Many Indian women wear a red dot on their forehead. Traditionally, this meant that the woman professed Hinduism and was married, that is, the red dot was both a reflection of the woman’s religious worldview and her social status.
What is it called?
The most common name is "bindi". The name comes from the Sanskrit “bindu”, and in Hindi it means “point”, “small particle” or “drop”.
In a broad sense, the Indian bindi is a female (but not exclusively female!) variety "tilaka", a sacred symbol worn by followers of Hinduism on the forehead or other parts of the body as decoration and a distinctive mark.
A dot on a Hindu's forehead can be very diverse both in form and in the material used, depending on the different directions in Hinduism.
Indian women's bindis usually consist of just a point, although these points can vary greatly in size. In addition to these two most popular terms, there are others: “sindoor”, “bottu”, “kasturi”, “tikli”, “kumkum”, etc. - depending on the substances used to apply the mark, language or dialect, nationality and region.
The meaning of bindi
The tradition of using bindis in India has been lost for thousands of years.
A red dot symbolizing rising Sun, applied to her forehead back in the Rigveda by the goddess of the morning, Usha, thus welcoming her husband, the sun god Surya.
There is a version that the red color of the bindi is an echo of ancient blood sacrifices and a sign of receiving the mercy of the gods.
Tilaka is mentioned in many ancient legends, tales and myths: for example, this sign could become fiery in heroes or, on the contrary, be erased from the forehead as an indicator of extreme despair and disappointment. Bindi considered a sign of future prosperity and gives a woman a place in her family.
The area on the forehead between the eyebrows where the bindi is placed is known as location of the sixth chakra, "ajna", "third eye" and the seat of "hidden wisdom". According to followers of Tantrism, this place is the point of release of the kundalini energy, and the bindi is placed there to preserve and enhance the concentration of this energy, as well as to protect against demons or bad luck.
An Indian bride crosses the threshold of her husband's house, dressed in sparkling robes and jewelry, with a dazzling red bindi on her forehead. It is believed that after marriage, a woman’s main responsibility is to take care of her near and dear ones. Red dot on one side symbolizes good luck married woman and brings prosperity, and on the other hand, reminds her of the need to observe sanctity of marriage.
Girls and unmarried girls, as well as widows, either did not wear bindis or were content black dots. For example, among widows, the absence of a bindi could be a sign that the woman was in mourning. However, in southern India, girls also wore bindis.
What is it made of?
Traditional bindi - red or dark burgundy color. By using pinches of cinnabar(another name, vermilion - a mineral, scarlet mercury sulfide) on the tip of a finger, with proper dexterity, an Indian woman can easily create a perfectly even bindi.
But this art is not accessible to everyone, and some losers have to resort to various tricks to obtain a perfectly even circle.
Hollow ones are used discs or coins with a hole. The disc is attached to the forehead using wax, bindi dye is applied to the hole, and then the disc is removed.
In addition to cinnabar, the materials used to make tilak are sindoor (lead oxide, otherwise known as red lead), ox blood, red powder - abir mixed with yogurt and rice flour, red dye turmeric, made from the turmeric plant, mixed with lemon juice, powdered sugar mixed with honey and non-toxic glue, saffron with flower pollen... - in general, women's imagination in this area is truly limitless.
From tradition to modernity
In our time women wear bindis throughout South and Southeast Asia(India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, etc.), from girls to respectable matrons, regardless of religion, age, marital status or ethnic origin. The bindi has become a decorative element and is no longer limited in color or shape.
Very self-adhesive bindi stickers are popular, usually made from felt, plastic or thin metal and glue on the other side. These are easy to use, disposable substitutes for the good old tilak. Stickers come in a variety of colors, designs, materials and sizes.
There are lovers who stickers decorated with sparkles, bugles, beads or rhinestones, gold or silver powder, and even precious stones.
Outside of South Asia, the bindi is sometimes worn by women of Indian descent. Some Western women who converted to Hinduism such as followers of Krishnaism also wear bindis.
Sometimes tilak is just an element of style, decor or shocking. They have been worn by international celebrities such as Gwen Stefani, Shakira, Madonna, Nina Hagen, Nelly Furtado and Shania Twain. And according to a survey conducted by hinduism.about.com, the vast majority of respondents - 58% - believe that women who wear bindis look much more attractive than others.
The mysterious East attracts Westerners with its traditions, cultural characteristics, splendor of clothes and jewelry, and the beauty of women. For example, the dot on the forehead of Indian women, called a bindi, is one of the mysteries that attracts us, and sometimes simply haunts us: why do Eastern women put this mark? What is this: an unusual decoration or a way to convey some important information to others? Today, the bindi is both a popular decoration not only among Indian women, but also among residents of other countries, and a traditional spot that carries a certain meaning.
What does the dot on an Indian woman's forehead mean?
What can a bindi say?
Today it is not known exactly when the tradition of drawing a colored spot on the forehead of an Indian woman began, but
definitely, it appeared quite a long time ago. If we look at the bindi from the point of view cultural heritage India, then you should know that, first of all, A red dot traditionally adorns the foreheads of married women. It is especially interesting what meaning the Indians themselves attach to the bindi.
The word “bindi” itself is translated from Hindi as “drop” or “point”. There are other names: tika, kumkum, chandra, sindor, tilakam, pottu. Traditionally, it is drawn in the center of the forehead between the eyebrows in the area of the so-called “third eye”.
Bindi is a type of tilak. It can be of different sizes, shapes (but most often round) and colors. The most traditional option is a round or drop-shaped dot of red or burgundy color.
This spot on the forehead originally had a deep meaning. Let's consider the interpretation options for bindi:
- Tantrism believes that applying a bindi to the third eye denotes hidden wisdom, since this area of the forehead is a symbol of the “eye of Shiva” .
- Another interpretation option, closely intersecting with the previous one. In the center of the forehead is the sixth chakra (Ajna), which houses all human experience.. According to Tantrism, when the process of thinking occurs, latent energy (kundalini) moves from the spine to the head, passing through the sixth chakra. Bindi is drawn in order to preserve this energy and accumulate wisdom.
- Bindi can also be translated as “full moon” or “full moon”. This mark protects its owner from evil spirits and the evil eye .
- Applying a red dot, both before and today, is the prerogative of a married woman. This is how she demonstrates her social status, and the bindi is designed to give prosperity, happiness and peace of mind in the family. If a woman is widowed, she does not wear a bindi at all, thereby showing that she no longer has a husband.
- In ancient times, one could even judge caste by using a bindi. For example, by the black dot on a woman’s forehead one could recognize her belonging to a kshatriya, and by the red dot – to a brahmana.
Today applying a bindi is not only a tradition, but also an original decoration . You can find dots on the forehead of red, and yellow, and golden, and of blue color. Now there are no limits to fantasies.
If previously a bindi was applied with a special dye mixture, today other options have been invented for fashionistas - colored henna with sparkles, stones, rhinestones, bright stickers, etc.
Features of applying sindoor
Drawing a bindi on the forehead today can be done using various colors and materials, but the traditional red dot is done with sindoor.
Sindoor is a special powder that has a red color and, accordingly, colors the skin exactly that color.. This coloring matter is obtained from cinnabar (mercury material) or red lead and is used in Hinduism.
The presence of sindoor on a woman's forehead is a sign of her marriage. The first sign of a red bindi is applied during the wedding ceremony. In front of invited guests, the groom performs sinduradana (sumangali), that is, applies sindur to the head of his bride, and at the same time pronounces words of blessing.
A married woman should apply sindoor not only as a bindi, but also on her hair parting.
Where did this tradition come from?
There is a mythological assumption. According to him, the color red symbolizes power and strength. Sindoor itself personifies the patronage of the goddesses Parvati and Sati. Parvati bestows happiness and blessings on all women who apply sindoor to their hair. Sati personifies the standard of a married woman - faithful, loving her husband. But there is also a practical side to the tradition of applying sindoor. It is believed to help fight premature aging, wrinkles and skin problems. In addition, it is protection from evil thoughts.
Indian Muslim women also apply sindoor. For them, it is also considered an indicator of marriage.
This powder is also used to identify wives and brides. Sometimes you can find ritual objects, doors and even roadside stones decorated with sindoor. Especially if they are all dedicated.
Holy Hindu Tilak Sign and Its Meaning
Hindus believe that in this way they not only identify themselves with some school, but also get closer to God and receive protection from him. On the forehead at the point between the eyebrows, the Lunar and Solar energies merge, therefore, by applying tilaka to this area, a person clears the mind and seems to “tune into the wave” of divinity.
Tilaka can consist of red powder, abir, yogurt, rice flour. The mark can also be applied with clay, sandalwood paste, ash and any other substance that dictates their religious direction. Thus, the tilak can be of different colors.
Tilaka - both a distinctive sign and an ornament. Depending on the specific religious direction of Hinduism, it may be different.
India. Indian dot on the forehead of Hindus and Indian women.
A dot on the forehead of Indian women. When we watch Indian films, the first thing that catches our eye is a strange red dot on the forehead of an Indian beauty.
What does the dot on the forehead mean? No, this is not a mole or birthmark at all, as many would think. This dot is called bindi (chandra, tillak, tika), which translates as “dot”, “droplet”. And in Hindi it is “full moon”, “full moon”. How wonderful it is when the full moon graces your forehead...
Nobody knows for sure, why they started putting this point. However, according to Tantrism, it is generally accepted that in this place there is the “Third Eye” (the eye of Shiva), symbolizing “hidden wisdom”. They say, that bindi saves from the “evil eye” and evil illness.
IN Ancient India There was such a custom: the groom had to apply his blood to the forehead of his bride, since it was believed that the red dot was a symbol of blood. Now, reading about this, we even feel kind of creepy. Take a break from the “creepiness” of your thoughts: this ritual is already a thing of the past. And we, strictly speaking, are not from India.
Now, a bride without a bindi loses her attractiveness in the eyes of men. And when the bride and groom (with a red dot on their forehead) enter the house, fate itself “gives” them prosperity and happiness. The widow does not wear a bindi. I think that nowadays, at a wedding, you shouldn’t wear a bindi as a decoration. Although…. Why not?
D Women, on critical days, also do without applying red dots.
Until the very moment of the “appearance” of Indian independence, this dot denoted belonging to a certain caste. For example, if the dot was red, the woman was from among the Brahmins; if there was a black dot on a woman’s forehead, the woman belonged to the number of kshatriyas. Also, all this “charm” can also symbolize beauty and purity.
Indian dot on the forehead of Hindus. Men also apply bindi (tilak), in the form of white voices made from ashes. The Tillak on a man's forehead indicates which Indian god he worships. Do you think this might look funny? Not at all. You just need to get used to it. Each country has its own customs, its own rituals, its own signs. And what at first seems unusual to us will soon become “an attribute of everyday life.”
Once upon a time a long time ago, chandra was a sign that a woman was married. Nowadays, a red dot is a kind of decoration. Now this dot on the forehead is painted not only in red, and not only by Indian women. Bindi can be drawn using multi-colored markers, they are (waterproof), special pencils for tattooing and henna-based paste. By the way, today there are bindis - “self-adhesive” ones. Among them you can find a “dot” for every taste: in the form of butterflies, stars, ornaments, various patterns, shapes (geometric) and so on.
A dot on the forehead of Indian women. If a woman does not know how to apply a bindi properly, they use a coin (hollow) or something round in shape to draw the bindi properly. You can also use small stencils. It won't ruin Bindi.
What else does a dot on a person’s forehead mean? If you are an observant person, then you have already noticed bindis on “starry” foreheads more than once. Remember Shakira, Madonna, Gwen Stefani? They love these bindis very much. And by the way, I like the bindi. There is something mysterious about this decoration.
Previously, the paint of this “charm” included very interesting ingredients, including even cobra venom. In addition to this, it included ash and sandalwood oil. Now, of course, chandra is made differently: in creamy and powdered form. As for the second type, it is much more difficult to apply. Therefore, I do not recommend you choose it if this is your very first experiment. Generally speaking, the easiest way is to buy stickers: there will be no problems or difficulties with them.
The size of the “full moon” can also be chosen (as well as the color). There is no need to choose a very large chandra: it will not look very beautiful, to put it mildly. Basically, if you doubt my words, try it, and you will understand everything yourself. It should be noted that often, instead of dots, various precious and colored stones are “put” on the forehead. It looks great.
A dot on the forehead of Indian women. Do you want to use chandra as cosmetics? Then you will be interested to know, - What:
- Women with dark skin, it is better to choose orange chandra or Pink colour, avoiding chocolate, steel gray and red colors.
- For women with a small forehead, it is better to apply an oblong dot.
- A light red bindi is very suitable for women with a slender figure.
- For women who have a narrow forehead, it is better to apply or draw chandra directly between the eyebrows.
- For those who want to visually narrow their forehead, an oblong-shaped bindi is suitable.
- Let women who have a very wide forehead wear a round bindi.
Bindiya (bindi) can also be chosen to match the color of clothing. Imagine yourself, for example, in a luxurious red dress. Now draw the bindi. So how? Like? If not, you can redo it or wear a different outfit.
If your boyfriend loves surprises, then you can give him a surprise in the form of a bindi on your beautiful forehead. However, if he doesn’t immediately notice the frontal decoration, don’t be upset. Men are designed in such a way that they, first of all, tend to notice your beauty and attractiveness, and not the attributes of beauty. The following situation may happen. You meet and tell your loved one: “Don’t you notice anything?” Your man, having examined you from head to toe, without hesitation, will answer: “Oh, my love, you dyed your hair!”. Believe me, he will begin to name many options. But he “risks” not naming the true version. Hinting is useless, since men only understand what is said directly.
Continuation:
The dot on the forehead is like that of Indian women. -
The most common name for this point is bindi. Sometimes it is called tika, chandra or tillak. This translates to “drop” or “small particle”.Most often it is women who wear a bindi on their forehead. But men also sometimes put such a mark on their forehead. It is applied as a distinctive sign and decoration. It can be of any shape, and the materials used to apply this point are also varied. It depends on the trends in Hinduism.
Why is tika applied specifically between the eyebrows? It is believed that the “sixth chakra” is located in this place. It collects life experience. According to Tantric custom, whatever a person thinks about rises up the spine to the sources of the head and passes through the bindi. The purpose of this point is to conserve energy and enhance concentration.
There is also a custom that the groom must apply his blood to his future wife. Therefore, tika was considered its symbol. But now this ritual is not popular, and it is gradually being forgotten.
Before India became an independent country, the bindi indicated one of the castes. For example, if the dot was black, the woman was classified as a kshtariya, and if it was red, she was classified as a brahmana.
According to custom, the bride must cross the threshold of her husband's house dressed in bright clothes, jewelry and with a bright bindi on her forehead. The red dot and prosperity of a married woman serves as a reminder to her of the sanctity of marriage.
What is a bindi made of?
Traditionally, the bindi is burgundy or red. With the help of a small amount of cinnabar (scarlet-colored mercuric sulfide) with the tip of her finger, a woman can create a perfectly straight bindi.Some women who do not have the dexterity use discs or coins with a hole. They are attached to the forehead with wax, and a bindi is applied to the hole. The disc is then removed.
In addition to cinnabar, sindoor (lead oxide), abir, and ox's blood can be used as paint for tiki. There is also a dye called turmeric. It is made from turmeric, lemon juice, honey and powdered sugar.
The meaning of the red dot on the forehead of Indian women? In India, most people have multi-colored marks on the bridge of their nose. The dot on the forehead of Indian women is especially striking. What does this dot mean? Does it have a meaning or is it just decoration?
Today, researchers disagree on the interpretation of the red dot on the forehead of Indian women. They agree only on the name and method of application. The point on the forehead is called bindi. You can apply a bindi different ways. The easiest one is to buy a special sticker. Various patterns, rhinestones, or simply circles of fabric or fleecy paper of various colors are applied to a reusable adhesive base.
But since India is a country of spices, bindis were traditionally applied with turmeric or saffron paste. To give a red color, slaked lime was added to the powder of these spices. The dot was applied using the ring finger or using special devices that made it possible to make a round dot. Depending on personal preference, bindis can come in different diameters and colors.
However, the red dot is drawn mainly by married women, since one of the purposes of the bindi is a warning. It’s like a red traffic light, a bindi gives a sign to men: “Attention! Movement is prohibited! The woman is married!” Otherwise, bindis now are more of a decoration, and are matched to the color of the sari or the type of face, but do not carry any special meaning.
In addition to being placed on the bridge of the nose, adhesive-based bindis can be applied along the eyebrow line, about a centimeter above them and rounding around the eyes, gradually reaching the cheekbones. This application is called gopi-dotsy. Gopi dots are a reflection of the stories described in the Hindu scriptures and represent the pattern on the face of the cowherd girls - the gopis. With which they decorated themselves before meeting their beloved Lord Krishna. Gopi dots are also applied using special paint, drawing various dotted patterns or flowers. But the central part of the gopi dots is still the bindi. It does not cancel it, but rather complements it.
It is important to know that before applying an adhesive-based bindi, the skin in the area of application must be degreased, and it is better to do a light peeling in this area. This is necessary in order to remove excess sebum and dead skin flakes from the skin, which spoil the sticky layer. As a result, the bindi turns from reusable to disposable, or even simply does not stick to the skin.
So, what does the dot on the forehead mean? The most popular interpretation is that a dot placed on the bridge of the nose, in the area of the third eye, represents that the third eye of the bindi owner is quite open and active. And the person himself has a subtle spiritual connection with higher powers. But in general, a dot applied to the forehead protects its owner, brings him prosperity and happiness, including in marriage, as well as good luck and the blessing of higher powers. Initially, the dot drawn on the bridge of the nose had practical applications.
The place where the bindi is applied corresponds to the ajna chakra. This chakra is responsible for how strong-willed a person will be. It also affects leadership qualities and the ability to receive mystical transcendental knowledge. The more strongly developed a chakra is, the stronger the manifestations of the character traits with which it is associated. Therefore, to develop these qualities, the chakra was stimulated. including physical.
And often, after active stimulation, a mark remained on the skin. This mark was covered with a dot drawn in this place. Therefore, bindi was also a sign of spiritual quest, a sign that a person has high spiritual development, and is interested in subtle matters.
Interestingly, wearing marks on the forehead is not only practiced in India. Bindi has been known in China for over a thousand years. The dot on the forehead can be seen on images and statues of Buddha as a sign of enlightenment and recognition of his divine origin.
The Indian dot on the forehead of Hindus is not as common as the dot on the forehead of Indian women. And it is usually applied in two cases. The first of them is when it is applied by followers of one of the religious branches - Sahajiya. Men following this religious trend wear women's clothing, saris, jewelry and apply appropriate auspicious marks usually used by women. Including the bindi. This is due to the fact that they are trying to live on Earth in the role that they consider to be theirs in the spiritual world.
It is believed that this will help them not to forget their original position. In the second case, a point is applied to the forehead with ashes, or rather with a special paste made from crushed coals of a sacrificial fire and ghee, which was poured into the fire as a sacrifice. This point is given to all participants in the yagya and, naturally, it is black. During the yajna, participants bring offerings to the Lord in the form of grains of cereals and fruits. By this they express their respect and recognition of their original position as the eternal servant of the Lord.
The Lord accepts these offerings through the fire god Agni, who is called into the fire using special mantras. Simply put, the offerings are burned in a ritual fire. And along with the offerings, the low aspirations of the participants in the yagya, and, in part, the consequences of their sinful actions are burned. As a result, they become spiritualized and also move to a higher level of development.
Therefore, a point applied with a paste from the coals of such a ritual fire is considered extremely auspicious, carrying strong cleansing and protective properties. Otherwise, the dots that can be applied to the bridge of a Hindu’s nose can only speak of his desire for spiritual self-improvement and belonging to a certain religious tradition.
Most often, these points are elongated or blurred upward. A bright red dot applied to the forehead of a Hindu personifies acquired spiritual knowledge, intelligence and purity. As a rule, it is applied along with tilak on the forehead of sadhus, saints who practice the renounced lifestyle.
Based on all of the above, we can conclude that the red dot on the forehead is not just an attractive decoration for the face. But it also carries a subtle sacred meaning and information function, and also has powerful protective and protective properties. The hippie movement brought the tradition of wearing a bindi to the West. And now you can buy a bindi in any esoteric store. This exquisite jewelry will not only emphasize the beauty of the face and expressiveness of the eyes, but will also highlight its owner as an extraordinary person.