Guest guest Posted May 14, 2004 Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 Hi Jacob, I am a new member too. My thoughts below try to answer you somewhat indirectly. Your question contains an interesting phase "...expert of Hindu philosophy and religion". In fact, "Hindu" as a philosophy and "Hindu" as a religion are very separate. The "religion" part is awkward to explain because there are as many "Hindu religions" as the number of people claiming to be "Hindus" in the world. Each person has his or her own religion. When a lot of people follow, contribute to and continue certain rituals from generations to generations, those rituals practically become part of the so called common "religion". Typically, there are at least three types of hair cuts practiced in India as rituals. One is at the time of "munj" or "deeksha". Second is after the death of a parent. Third is when you go to some places of religious importance, and Tirupati is NOT the only place where it happens. There are few others. So let me try to get to your questions. > Is anyone here familiar with the ritual in the Tirupati shrine in India to cut the hair? Yep. > What is the purpose, objective? Any purpose as per your belief. It could be hope of getting something in return, or washing away your sins, or making the god happy, or spiritual cleansing or symbolic of tapasya or just because everyone else is getting a shave or fashion or whatever. >Is it like giving something to god? If you believe so. > Do they believe in one god, or in something else? IF God were one, they would believe in one. >Is it idolatry? Tirupati has a big Balaji temple and it has idols. > What is done with the hair? I think they collect it and sell it. > Is it sold? Where? I know of at least two. The wig manufacturers and some pharmachemical companies that produce protein from human hair. > Was anyone of you already there? No some family members did. > Did anyone of you perform this ritual? Not me. I like my hair. > Does anyone know contact info to an expert on this issue? The "hindu population" could be about 1 billion around the world. Most of them would claim to be an expert! > Contact info of an > expert of Hindu philosophy and religion? For Hindu philosophy, a better word would be "guru"...but you don't need one to talk about Tirupati hair cut. For Hindu religion, see previous answer. Don't let me confuse you. By analogy, I have seen Catholic Churches in many countries (UK, France, Italy, India, ...), each of them has different religious rituals. That had confused me too. Regards, Sunny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 15, 2004 Report Share Posted May 15, 2004 Dear Friend.Devotees of Krsna Cut thier Hair,To become unattached to our bodies!This Shaving of the Head Makes us unattached!Women do not have to do this,Your Servant,Jaya Kesava dasa - graphana Friday, May 14, 2004 6:23 PM Urgent questions abuot Tirupati hair-cutting > I have a questions for which I'm looking for a very urgent response. Is anyone here familiar with the ritual in the Tirupati shrine in India to cut the hair? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 16, 2004 Report Share Posted May 16, 2004 Hi Sunny, Thanks so much for your kind rich, informative, interesting reply. It is very helpful. May I ask you: what is "munj" or "deeksha"? What is Balaji? What is tapasya? You write: <<< Tirupati is NOT the only place where it happens. There are few others. >>> I heard some 32,000 such places are in India out there. Can it be true? You write: <<<I know of at least two. The wig manufacturers and some pharmachemical companies that produce protein from human hair.>>> JS: Can you pleas tell me any specifics? Thank you very much, Jacob S > Hi Jacob, > > I am a new member too. My thoughts below try to answer you somewhat > indirectly. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 16, 2004 Report Share Posted May 16, 2004 Hi Jacob, You are welcome. You've lots of questions and it is unfortunately difficult to explain Hindu rituals very precisely....without raising another round of questions. Life is a process of learning . So before going into them, could you tell me a bit about yourself, your background, your current understanding of the Hindu philosophy and Hindu rituals and why particularly the hair cut interests you ? Are you into wig manufacturing business ?. Regards, Sunny , graphana@a... wrote: > Hi Sunny, > > Thanks so much for your kind rich, informative, interesting reply. It is very Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 17, 2004 Report Share Posted May 17, 2004 Hi, Thanks for your reply. Am not a wig manufacturing business. The issue interests me after the NYT reported last week Friday that Jewis women stopped using human hair wigs after they found out it comes from Hindu hair-cutting for their gods in Tirupati. All the best, J << Hi Jacob, ..... >You are welcome. ..... >Are you into wig manufacturing business ?. >Regards, Sunny >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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