Happy Shivratri! Har Har Jatadhari Mahadev!!!

Happy Shivratri! Har Har Jatadhari Mahadev!!!

God Shiva is called ‘ Jatadhara’, which means who has heap of matted hair on the head.Shiva is reverred as Vyomakesha, which means that His hair is like Sky (Vyoma means Sky and Kesha is hair).Shiva, the Ascetic Yogi is beyond the worldly affairs. So, He doesn't have to maintain his hair.

When Holy river Ganga had to descend to Earth, no one except Shiva had the power to withstand the mighty Ganga River.

Shiva received Ganga in his matted locks ( hair ) and released her, from His hair in seven streams. Thus Shiva became Gangadhara.

The God who has the River Ganga on his head, does He need to maintain His hair !

I have not heard of any philosophical significance much about the Jatadhara of Lord Shiva. But Jatadhara is not something specific to Lord Shiva. All sages like Saptarishis, and many others also have Jata.

But Lord Shiva is exclusively called Jatadhari, because he is the only God who has Jata. Lord Shiva is known as Kapardin, which also means the one with matted hair.

Jatadhara is actually a symbol of renunciation from this world. It worn by all the Yogis and Sanyasis.

So how does one have to adhere to a life having Jatadhara. The is no such specifications. But we must not cheat others in the guise of a Yogi. Nowadays there is even fashion of wearing Jata.