Proof That Indian Hair Itself is a Sacrifice
Page 2
Some of the Answers Given:
By Lalitha Bhattiprolu on April 3, 2016:
“Mundan [hair donation] is the favorite sacrifice for lord Venkateswara. The story behind it goes like this: Once NEELA a devotee of the lord offered her hair for him when he lost it accidentally which deprived her of her beauty. Lord balaji promised her that he will repay it by taking the hair from his devotees as an offering. Thus, Mundan became a favorable offering for him. The legend says, when we offer our hair we bow in front of him. It is a common practice that along with hair, mustache also should be given to him. Then only our offering to him will be completed.
We must go for his darshan [visiting the temple to see the idol] after mundan to show him that we kept our promise of offering our hair.
By Choudhary Abhishek on Nov 14, 2014:
Every devotee (Bhakta) sees god in his/her own way and interprets god's actions(leela) his/her own understanding. Their are various reasons for doing Mundan 1 "Mannat" A wish - When the wish is fulfilled one does Mundan / For the fulfilment of the wish. 2 New born babies are taken to temples for mundan I've heard it’s auspicious and may be because the hair grew when the baby was in mother's womb for some reason.
By Akhila Kittu, on Nov 5th, 2016:
When lord Balaji went to meet Padmavatidevi the security guards threw stones at him as she was a princess. He found an injury at forehead and lost his hair to some extent. Then Goddess Neeladevi cut and gave her hair to Balaji. Then she was granted a boon that she will get hair by devotees of Balaji in reciprocal.
By Mithilesh Kunal, on July 16, 2015: She refers to herself as a “Hindu at heart and soul:”
“It is said that all the bad works and the sin resulted from them will reside at the edges of your hair. So in Tirumala, the god is kind hearted to accept all your sins. It is achieved by giving your hair to god. I came to know about this from a priest.”
Found at <https://www.quora.com/Why-is-it-believed-to-do-Mundan-donating-Hair-to-Lord-Tirupati-Balaji-What-is-the-story-significance-behind-it>
Source #6
Article titled “Belief Behind Donating hair at Tirupati Balaji" By Jeevan Mantra, on Sep 12, 2010.
“Chittur, a district in Andhra Pradesh is known for the richest and the most prosperous god, Shri Tirupati Balaji, and his temple. For devotees, especially Hindus, it is one of the most sacrosanct pilgrimages. It is believed that the temple is the heavenly abode of lord Vishnu and goddess Laxmi. A 7 feet bluish-black idol of Shri Tirupati Balaji was founded inside the temple. In India, every religious place is known for observing certain beliefs, traditions and customs. Similarly, tonsuring the head and offering hair at Tirupati Balaji’s temple is done with a special purpose. While offering hair, a devotee casts off all the vices, vanities and sins from his whole being. By doing so, he/she wants to become a complete devout. This is also done so that, Shri Balaji, who is all benevolent, showers all his love, benevolence, affection and piety over the devotee by fulfilling all his/her desires.
In older days, people followed the tradition of offering hairs in their own houses but now-a-days people visit a place close to Shri Balaji’s temple, known as Kalyan Katta, for a ceremony to donate hair. After the ceremony, devotees take a plunge in the holy river of Pushkarini and visit the temple to offer prayers and to receive Shri Balaji’s blessings.
Source #7
From Quora, a Question and Answer Forum answered by Hindu people:
Question: Should I donate my hair at Tirupati temple? What is the reason behind this to donate hair?
Answer Submitted by Thirumal Kamalashanthini on Aug 24, 2016:
“…Hair or the ThamiL word was considered the crowning glory of a person….As crowning glory it would be considered sacrifice given to God …”
Found at <https://www.quora.com/Should-I-donate-my-hair-at-Tirupati-temple-What-is-the-reason-behind-this-to-donate-hair>
Source #8
From Quora, a Question and Answer Forum answered by Hindu people:
Question: Can someone send hair to Tirupati Balaji?
By Nirmalananda Reddy Kasivi, said on May 11, 2017: (This person lives in Tirupati, India.)
“If someone sends human hair through someone to Tirupati Balaji, when unable to make pilgrimage, the same could be left or placed at the premises of tonsure ‘kalyanakatta’.”
By Sri Venkata Rama, said on May 11, 2017:
“Yes you can. Just ensure there is someone you know well is going to Tirumala. You can give them the hair and request them to drop it in Hundi. It is a strong belief that anything offered in Hundi is a offering to lord Venkateswara. My sisters who are in USA had their kids hair sent to me and we personally took it to Thirumala and offered it in hundi.”
By Sasidhar Darla, said on May 16, 2017:
“I wouldn’t recommend doing that. The whole point of pilgrimage is the journey you undertake to visit lord Balaji. It has it’s complete effect only when someone goes to Tirupati in person and offers the hair.”
Found at <https://www.quora.com/Can-someone-send-hair-to-Tirupati-Balaji>
Source #9
From Quora, a Question and Answer Forum answered by Hindu people:
Question: Why do people get their head shaved when they visit Tirupati Balaji?
By Nirmalananda Reddy Kasivi, lives in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India, said on April 26, 2017:
“There are many reasons. 1. People give their hair (tonsure) to the lord Venkateswara when they visit Tirupati -Tirmala on pilgrimage mainly to fulfill their “mokkubadi” (vow or obeisance). 2. Some offer their hair out of a gesture or token of respect and submit to the lord that they carry no arrogance or ego before Him. 3. It could be purely devotional and total worship to the lord Venkateswara. And their visit to the holy and sacred complex would be completed by giving away the hair (tonsure). 4. Since lord Venkateswara is Kuladivam (family as well caste & societal god) people give hair of their children as a tradition before they complete three years of age. 5. The practice of giving hair (tonsure) to the lord is so sacred and Mandatory, many of women who don't wish to give away their long hair, do offer mudu katharimpulu (cutting of hair at three places of head). 6. Such is the significance of giving hair (tonsure) at Tirumala Hills, the abode of lord Venkateswara or Srinivasa. 7. “Tirupati Balaji” is the name used by many of North Indians for lord Venkateswara or Srinivasa. Balaji is actually a devout devotee of the lord Venkateswara and he proved his devoutness when he was cornered by the temple priests. Hence, the devotee name supersedes the lord's name as ‘Tirupati Balaji’.”
