Shikha

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The Śikhā at the back of the head.
A Hindu child after the ritual haircut during an initiation ceremony , Upanayana, in which the sacred cord is bestowed. Often the hair is cut and a Shikha is tied. The red swastika represents a traditional sign of blessing, the swastika

A Shikha ( Sanskrit , शिखा śikhā ) is a lock of hair or braid of a male Hindu, usually located on the back of the head, and especially a religious symbol of the Vaishnavas , the followers of the god Vishnu .

While the Shikha was previously mandatory for devout Hindus, this traditional style is becoming increasingly rare in modern life. Today the Shikha is also worn by members of the ISKCON , the International Society for Krishna Consciousness , especially by the religious, the Brahmacharis and Swamis .

See also

  • Tschub , the forelock of the Ukrainian Cossacks

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