The dreadlock

An Indian monk was slowly moving through the roads and people were looking at him with surprised interest. The dress, the attire, the posture were all alien to people of the western world but what attracted their attention most was the matted ropes of hair on the head of the monk. That is exactly what we call the dreadlock, hair on the head allowed to grow without cutting, combing or brushing to take the shape of matted ropes.

Origin

One of the universal phenomenons that have survived the onslaught of time, dreadlock has its origin rooted in the ancient Vedic Hindu culture. In the Hindu mythologies it is described that Lord Shiva took the force off the holy river Ganges coming to the earth on his dreadlock and thus saved the earth from destruction. Historically too the earliest evidence of dreadlock is found around 2500 years BC and have been mostly the favorite hair style of sages and monks.

The immediate impact

Hinduism had its influence on Buddhism, Jainism and even the Greek and Roman cultures of the past. In the Roman Celtic culture dreadlock was referred to as hair knotted like snakes. MADUSA? The royal families in ancient Egypt not only adopted the dreadlock but also used dreadlocked wigs as archeological discoveries have revealed.

Other cultures

Dreadlock was used not only in Egypt, Rome, and Greece but Germany, Mexico, Far East, Africa and several other countries. In Germany the Vikings, in Far East the Naga tribe, the Bishops of Jerusalem, Aztecs of Mexico were all well attached with Dreadlocks. Dreadlock was one of the most popular hair styles in these countries during the 14-16th century AD and they were also found with the Sufi Order in Senegal.

The modern era

During 1950s in Jamaica the people followers of “Young Black Faith” took heavily the style of dreadlocks following the cue of poor people there who had been using dreadlocks since the 1930s. It is also said that when Hindu and Naga saints started visiting Jamaica in pursuit of jobs in the 19th century, the dreadlock culture came up with them to Jamaica. A few others trace the origin to the Mau Mau rebels who were fighting against the British colonialism of the time.

Why dreadlocks?

Dreadlocks have been used by people coming from different cultural backgrounds with different reasons. Sometimes it is due to their religious and spiritual convictions like it is sacred among Hindu saints and monks and at other time social and political environments like used by the Mau Mau rebels. To avert the derogatory use of the term a new term has come up to replace the term “dreadlock” and it is often referred to as “African Locks”, the aim being to remove the feature of dreading from the terminology.

The importance of dreadlocks in Eastern countries

Dreadlocks are considered sacred by the Indian religious preachers since it has its origin with the holy Lord Shiva. In China too noblemen and ascetics used dreadlocks combined with long fingernails denouncing all earthly attachments. In some other Asian and African countries the dreadlock refers to the fear of the almighty.

Dreadlocks and the western world today

When the reggae music made a big stride during the 1980s, the dreadlocks used by the world famous singer and lyrist Bob Marley caught the imagination of the audience world over and there was a rush to wear dreadlocks. This became most popular among the African-Americanized people but white people did not remain far behind. Especially the people who raise their voice for anti-globalization, and the activists who support the cause of environment-protection find dreadlocks to their choice, a symbol of registering their protest against the possible evils of globalization and environmental pollution.

It is fear of the employee policy, that have caused many to shorn their "fear of God" hairstyle.... what is your take?

Tags: Christian, Pre-Christian, fashion, religion

Views: 601

Replies to This Discussion

I used to be able to trade "boobs" but I'm out of that business as well.... I kinda miss them!
I understand the boobs things (after 4 babies), but at least I do still have the butt, even if it's at a slightly different elevation!!! :-) LOL
You're right...sagging pants aren't different from low-riders. Please don't take what I'm about to say as snapping back at you! I'm not. Actually, I have a problem with ANYONE (male or female) showing their underwear (bras included) in public. If a person wants to wear jeans/pants/shorts/skirts, I think the waist should actually come up to the waist. It's tough finding a descent pair of jeans, pants, or shorts (they don't wear skirts except to church) for my daughters (14 & 5) because we will not let them wear clothes that are low-waisted, too short in the leg, cropped up, or low cut. Trust me.. I'm no prude, though. A person can look really nice in clothes that don't show THAT much.
My issue is that all the designers think girls have hourglass frame... and some of us don't!

when I find pants that fit me in the leg.... I can invite one friends to join my waistline... when I get the waist to fit, legs are tight and end up looking like capri pants (and sometimes the dreded camel toe shows up)... I just can't win for losing.

Guess I'l have to go back to making my own clothes!

But, your point is valid... I'm just getting a kick out of a post on hair going to an expose on crack... Geraldo might weigh-in on us once he recovers from IKE! lol
This has turned into a pretty funny thread. I think it's just what we all needed!!!!! I hate how the manufacturer's don't or won't get it right! If they insist on making the more exposing clothes, then they could at least give the rest of us a broad enough option, clothes that actually fit, huh?
My older daughter has the same problem when looking for jeans. Right in the butt area, huge in the legs, or vice versa. Since I've been working to lose weight, my middle being the last to go (even with ab exercises), the jeans are baggy in the legs. I have jeans a size smaller (that I've held onto for about 5-6 years) - perfect in the leg, but I can't zip & button! UUGGHH.
Hey, you doing okay after going through what you were when you lost so much weight?
My family has the apple-shape, most of us top-heavy with 'buddha tummies' great for when I was an Oriental Folkdancer, not great for fashion in real-life.

My abs have plagued me all my life, so I can share this: I

'm really into food chemistry and how our body absorbs food (all my relatives die young and I have the full gauntlet of diseases in my gene pool from Cancer/Stroke/Diabetes/Heart Attack/and on and on).

So, I learned that adding mass amounts of raw green leafy veggies are great, but if you are switching from a more 'American' diet... increase your stomach's pH with Betaine HCL+ tablets (also great at aiding your body's absorption of protein).

Assimilation and digestion of food is key to preventing all illnesses, and attaining flat abs (a nice by-product).

Detoxification from refined sugars, metal poisoning (air/water/food), chemical overload (OTC/Pharm/contamination or over-exposure) --- automatically renews our fat burning abilities, b/c our organs are bombarded with toxins we have taken for granted in daily life (happy kidney, colon, liver = happy skin, etc).

I gained 60# of the 80 I lost from a really stressful predicament and extreme "broke-ness" I ate the most terrible slop of chem agro products, white-flour bread, and last season's chocolate.... it was truly a sin against God as my body had become a trash-can. I walked 5 miles with my dog almost daily and stil blew-up. So, now I actually feel more like myself again! Up until a month or so ago, I was really suffering from aches and pains (which I found out were due to a disintegrating metal-filling in a tooth!). Exercising and finally visiting a chiropractor really helped out the whole malady.

Mathusula lived to be around 800 years old.... why can't one of my folks live to retire?

This might be way too much disclosure, but I am shameless!

Off to the environmental causes with my tangental ways.
I once had an hour glass figure but my how the sands have shifted!
Yeah, I use to have 10 minute abs. Now I got 10 year abs.
While walking his own dog!
wearing mis-matched gym socks with his high-topped tennies
Not a big fan of sagging, but since I barely have a rear.... the revealed thong action is something I battle everytime I stand or sit... I prefer clothing optional as a true free spirit, that way I don't have to worry if anything is showing! lol

On a serious note, I was really ill in the begining of the year and have lost about 80 pounds, so as I keep trading my clothes in for smaller ones, it gets endless.... but I hate SPANDEX, if you are curious.

Guys who sag? well, not my thing....especially those that you can see their goods above the jeansline covered only by their boxers ... thank God they wear undies, I mean that cannot be comfortable.

I am no bra burner or anything, those actually come in handy when wearing dresses and when you want to keep your "pink-nosed pups" under control, after the incident at my sis' wedding reception I vow to always wear a bra with strapless dresses.... lol!
Cookie,
Usually nothing is off limits for me. But I'm gonna leave this one to you hens.
See ya!!

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