08-11-2009, 08:43 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-Bharatvarsh+Aug 10 2009, 05:18 PM-->QUOTE(Bharatvarsh @ Aug 10 2009, 05:18 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->I have a question.
Why the hell are all the male deities with the exception of Parashuraama portrayed without beards & moustaches like they are some kind of pre pubescent boys?
Is there any particular explanation for this.
It's weird considering that in Indian culture moustache is considered a sign of masculinity.
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In the bhArgava clan there were two hair styles -- clean shaven or muNDaka or having long flowing hair and beard. rAma represents the latter. At the same time Hindu deva-s are conceived as eternally young or yuva. A term repeatedly used in vedic texts. Hence showing them clean faced is a means of depicting this yuva-hood. At the same time we should note that in the veda indra is described as having a beard and mustache. In many depictions rudra is shown with mustache or beard and the vedic devatA-s might also be similarly depicted.
Why the hell are all the male deities with the exception of Parashuraama portrayed without beards & moustaches like they are some kind of pre pubescent boys?
Is there any particular explanation for this.
It's weird considering that in Indian culture moustache is considered a sign of masculinity.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
In the bhArgava clan there were two hair styles -- clean shaven or muNDaka or having long flowing hair and beard. rAma represents the latter. At the same time Hindu deva-s are conceived as eternally young or yuva. A term repeatedly used in vedic texts. Hence showing them clean faced is a means of depicting this yuva-hood. At the same time we should note that in the veda indra is described as having a beard and mustache. In many depictions rudra is shown with mustache or beard and the vedic devatA-s might also be similarly depicted.