Nature has provided hair on the human body, not only to enhance the external beauty, but also to imbibe Chaitanya (Divine consciousness) and develop sattvikta (purity) in the individual. Most of us nowadays are not sure why nature has provided us hair only in specific regions of the body from a physical point of view and how this protects us spiritually as well. Let us read this article and find out the actual reasons behind having hair and how it benefits us.
1. Physical function of hair and its benefits
Principal function of hair is to provide protection from dust, wind and extreme temperatures.
A. Gaseous voids in the body : The voids in the body are – the cerebral void, the void in the eye sockets, gaseous voids associated with ears, nose and throat, inner voids of the cheek-bones, hands and feet, void in the armpits, void in the chest cavity and voids in the inner cavities of the genital organs. These voids are mainly made up of the Vayutattva (Absolute Air Principle). Hair helps in providing some protective covering to these voids and therefore provides a barrier to negative energy attacks. Utility of hair on various parts of the body is given below:
-
Scalp : Hair on the scalp protects the cerebral void in the head, by maintaining the temperature of air flow within the brain cells of the cerebral void in a warm state, and by increasing the comprehending ability of these cells, sustaining the momentum of energy flow in the cells.
-
Eyebrows : Hair protects the void in the eye sockets by maintaining the temperature of air conduction within the void in the eye sockets in a warm state and protecting the delicate blood vessels of the eyes and the outer layer of the eyes.
-
Ears : It protects the void around the Vishuddha-chakra within the throat. By maintaining equilibrium in exchange of energy between void in the ear and void in the throat, control over the movement of chain of bones in the ears is established
-
Nose : Does protection of the air curtain within the inner nasal void. The function of hair is to controls humidity in the air curtain by maintaining equilibrium in air conduction.
-
Moustache and Beard : Hair protects the void in the upper palate and the void in the jaw by maintaining consistency in the temperature of the energy flow entering the wind pipe, thereby controlling the breathing, as well as overcoming the obstacles created by the inward flow of Raja-Tama particles through the breath.
-
Hands : Does protection of the voids participating in the regular energy flow within the elbow, wrist, armpit and fingers. As the energy flow is regularized, the joints show enhanced mobility and all actions are consistent.
-
Fingers of the hands : Hair controls the energy flow from the tips of the fingers to the hands and protects small voids in the fingers. By maintaining consistency in energy flow and protecting the fingers from external particles, the Raja-Tama grip of the fingers of the hands and the movement of fingers acquires swiftness.
-
Chest : Hair protects the main Vayutattva-predominant void associated with breathing. It protects the ribs in the chest from the pressure of the Raja-Tama predominant waves, emitting from the external atmosphere.
-
Armpit : Protects the voids within the armpit, and enables the individual to maintain a balance in the atmosphere by sustaining the equilibrium in air conduction in the armpit. It controls the pressure applied by Raja-Tama predominant waves emitting from the upward direction and falling on the shoulders and transfers the Raja-Tama-predominant waves in the shoulders in the downward direction.
-
Reproductive organs : Hair protects the cavities in the lower abdomen/pelvis and genitals, thus also protecting sperms by maintaining proper equilibrium in the temperature of the air conduction within the genitals.
-
Anus : Protection of bottom aperture as the hair creates obstacles in the Raja-Tama predominant energy flow emitting from the downward direction, thereby holding up these waves. These waves are released back into the external atmosphere, thus regulating the temperature of void in the anus, and removing obstacles in defecation.
-
Legs : Hair protects the three main Vayutattva-predominant voids in the legs and maintaining consistency in their performance by bringing about better interaction between the energy flows in the voids of the thighs, knees and ankles, and creates an atmosphere conducive for leg movement.
-
Toes : Protection of the voids in the web of toes is obtained. There is a creation of obstacle for Raja-Tama predominant particles in the energy flow coming from the external atmosphere to the toes, thereby protecting the voids in the feet.
2. Maintaining the body temperature
Hair exist on the regions related to the voids associated with Vayutattva. Temperature of respective body parts is maintained at an appropriate level due to the hair, thus assisting in better performance of the body cells. The temperatures in the voids are very easily affected by the outside environment. This can affect the equilibrium of the cells in those voids. The function of hair is to regulate the heat in the voids of the body which in turn help organs to operate so also, discharging of the excess heat energy into the atmosphere is done through the medium of hair, thereby maintaining the temperature of that part of the body. The voids meant for air ventilation immediately respond to the change in the external atmospheric temperature. This can lead to imbalance in the cells of the respective organs. For maintaining the temperature at an appropriate level, covering in the form of hair is designed on the respective areas; otherwise, due to the variation in temperatures, the cells may dysfunction and later, this may result in their turning lifeless. At the subtle-level too, the excess heat generated in the person’s body is expelled into the environment through the hair. This excess heat can be generated due to physical, mental or spiritual distress.
3. Preventing attacks of Raja-Tama predominant waves
In the inner voids of the body where the proportion of Vayutattva is greater and to prevent direct contact of the inner layers of skin with the Raja-Tama-predominant particles in the external atmosphere, leading to dispersion of respective waves in the body, hair exist on the outer skin at those places in the body. To some extent, hair also prevents the transfer of Raja-Tama-predominant waves in the body, thus protecting the inner organs. However, where the atmosphere is extremely polluted, the hair may come into contact with Raja-Tama particles in the atmosphere, leading to an increase the possibility of causing distress to an individual. Attacks of the Raja-Tama-predominant waves on the individual are prevented to an extent of about 10%.
Reference : Sanatan Sanstha’s Holy text ‘Hair Care’.
