The curly hair that we commonly find on the head of the Buddha head is not actually hair at all!
Well, what appear to be the curly hair on the head of the Buddha are actually a large number (108) of snails.
One day on a sunny afternoon, Buddha sat down under the tree and start to meditate. He became so immersed in his meditation that he didn’t notice the time. As time passed by, the sun ray was directed to his bald head.
As Buddha meditated through the harsh sun and the cold nights, a group of snails noticed him. These weren’t just any snails; they were kind-hearted creatures that could sense the prince’s dedication and the pain he endured. Worried about Buddha, they crawled up to his head and covered his bare scalp with their bodies. They did this to protect him from the blistering sun during the day and to keep him warm through the cold nights. The snails sacrificed their lives to ensure that the prince could meditate without discomfort, showing an act of kindness and selflessness.
Later in the evening when Buddha stood from the meditation, he learned that he was wearing a cap of 108 snails, all of whom had given their lives to make a distraction-free environment for Buddha’s path to enlightenment.
Since snails had given their lives for the Buddha, they are now honoured as martyrs. Hence, they are displayed on Buddha statues and other form of arts to remind us of their sacrifice
