History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v2.c24.s1.251

v2.c24.s1.251

Some rules are laid down as to how the brahmacārin is to deal with the hair on his head. Even the Ṛg. speaks of boys with several śikhās (topknot). Vide note 598 above. Gaut. I. 26 and Manu II. 219 say that a brahmacārin may either shave his entire head, or may allow all the hair to grow as matted or should keep only a tuft of hair on the head (and shave the rest).⁸⁰⁷ Āp. Dh. S. I. 1. 2. 31–32, Vas. VII. 11 allow only two alternatives viz. growing all the hair or keeping a tuft of hair, while Viṣṇu Dh. S. 28. 41 says that a student may either shave the entire head or grow matted hair. One was not to untie one's śikhā, while on the public road.⁸⁰⁸