Significance of taking saree pallu (free end of the saree) over head

        It is said that ‘Attire reflects the attitude; and, that the attitude itself selects the attire.’ Attitude is the sphere of emotional vibrations arising in the person (Embodied individual) subconscious mind. Since this sphere is subtle, it can charge other person through its activated momentum in a short period, and just by its existence, it can create impressions in their minds too.

        Sattvik (Sattva predominant) attire such as the six-yard or a nine-yard saṛee, make a woman virtuous and Dharma-abiding. Abiding by Dharma increases devotion and bhav (Spiritual emotion) unto God and the individual begins to move on the path of God-realisation.

        In earlier times, women would place the saree pallu in such a manner that it would cover their head. Today, though this tradition is not prevalent in the urban areas of India, it is still being followed in rural areas and also in some States such as Gujarat and Rajasthan.

        In the following article, the spiritual benefits and significance of taking the saree pallu over the head has been explained.

1. Difference between an ordinary woman whose head is not covered with a saree pallu, woman whose head is covered with a saree pallu

	Pallu over the head
	An ordinary women whose head is not covered with a pallu	An ordinary women whose head is covered with a pallu	A spiritually evolved women whose head is not covered with a pallu
2. Principle component	Raja-Tama	Raja-Sattva	As per the need
3. Source of waves of God’s Chaitanya	As per the bhav that is manifest and unmanifest	Physical sagun	Sagun
4. Nature of God’s waves of Chaitanya	Swiftly moving waves	In a circular manner	Flowing out like a fountain
5. Yoga	Karma	Upasana	Sahej
6. Creation of a protective sheath	Sheath of swiftly moving Raja-Tama waves	Sheath of swiftly moving Raja waves	Sheath of swiftly moving Raja waves
7. Bhav of the jiva towards God	Mainly dormant	Manifest	Unmanifest
8. Creation of fluids in the body	Awareness of duties on the strength of manaha-shakti (Energy of the mind)	Creation of the virtue of valour on the strenth of manaha-shakti	Creation of the virtue of compassion on the strength of Atma-shakti (Energy of the soul)
9. Main nadi	Surya (Sun channel)	Surya	Chandra (Moon channel)
10. Indication	As per the objective Kshatratej or Brahmatej	Kshatratej	Brahmatej

2. Why is it necessary for a woman to cover her head with a saree pallu (Covering the Brahmarandhra) ?

        Religious rituals or functions are ways of obtaining maximum Divine grace and blessings. During religious festivals, aspects such as application of kumkum, performing aukshan (Ritual of waving a lit lamp in front of a Saint or an individual), dispersion of fragrance of flowers and kumkum and wearing various attires and ornaments, etc. result in attracting the Divine Principle to a greater extent at the venue of the function. This makes the environment more sattvik. In such a sattvik environment, the Atma-shakti (Energy of the soul) of the woman is awakened, and with this, the Devitattva (Female Deity Principle) in her is awakened in a greater proportion. Due to the woman’s Atma-shakti getting awakened, subtle circular vibrations are created systematically in her entire body. Just as awakened bhav gets expressed or manifests through all or one of the eight organs of the body, the Atma–shakti awakened in the body is discharged through the Brahmarandhra. Since this discharged Atma-shakti contains a high proportion of Devitattva, it too gets discharged through the Brahmarandhra with this Atmashakti. The awakened Shakti (Divine energy) in a woman gets discharged through the Brahmarandhra in a circular manner within a very short period, meaning in a few seconds, and becomes unmanifest. (The inactive Shakti of Parameshwar [Supreme God] is known as ‘Unmanifest energy’.) Hence, the benefit of the awakened Devitattva is much less. To obtain this benefit for a longer period, the woman should cover her Brahmarandhra to prevent discharge of the Atma–shakti thus awakened. Then the Devitattva, along with the Atma-shakti, moves in a circular manner in the woman’s body. This can result in more benefit of Devitattva for the worshippers.

        In the earlier times, saṛis worn by women during religious ceremonies had brocade borders woven with gold and silver threads. Gold and silver metals attract the existing pavitraks (Subtlemost particles containing Chaitanya [Divine consciousness]) of a Deity in the environment. By covering the head with the saree pallu (made with these metals), this border rests exactly on top of the Brahmarandhra and thus attracts the Devitattva in the environment towards itself. As a result, the activated Atma-shakti and the Devitattva manifested along with it are prevented from getting discharged from the Brahmarandhra and are retained in the body.

(Application of sindur or kumkum in the parting of the scalp, placing the palm on the head are other ways of covering the Brahmarandhra.)

3. Subtle-benefits obtained when a woman covers her head with a saree pallu

• When a woman covers her head with a saree pallu, humility, attitude of seva and respect for others can be created in her mind.

• According to scriptures, when a woman covers her head with a saree pallu while visiting a temple, performing ritualistic worship or other religious rituals, it is considered as paying respect to the Deities and at other times, to other individuals also. She also benefits spiritually by covering her head with a saree pallu.

4. Spiritual experience of a seeker

        I conducted a subtle-experiment to determine what I perceived upon covering the head with a saree pallu. I felt heat, and went into a trance-like state. I started experiencing pain in my neck and distressing energy started getting discharged through yawns.

Reference : Sanatan Sanstha’s Holy text ‘Spiritually beneficial clothes for women’