Not washing the hair regularly leads to many hair-related problems. Hence, washing the hair is an important aspect of hair care. Men should wash their hair every day, whereas women should wash the hair at least twice a week. The quality and health of hair depend not merely on washing the hair, but also on the substances used for washing. Supermarkets nowadays are flooded with imported shampoos from all over the world, providing different uses. But none of them guarantee spiritual benefits; hence, despite using those shampoos we are not as satisfied as models advertising them on TV commercials.. Let us have a look at the spiritual effects of the various chemical and natural substances used for washing hair.
1. Substances used for washing the hair
A. Chemical substances : Today, many chemical-based soaps and shampoos are available for washing hair. Many shampoos available address specific hair problems too. When washed with these shampoos, the hair outwardly appears silky, soft and lustrous; but the chemicals in the soaps and shampoos lead to many hair-related problems.
B. Natural substances : For hundreds of years, women have been using shikakai (Acacia concinna) and ritha (Soap nut) for washing hair. Mixture of powder of shikakai pods, powder of amla (Indian gooseberry) and powder of dried peels of oranges/lemon should be soaked in water overnight. Next day, this water should be rubbed into the hair. After half an hour, the hair should be washed with ritha water. For dry hair, apply oil to the hair every night and wash with shikakai and ritha the next day. If this is not possible, then wash the hair using Ayurvedic shampoo. To maintain cleanliness of hair, ingredients with natural properties should be used. As a result, harm to the hair is prevented and it ensures good care of hair.
i. Importance of shikakai : ‘When I wash my hair with shampoo, my head feels heavy and arid. When I wash the hair with shikakai, positive energy is imbibed by the head and I feel calm.
ii. When the hair are washed with water in which rock salt has been dissolved, the distressing energy in the hair gets destroyed : Whenever I poured water (in which rock salt had been dissolved) on my hair, the distressing energy in the hair would be swiftly released and I would feel light. In washing the hair with plain water, the proportion of reduction of distressing energy and feeling of lightness would be less.
– Ms Girija, Goa
2. Benefits of washing hair regularly
A. Physical : Washing hair regularly reduces the formation of lice and dandruff and other hair ailments such as allergies, itching etc.
B. Spiritual : Before I washed my hair, I could feel a lot of pressure on my head. After washing them, I felt good. I felt that the pressure on the head has reduced.
Negative energies find it easy to attack unhygienic spots. Due to the unhygienic condition of hair, the lady-seeker experienced pressure on her head. After washing the hair, by massaging the hair roots, distressing energy at the spots was destroyed and hence, the lady-seeker felt reduction in the pressure.
3. Why should the hair not be washed on full-moon and new-moon days?
A. If the hair are washed in an atmosphere charged with Raja-Tama components on full-moon and new-moon days, there is a possibility of imbibing distressing waves through the washed hair : If the hair are washed on full-moon and new-moon days, the proportion of Apatattva (Absolute Water Principle) in the hair increases due to contact with water. This increases the sensitivity of the hair; and hence, they respond immediately to the distressing waves that are continuously moving in the atmosphere. Due to the movement of loosely hanging hair, hot frictional energy is generated in the voids of the hair. At that time, distressing waves in the atmosphere get congregated in this energy, and these waves spread to the cerebral void. It is because of this process, that individual can suffer from distress, such as perception of electric shocks, restlessness, feeling irritable. Therefore, washing the hair on full-moon and new-moon days, during which the atmosphere is charged with Raja-Tama components, should be avoided.
B. To prevent the Raja-Tama waves in the atmosphere from coming towards the self, it is appropriate that the men too, like the women, should not wash their hair on full-moon and new-moon days
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Special feature of Pournima (Full-moon day) : The negative energies perform spiritual practice on Pournima and hence, the flow of Raja-Tama waves towards them is greater.
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Special feature of Amavasya (New-moon day) : The negative energies emit Raja-Tama waves to a greater extent; hence, the atmosphere is polluted. In short, on both the days, the Raja-Tama waves are in an active state due to the activities of negative energies.
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On washing, hair become more sensitive to attracting Raja-Tama-predominant waves due to contact with Apatattva in the water : Hair are inherently Raja-Tama predominant, meaning, they are more susceptible to attracting Raja-Tama-predominant waves from the atmosphere towards themselves. While washing hair, they become more sensitive to attracting Raja-Tama-predominant waves due to contact with Apatattva in the water used for washing hair, and this may cause distress to the concerned individual. On new-moon and full-moon days, the atmosphere is polluted with Raja-Tama waves. Thus, washing hair on full-moon and new-moon days is like knowingly making the hair more susceptible to attract these Raja-Tama-predominant waves from the atmosphere and causing distress to oneself.
Reference : Sanatan Sanstha’s Holy text ‘Hair Care’.
