also: らはつ
noun
spiral curls on a Buddha statue's head
Buddhist term for the small, spiral-shaped curls on the head of a Buddha statue, symbolizing enlightenment. Not used in everyday conversation.
仏像の螺髪は、悟りの象徴とされている。
The spiral curls on a Buddha statue are considered a symbol of enlightenment.
From 螺 (ら, 'spiral') + 髪 (はつ, 'hair'). The exact historical origin of the term is uncertain, but it is a conventional Buddhist iconographic term.