "caTai", which means to twist or to wrap. The Vedas are the primary texts of Hinduism and had a vast influence on Buddhism, Jainism, and also influenced the Celtic religion, society and folklore. According to Roman accounts of the time which can be found in the writings of Julis Caesar himself (the Celts wore dreadlocks as well), describing them as having "hair like snakes".
The earliest evidence of dreadlocks, however, comes to us from the ancient Vedic scriptures. Although this evidence is not as substantial as that of the ancient Egyptians, it suggests that dreadlocks could have existed even earlier. According to the Butterfly Tribe article on the History of Dreadlocks.
The word describing them is jaTa, within the Sanskrit-English dictionary to mean: "wearing twisted locks of hair" and "the hair twisted together (as worn by ascetics, Shiva, and persons in mourning)" and a contemporary Hindi dictionary translates it as "matted hair". In the word and concept of jaTa we find the retroflex T which is not of Indo-Aryan origin but from Dravidian languages. As legend has it, the fair skinned Indo-Aryans entered India from the north, but already living there were the darker skinned Dravidians, whose origins remain uncertain but are believed to have founded the Indus Valley culture. Some research and study has proposed that the Dravidians were migrants from northeast Africa, in the land of Kush, or Ethiopia and Kemet. The ancient people and traditions of these lands were also known to have certain kings, mystics, and monks with dreadlocks, as well as many parallels with the Dravidian rites, rituals, linguistics, symbols and beliefs. Indias Ethiopian settlers built the great city Harrapan with its running water and sewage and had been involved in high volume trade. Before the coming of the Aryans, who came down from the North and plundered the city and surrounding villages, forcing the Ethiopians (Dravidians) or Dalits as they are now called, to go down toward the south. They are the people in India who are called untouchables the very same people that Gandhi referred to as the children of god from who the majority of Indians in the Caribbean descended. Although they would resist and blatantly deny their African blood, history has recorded the African presence in India. The Europeans used the term Abyssinian or Negro in describing the people found in India for they resembled the Africans in their culture and custom
At the stage of renunciation in the life of the 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 as well as shamans in many of the ethnic groups that still maintain such practices. 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 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 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 10.136)”
Hindu Mythology: “Shiva takes the weight of the mighty Ganges in his locks and imprisons her. She is released through the locks of his hair, which prevents the river's force from destroying earth, and the waters bring purification to the planet.”
The Shaiva Nagas, ascetics of India, wear their jata (long hair) in a twisted knot or bundle on top of the head and let them down only for special occasions and rituals.
the Hindu god Shiva is always shown with a mass of dreadlocks twisted on top of his head, and the followers of Shiva are described as wearing twisted locks of hair as well, as elaborated in the encyclopedia History of Dreadlocks article
below is a depiction of Shiva
The priest of Sadhu Rasta is one who is regarded as having great knowledge and wisdom, and who uses it to guide others (Master, Teacher, Guru, Ras). As a principle for the development of consciousness it leads the creation from unreality to reality, from the darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge. In its purest form this principle manifests on earth as a divine incarnation (Avatar, Mystic, Saint), a person with supreme knowledge about God and all creation. The Mystic is the knower of God, a saint which can see God at any time he so desires. There connection between the here and there is through their life long dreadlocks! hence those who seek out and attain dreads are said to be spiritually knowledgeable and hence enlightened! (illumi-nati)
below are a series pf depictions of Sadhus and their dreads!
below are a series pf depictions of Sadhus and their dreads!
ASIA
In East Asian countries, such as China, dreadlocks were initially treated as an amulet supposed to bring good health, was often worn in combination with extremely long fingernails. These fashions were reserved mainly for noblemen and ascetics, who wished to advertise their freedom from menial labor and earthly attachment.
In East Asian countries, such as China, dreadlocks were initially treated as an amulet supposed to bring good health, was often worn in combination with extremely long fingernails. These fashions were reserved mainly for noblemen and ascetics, who wished to advertise their freedom from menial labor and earthly attachment.