Many artisans have created millions of Buddha’s statues and paintings since long time. We all know Buddha’s status are the most produced, manufactured and traded globally. But common/distinct thing is hair which is made same worldwide.
To be a monk means to accept an ascetic lifestyle. The rules and regulations of monks are mentioned in the Tripitak (holybook of Buddhism) where to get knowledge and enlightenment one should purify the body and soul. Therefore, Buddhist monks shave their heads for purification of body as a symbol of giving up worldly attachments. When Siddhartha Gautama abandon the royal palace, he also shaved his hair. So like other monks, he’s also hairless.
A significant attribute of many of the statues and Paintings of Buddha is the knotted hair. We all see a curly hair of Buddha in common. A secret/mystery/story/fable is hidden with the hair of Buddha which is adhered tightly to his scalp in rows of snail like curls.
The story of the Buddha's hair:
Once Buddha was in deep meditation under a tree during summer time. He was unaware of the outer world. The sunlight came to his face. At that time, a snail walk off that place and saw Buddha meditating under such hot environment. He was worried for Buddha’s condition. Snail’s body is flexible, delicate and moist. So it crawls up to Buddha’s head and stays there. Seeing him, another 107 snails followed him to the head of Buddha forming the Buddha’s hair like structure. The contribution of snail is well respected/valued in enlightenment of Buddha.
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