THE TUFT—ITS UTILITY AND SIGNIFICANCE

[Ms Tercy Lonan]

THE TUFT—ITS UTILITY AND SIGNIFICANCE
Brahmins (Brahmanas) as well as the other castes grow Choti or Sikha, a tuft of hair. This
tuff of hair was not so small in olden days, as seen in the present day. It covered the whole brain.
They allowed the hair to grow. They never cut the tuft. It protects the brain from any sudden stroke
and keeps it cool. The heat of the sun does not affect the head directly. Lack of this tuff has
necessitated the use of umbrellas, etc.
The tuft is most scientific as well as religious. Any religious act should be performed after
tying the tuft. Only the funeral and death anniversaries are performed with tuft untied or with
dishevelled hair. It is very inauspicious to remain with dishevelled hair. It is done only in times of
great sorrow or calamity. Draupadi took an oath in the assembly of the Kurus when she was
molested by Dussasana that she would remain with dishevelled hair until the enemies were properly
revenged. Kaikeyi remained with dishevelled hair in her apartment with the object of getting two
boons from Dasaratha which were detrimental to the interests of Rama, the favourite of Dasaratha.
Auspicious acts are never undertaken with tuft untied. Nowadays, very few people wear tuft, and
even women are neglecting this vital point in their feverish anxiety to copy the West. The tuft of
hair has a salutary effect on the essential parts of the brain and the central nervous system.