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Sitaram · Site Admin Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 1079

Regarding the absence of a beard, I remember reading that a male is free to shave, or to have a beard, but is NOT free to do bizarre things with his beard, like shave one side of the face, or make designs.

During Hajj, do the men shave their heads? I cant remember now, and am too tired to google for it.

I know part of the idea of the hajj is for everyone to be (look) equal in dress and grooming.

By the way, I have always found it fascinating (since I come from a Hindu background), that pilgrims perform COUNTER-PRADIKSHANUM around the Kaaba, (with the unauspicious left side of the body facing the Kaaba, which causes the rotation of the crowd to be counter-clockwise) whereas a more ancient form of Hindu and Buddhist worship, around a stupa monument, is clockwise pradikshanum, with the auspicious right side towards the object of veneration.

But, many Hindus and Buddhists also shave the head as an offering, and wear sheets, on pilgrimage to a shrine.

I have also noticed that there is often a REVERSAL of direction in practices whenever there is some "protestant" revolution. For example, hand mudras during meditation: Zen places the left hand beneath the right hand, which is just the reverse of Jain practice and depictions or Saivite. Also, various groups which use the swastika symbol will reverse the direction from that "other group" against which they protest.

I heard a great joke once. A rabbi is on a cruise ship and it sinks. He is the only survivor, swimming to a small island where he lives for 20 years. Finally, another ship passes by and the captain goes to see the rabbi.

Captain: "It is amazing how you have survived here. And you have even build a building her. What is this building?

Rabbi: "Oh, that is my synagogue where I pray each day."

Captain: "And what is that other building I see way over there on the other side of the island."

Rabbi: "Oh.... THAT.... that is the synagoge I wouldn't be caught dead in!"

Alas, we all have to build our two houses of worship I suppose, to feel normal, or special.

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