Keśabandha
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
Sometimes transliterated as: Kesabandha, KeZabandha, Keshabandha
Keśabandha literally means ‘hair-style.
Evolution of Hair Art
Dressing up the hair, especially by tying it into different shapes, was a well-developed art in ancient and medieval country. It was but natural that this got reflected in the images of gods and goddesses also.
Hair Styles
Various such styles have been noticed and mentioned in the works on iconography. Sometimes, the hair is shaped as a crown. It is called ‘jaṭāmukuṭa’. Other styles are:
- Kākapakṣa - side-locks shown in the images of juvenile gods like Bālakṛṣṇa
- Alaka - curled hair
- Ekaveṇī - single plait
- Dome-like or oval shaped bun as in the images of Rukminī or Godādevī
- Others
Hair Decoration
Generally hair or hair locks may be decorated with flowers. They are even bedecked with jewels. Fierce deities are shown with decorations of coiled serpents.[1]
References
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore
