Dreadlocks have been worn for spiritual and religious reasons by many cultures throughout history. Some of the most well-known religious groups and cultures that have worn dreadlocks include:
Rastafarians
Rastafarians are perhaps most commonly associated with wearing dreadlocks. Rastafarianism is an Abrahamic belief system that developed in Jamaica in the 1930s. For Rastafarians, wearing dreadlocks is much more than just a hairstyle – it carries deep spiritual meaning and represents their religious vow of the Nazarite.
Dreadlocks are symbolic of the mane of the Lion of Judah, which is sometimes used to refer to Jesus Christ. They reject the Western ideals of appearance and want to distinguish themselves from other cultures. Rastafarians refrain from combing or cutting their hair, allowing it to knot and coil together into long ropes or strands known as dreadlocks.
The growing of dreadlocks is part of the Rastafari commitment to reject non-natural materials and processes. They are meant to symbolize the natural simplicity of a spiritual, uncomplicated life. Dreadlocks are sometimes referred to as “natty” or “knotty dreadlocks” among Rastafarians.
Hinduism
In Hinduism, dreadlocks have been worn by the dreadlocked god Shiva and his followers for thousands of years. Locks are called ‘jaTaa’ in Hindu, representing a symbolic rejection of materialism. They also represent Shiva’s unbound nature and the desire to live a spiritual life.
Many holy men and women wear jaTaa to demonstrate their eternal bond with God. Sadhus (religious ascetics) and other holy people in India often take vows of renunciation and wear jaTaa as a symbol of their dedication to a spiritual life. In the Hindu religion, dreadlocks are associated with profound spirituality and a detachment from society.
Buddhism
Historically, some Buddhist monks in the Theravada tradition have worn dreadlocks. In Buddhism, dreadlocks hold religious significance and symbolize a monk’s dedication to spiritual practice.
Dreadlocks are meant to convey the impermanence of life and attachment to beauty and physical appearances. By matting their hair, Buddhist monks demonstrate their understanding of egolessness and their rejection of societal norms.
In both Thailand and Myanmar, dreadlocked monks represent an austere practice and commitment to asceticism. However, taking the vows as a Buddhist monk and wearing dreadlocks are not necessarily intertwined or universal within Buddhist traditions.
Orthodox Christianity
In some Orthodox Christian sects, wearing dreadlocks is deeply symbolic. Nazirites, who take a vow to God to abstain from wine, grapes, razor blades, and hair cutting, wear dreadlocks to symbolize their devotion.
The vow of the Nazirite is described in the Bible (Numbers 6:1-21), where Samson and Samuel are described as having dreadlocks according to the Nazirite vow. The Orthodox Christian Church aims to closely follow early church traditions and express their connection to ancient Judeo-Christian roots.
Sufism
Sufism is a mystical form of Islam, focused on direct personal experience with the divine. Among some Sufi orders, matted dreadlocks are symbolic of one’s spiritual commitment and disregard for physical appearances.
Whirling Dervishes, a group of Sufi ascetics famous for their spinning meditative dance, consider dreadlocks to represent a detachment from self/ego and devotion to God. However, dreadlocks are not universally worn among Sufis and are not considered a requirement.
Kemetic Spirituality
Kemetic spirituality involves reviving ancient Egyptian religious practices and beliefs. Followers aim to reconnect with African cultural heritage and will often wear dreadlocks as a natural hairstyle representative of their ancestral roots.
Ancient Egyptian art depicts people wearing dreadlocks. As a part of embracing traditional African culture, some Kemetic spiritualists lock their hair. However, dreadlocks are not mandatory and are a personal choice in Kemetic spirituality.
Judaism
The significance of dreadlocks in Judaism comes from the Nazirites, who were Jews who took temporary or lifetime vows to abstain from grape products, haircuts, and other indulgences. The most famous Nazirites in the Torah were Samson and Samuel.
However, most Jews did not take Nazirite vows. While dreadlocks hold symbolic meaning for some sects of Judaism, they were not worn by the majority of Jews throughout history. Today, some Jews with dreadlocks wear them as an expression of cultural pride.
Yoruba Tribe
The Yoruba tribe of West Africa has a long history of wearing dreadlocks for spiritual purposes. In Yoruba spirituality, dreadlocks are thought to hold psychic and spiritual powers, particularly among priests and shamans.
Matted hair represented a “wildness” and a connection to African heritage and roots. However, dreadlocks were not universally worn among the Yoruba tribe and represented a choice rather than a universal religious requirement.
Masai Tribe
In many Masai tribes in Kenya and Tanzania, adolescents wear dreadlocks for a coming-of-age ceremony called Emuratta. Before undergoing circumcision rites into adulthood, Masai boys and girls will remove their dreadlocks.
The dreadlocks show that the children are still youths and under parental care. For the Maasai people, dreadlocks carry important ceremonial meaning related to initiation into adulthood but were not permanently worn in adulthood.
Dervishes
Dervishes are members of Sufi ascetic religious orders, mostly found in the Middle East and South Asia. While there are various dervish orders and beliefs, some dervish groups wear dreadlocks as a symbol of their rejection of materialism and commitment to God.
Whirling dervishes, in particular, wear dreadlocks and spin meditatively to disconnect from earthly thoughts and ego. However, dreadlocks are not mandatory for all dervishes, and some orders do not have hair matting practices.
Sadhus
Sadhus are Hindu ascetics who have denounced material and worldly life to seek spiritual liberation through meditation and devotion to God. Many sadhus in India keep jaTaa, or long dreadlocks, as part of their spiritual observance.
Dreadlocks represent disregard for physical appearance and commitment to the eternal soul rather than superficiality. However, dreadlocked hair is not compulsory to be a sadhu, and many Hindu holy men opt to shave their heads rather than wear jaTaa.
Conclusion
While no single religion universally requires dreadlocks as doctrine, they hold deep spiritual symbolism in many faiths. Religions such as Rastafarianism, Hinduism, Jainism, and some sects of Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Judaism associate dreadlocks with a natural, spiritual lifestyle and intrinsic connection with God.
Dreadlocks have represented an initiation rite in some African tribal religions. But across all faiths, dreadlocked hair ultimately reflects a personal commitment to religious practice rather than a strict religious requirement.
In many modern religious contexts, dreadlocks signify spiritual power and a devotion to God and meditative practice. However, wearing or not wearing dreadlocked hair comes down to an individual choice within most belief systems, meant to embody a deep spiritual meaning for the specific person.
Key Religions and Cultures Where Dreadlocks Hold Significance
- Rastafarians
- Hinduism
- Buddhism
- Orthodox Christianity
- Sufism
- Kemetic Spirituality
- Some sects of Judaism
- Yoruba Tribe
- Masai Tribe
- Some Dervish Orders
- Sadhus
Reasons Religions May Associate Dreadlocks With Spirituality
- Symbol of devotion to God and religious practice over physical appearances
- Demonstrates spiritual vows such as the Nazirite vow
- Represents a “natural” hairstyle associated with ancestors and rejection of societal norms
- Indicates initiation into a deeply religious lifestyle
- Signifies detachment from ego and materialism
- Reflects eternal spiritual life rather than superficial concerns
- Expresses intrinsic connection with divinity and meditation
| Religion | Spiritual Meaning of Dreadlocks |
|---|---|
| Rastafarianism | Symbolic of the Lion of Judah; rejection of Western ideals |
| Hinduism | Represent detached, spiritual life of sadhus and holy people |
| Buddhism | Demonstrate impermanence of ego and attachments |
| Orthodox Christianity | Connection to Judeo-Christian Nazirite vows |
| Sufism | Detachment from self and devotion to God |
| Kemetic Spirituality | Embracing traditional African roots |
| Yoruba | Psychic and spiritual powers |
| Masai | Represents initiation into adulthood |
| Sadhus | Reject superficiality and commitment to soul |
Key Takeaways
- Dreadlocks hold deep spiritual meaning across many religions and cultures.
- They often signify a devotion to God and religious practice over superficial concerns.
- Dreadlocks represent intrinsic spirituality rather than any dogmatic religious rules.
- Most religions do not require dreadlocks, but associate them with profound mysticism.
- Individuals often wear dreadlocked hair to embody personal spiritual vows and principles.