Story 7 : Long hair passion lead to becoming monk and wearing dreadlocks like Shiva

My name is Mohan. Since childhood I had a great passion for long hair. I wanted to grow hair very long, long like woman.

In my fantasies, I used to dream that I am a man with long hair. But being from a maharashtrian family, I could not pursue my dream. During school days I was under a great influence of my parents. They always instated on trimming hair to the shortest possible.

I used to envy my Sikh schoolmates, who grew long hair. The desire for growing hair long always remained.

Once I passed my secondary school examination and joined college, it was a high time. I decided enough is enough. I will grow hair now, as per my wish and to the length of my wish. I wanted to fulfill my passion.

Now the biggest challenge was how to convince parents?

Since our family is god fearing and always deeply believed in good, I decided to take a false shelter of their weakness.

With due regards to merciful god. I told my parents, that god Shiva had come in my dream and his divine message is to grow hair for next 5 years. I deliberately told 5 years since; I read in many books on growing hair that average growth of a hair is 15 cm. per year. So if I want to grow around waist long hair i.e. @ 21/2 feet, I have to grow for 5 years.

Naturally, mother was convinced but father took some objection, his worry, was how I would take of long hair with busy schedule of studies and college? Anyways…I answered that its my problem.

So till first six months, everything was absolutely fine. I used to apply coconut oil every night to enhance the growth and also took care of diet by adding more vegetables and fruits in my diet.

After six months, I caught hold of a hair dresser and totally changed my hair style. I told her that I am going to grow hair so set it in such a fashion that back combing is possible.

She suggested re-bonding. With the iron, she made my hair straight and then set them in backward direction. She asked me to apply lots of gel or oil and comb in backward direction.

I used to wash hair and after drying, I used to apply hair oil elaborately. It acted as a conditioner and I could comb hair without any tangles. Oil helped to comb hair neatly.

After one year, I could wear hair in a small ponytail. The routine remained the same.

After two years, length was around 1 foot and managing was bit difficult. I requested mother to help me out which she happily agreed. She helped me for combing and braiding. Generally, guys and gals hate oil, but I was an exception. So mother used to apply oil then, massage and she used to make a nice braid of hair.

A new guy used to get startled with my hairstyle but I was determined and I was fulfilling my dream.

After third year, hair reached half of the back. Sometimes, I used to wear hair in a single ponytail. Mother taught me to wear hair bun. So she used to make a neat bun of my hair at the back of my neck. Sometimes, she used to make a neat braid and then roll it in a bun. I started growing beard.

Now it was almost 4^th year and my hair almost reached my waist. Bathing was a bit problem, I had to wear shower cap. Combing used to take a lot of time but I was enjoying it as my dream came true.

Now I do everything myself. As far as possible, I wash hair daily. Then I dry them. Before heading for college, I wear them in bun. After coming from college, I apply hair oil and comb them neatly. After combing, removing the tangles, I wear them in a neat and tidy braid. And then again a braided bun.

All along last 4 years, I lied to everyone that lord Shiva directed me to grow hair long. So I decided to do repentance and consulted a priest. He suggested me to wear hair in the same fashion, lord Shiva wears them, like a yogi/ hermit.

I took a vow to wear hair in the same fashion, as lord Shiva wears. Normally, Sikh men wear hair in this fashion, A hair bun on the top of the head.

So, I requested one of my collegemate to teach me. Being Sikh he wears his long hair in a bun. For me, he untied his hair bun. His hair length was around a feet longer than me.Then he showed me how to tie a bun.

I came home and practiced. But it was a lose and incorrect. I requested mother to do so.

Firstly, she applied hair oil, then she combed hair in backward direction, starting from neck. She divided hair into two portion. She tied a braid of the lower portion and bun of the other portion on the top of the head and then wound the braid around it. I was looking a perfect yogi like lord Shiva.

Subsequently, I started doing it myself by tying a neat and tight bun of my long hair on top of the head.

This hair style, gave me a lot of spiritual insight. I inclined more towards prayers and meditation. I read that, hair bun on top of head attracts cosmic rays and helps in concentration. Again I met that priest. He asked me to make jata/ dreads of my hair and wear them in bun.

It was a great decision. Because of diet, oil massage and liking for long hair, my hair became long and healthy. Now changing over to dreads will put everything in vain.

But I decided to do so. I tool help of that priest. He invited me on an auspicious day. He gave me a vow of jata vrat.(Vow to wear hair in jata/ dreads). He brought white colour latex of a Banyan tree.

He untied my hair bun and with his palm he started applying banyan tree latex to my hair like hair oil and my normal hair became matted. Dreads.

After applying it thoroughly, he twisted my hair and made a hair bun of matted hair on top of my head just like lord Shiva. This will remain permanently in that fashion.

I earned my parents respect after this ceremony. They felt, I am serious about the divine message.

Now its almost 7^th year in progress. I don’t take care of hair. Hair grow with the grace of lord Shiva. I take guidance of the priest and whenever I see him, he helps me to tie a neat hair bun of my matted hair.

I go to post graduation college. I pray, meditate every day for spiritual attainment.

Other students tease me, but I neglect. I am focused. The thing which had started as a fun has changed my life.