From ancient India the goddess, Shiva plays a pivotal role in cultural and religious traditions.
Shiva is the “destroyer of evil and the transformer.” She is the Supreme Being who creates, protects and transforms the universe.
Best of all it is claimed that Shiva gets her power and her energy from her matted or dreaded hair.
Dreadlocks from the gods
Some of the earliest depictions of dreadlocks date back to India with the dreadlocked deity Shiva.
In many artistic renditions of Shiva, she is shown with matted hair very similar to dreadlocks.
In ancient records she is known as “the one with matted hair”.
Shiva is also depicted wearing her locs free or wound in a braid in a shell-like fashion. So that her hairdo resembles a kaparda, or cowrie shell.
The Festival of Shiva
In late February or March, late winter just before the arrival of spring, the great festival of Shiva is celebrated. It is called Maha Shivaratri which means “the Great Night of Shiva.”
Maha Shivaratri is a major Hindu festival which celebrates the overcoming darkness and ignorance in the life of each individual, and the world.
Devotees observe the festival by reciting Shiva-related poems, chanting prayers, fasting, doing Yoga and meditating on ethics and virtues.
Some of these include self-restraint, honesty, and taking care and gentle treatment of all creatures, forgiveness, introspection, self-repentance, and many more.
Some pretty cool principles, don’t you agree?