Table of Contents
Why head is shaved when someone dies?
Men who actively participate in funeral rituals have greater chances of suffering. To avoid this, they must shave their heads completely. This Mundan ritual is also a mark of shedding their ego.
Why do Hindu widows shave their heads?
It used to be said that if a widow’s hair was allowed to grow and be tied up in a braid, it would bind the deceased husband’s spirit to her and to the places of his previous life. Mangaldihians also viewed head shaving as an act of renunciation and of severing ties.
What does shaving one side of your head mean?

Tonsure (/ˈtɒnʃər/) is the practice of cutting or shaving some or all of the hair on the scalp as a sign of religious devotion or humility. The term originates from the Latin word tonsura (meaning “clipping” or “shearing”) and referred to a specific practice in medieval Catholicism, abandoned by papal order in 1972.
What is mundan in Hindu?
In Hinduism, the mundan is one of 16 purification rituals known as Shodasha Samskara. The ceremony is believed to rid the baby of any negativity from their past life while promoting mental and spiritual development.

What is a Babri haircut?
The priest shaves off a part of the child’s hair. The parents or the barber finishes the hair cut after that. The shaven head is washed with holy water (Gangajal). Then a paste of turmeric and sandalwood is applied. It is believed that this mixture cools the head and speeds up the healing of any nicks and cuts.
What rituals are performed after death in Hinduism?
Contents
- 1 Shmashana – the cremation or burial ground. 1.1 Antyesti – the cremation. 1.2 Burial in Hinduism.
- 2 Post-antyesti rituals. 2.1 Niravapanjali – immersion of ashes. 2.2 Tarpana – sacred offering to Gods for entrance to heaven.
- 3 Genealogy registers.
- 4 Ancestor worship. 4.1 Pitrs – the ancestors.
Why do Hindu babies shave their heads?
Hindu babies In Hindu tradition, the hair from birth is associated with undesirable traits from past lives. Thus at the time of the mundan, the child is freshly shaven to signify freedom from the past and moving into the future.
What is the reason behind mundan?
The shaving off the hair is considered to be a gesture of purification from the previous yonis and freedom from the past. Some also believe that shaving off head helps in stimulating proper growth of the nerves and brain. Mundan also helps in keeping the baby’s head cool during the hot weather.
What is head shaving ceremony called?
01/6Mundan ceremony: Here is the scientific reason behind it Mundan called Tonsure in English is the act of shaving the baby’s first hair on the head. The tradition is considered important in Hindu tradition mandatory. During the mundan ceremony, a barber is assigned the task of shaving off the baby’s hair.
What are the rituals of Hindu funeral?
Most Hindu funerals have three parts: A wake or funeral in the family’s home immediately upon death. A cremation ceremony (MukhAgni) at the cremation site. A ceremony (Shraddha) to help the soul of the deceased enter the next world.