Çréla Prabhupäda writes in a letter to
Dhrstaketu (New York, July 17, 1976): Unless
absolutely necessary, one should keep head shaven and not allow the hair to
grow long. The reason that one with long hair is not my disciple is because he
is against the principle.
Due to his long hair, mustache and
beard, Sanätana Gosvämé looked like a daraveça, or hippie. Since Çré Caitanya
Mahäprabhu did not like Sanätana Gosvämé’s hippie features, he immediately
asked Candraçekhara to get him shaved clean. If anyone with long hair or a
beard wants to join this Kåñëa consciousness movement and live with us, he must
similarly shave himself clean. The followers of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu
consider long hair objectionable. [CC Madhya 20.70 Purport]
What should be the frequency for
shaving? Çréla Prabhupäda recommended his
disciples to shave at least once in a fortnight. [Ref: Morning Conversation,
May 29, 1977, Våndävana]
What should be the size of the çikha? Gaudiya Vaiñëava çikha is an inch and a half across - no
bigger. Bigger çikhäs means another sampradäya. And they have to be knotted.
[It is said that Çréla Prabhupäda mentioned this in a conversation with
disciples in Hawaii on May 6, 1972; this conversation is not available in
Vedabase; but quoted in Çréla Prabhupäda Lélämåta]
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