Shalini Passi reveals shaving head four times at Tirupati: Know significance of hair donation at the temple

Delhi-based art and design collector Shalini Passi has been ruling the headlines for all the right reasons. The diva recently featured in Karan Johar-backed reality show Fabulous Lives Vs Bollywood Wives and became the audiences’ unanimous favourite. More than just glam, Passi is winning hearts for her unfiltered personality and someone who is as ideal of a human as anyone can be.

Shalini Passi shaved her head four times at Tirupati Balaji Temple

In a recent interview with NDTV, Passi spoke about her inclination towards spirituality and revealed how she along with her husband Sanjay Passi donated?Rs 10 crore to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams in 2021. Shalini also shared,?"Even for me, when I shaved my hair at Tirupati, I shaved it four times. So for me also, I don't want to style my hair much. Because ultimately, I will donate it.”

What is the significance of hair donation at Tirupati Balaji?

Donating hair at Tirupati Balaji, the famous temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu), is a significant religious and cultural practice with deep historical and spiritual meaning. Here are some of the many reasons why thousands of devotees practice this on a daily basis:-

1. Spiritual significance - Donating hair, or tonsuring is seen as an act of humility and selflessness. Devotees believe that by shaving their heads and offering their hair to Lord Venkateswara, they are symbolically renouncing their egos and attachments. Hair is often considered a symbol of pride and vanity, so cutting it off is seen as a way of purifying oneself and dedicating everything to God.

2. Historical and mythological context - There are different origin stories of this practice and here’s one that we came across. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Venkateswara is said to have once faced a financial crisis when he wanted to perform a grand sacrifice (Yajna) to restore balance in the world. To arrange for the funds needed, he borrowed money from the sage Bhrigu, promising to repay it. However, over time, Venkateswara was unable to repay the debt.

To fulfil his vow, he is believed to have taken a vow of sacrifice, where he decided to give away his most prized possession — his hair — as a gesture of humility and repentance. This story forms the foundation of the tradition where devotees offer their hair to the deity. By donating hair, they follow Lord Venkateswara's own act of sacrifice.

4. Economic and charitable impact - The donated hair has also become a significant resource as it is sold to wig manufacturers. The revenue generated is from it is used to fund the temple's upkeep, charitable works, and religious activities.?Every day approximately 20,000 people donate their hair out of choice with the help of over 600 helpers assigned to help them.

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