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.
It is also a Hindu 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 belonging to 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, an Indian 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 signifies good luck and prosperity for a married woman and 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.
Tilaka or tilak(Sanskrit: तिलक, tilaka) is a sacred mark that followers of Hinduism apply with clay, ash, sandalwood paste or other substance on the forehead and other parts of the body. The types of tilaka differ among followers of different directions of Hinduism and, among other things, serve as an identification mark, indicating belonging to a particular religious tradition. Tilaka can be applied daily or only on special occasions.
Shaivaites Usually they use sacred ash - vibhuti. And tilaka is applied on the forehead in the form of three horizontal lines, which are called tripundra.
Tripundra- symbol of Shaivism. The red dot in the middle symbolizes the third eye of Shiva. The red dot under the three lines is a symbol of the connection between Shiva and Shakti (Parvati).
Vaishnavas They use clay from sacred rivers (such as the Yamuna) or holy pilgrimage sites (such as Vrindavan), which is sometimes mixed with sandalwood paste. They apply tilaka in the form of two vertical lines joining together between the eyebrows, this shape symbolizes the feet of Vishnu. The red line or dot inside symbolizes Lakshmi.
Followers of some branches of Vaishnavism also apply tilaka on the bridge of the nose in the form of a tulsi leaf. Vaisnava tilaka is called urdhva-pundra.
Shaktas- adherents of the path of worship of the Divine Mother - use kumkum, or red powder from turmeric. They apply tilaka in the form of a red vertical line or just a dot.
Followers of Ganesha use red sandalwood paste - rakta-chandana. Ganapatya (Sanskrit: गाणपत्य, gāṇapatya) is a Hindu religious tradition of worshiping Ganesha. Traditionally, Ganesh is depicted with tilaka in the form of an Indian trident - trishula (Sanskrit: त्रिशूल triṣūla “three spears”). Ganesha in Hinduism is the deity of wisdom and prosperity, “the remover of obstacles.”
The cult of Ganesha for many Hindus complements the worship of other deities, which is why there are various tilakas both on images of Ganesha and among worshipers.
The image of Ganesha with three horizontal stripes and a red dot symbolizes that Ganesha is the son of Shiva and Parvati.
Shiva, Ganesh, Parvati. Shiva's tripundra symbol (three slightly rounded horizontal lines connected at the sides). The design is painted in red paste on Ganesha's forehead. Parvati's red dot is a symbol of Mother.
India has been of great interest to Europeans for many centuries, not only because it is famous for its fabulous wealth, but also because it has a special culture and beautiful women who traditionally decorate their foreheads with a piquant red dot called a bindi.
Historical roots of the origin of the bindi
The exact date of the origin of the tradition of wearing a bindi is not known, but scientists are sure that the small red dot on the forehead of Indian women arose many thousands of years ago. Hinduism is based on tantrism, a symbol of spiritual development and liberation, which occurs through the opening of the sixth chakra, located on the forehead between the eyebrows.
By applying a red dot to her forehead, an Indian woman seems to reveal her energetic capabilities and at the same time acquire protection from evil forces. And given the fact that for the first time a bindi is applied to a woman by her future husband, with his blood, this can be regarded as the imposition of family protection on the future wife and mother.
What does the dot on the forehead mean for Indian women?
The bindi has many names, such as tilaka, kumkum, and bottu, but they all have the same meaning - the status of a married woman professing Hinduism. Literally translated from Hindi, bindi or tilaka means a small dot or drop, but the main meaning of this traditional decoration for Indian women is much broader.
A bindi is not only a decoration and a symbol of status, it is, first of all, protection in a religious sense, from spirits, from dark thoughts and, of course, from the evil eye. Tilaka also denotes wisdom and life experience, which manifests itself in difficult times. The basis for such a belief is God Shiva, who has the so-called “third eye” between his eyebrows.
What does a bindi look like?
The bindi is applied in the form of a small red dot of a regular round shape. Depending on the woman’s place of residence and her belonging to a certain caste, this symbol can be applied in another form, different in color and shape.
Women belonging to the Brahmin caste mostly wear a red bindi, while Kshatriyas wear a black bindi. The woman who visited the temple wears an orange bindi on her forehead, while the venerable widow wears a brown bindi.
Of course, at the moment, belonging to a certain caste in India is no longer so important, but Indians still observe traditions to this day, diluting them with modern motifs, which actually allows modern Indian women to use bindis as decoration.
How to apply bindi?
In order to apply a point between the eyebrows of the correct round shape, some skill is needed, which of course not everyone has, so many people initially use a special device to apply a bindi - a coin, with a neat round hole in the middle.
Different materials are used as paint for bindis, previously it was cinnabar - mercury sulfide, but now safer minerals and substances are used. Nowadays, turmeric mixed with honey or a dye - abir with rice flour, as well as saffron, ox's blood and many other dyes are used to apply the bindi.
Considering the trend of modernity, the bindi is no longer only a symbol of the Indian woman, but also an adornment with the help of which many, trying to emphasize their beauty, decorate their forehead with a traditional red drop framed by shining stones.
Surely many of us have seen Indian women at least in famous films that were once popular earlier. Most of them had a red dot on their forehead, which was a symbol that the woman was legally married to a man. In addition, this was an indicator that this woman preaches Hinduism, i.e. it is a symbol not only of a certain social status, but also of religiosity, as well as a person’s worldview.
Symbol meaning
Drawing a bindi on the forehead is a very ancient tradition dating back centuries. For example, Usha, the goddess of the morning, applied this sign to herself as a greeting to her husband Surya, who appears to the sun gods.
This symbol is also found in many legends and stories about various heroes. Thus, the bindi could become fiery in valiant people, or disappear from the forehead if a person experiences extreme despair and mental anguish. Bindi is also a symbol of a woman's future happy life, allowing her to find a place in the family.
All people who are somehow interested in Hinduism know that the area between the eyebrows is considered the location of the sixth chakra. This is a kind of “third eye” that allows a person to comprehend the great wisdom of existence, hidden from other people. According to Tantrism, the area between the eyebrows is considered the point through which the kundalini energy exits. That is why, in order to preserve this energy, a bindi is drawn, which also protects a person from various troubles and misfortunes.
Bindi is also a symbol of marriage in India. Every Indian woman who gets married becomes the keeper of the hearth, and her main responsibility is to take care of the family she came to. This symbol speaks of the luck of this woman, and also reminds her of certain responsibilities for preserving the marriage that fall on her shoulders.
If the red dot was considered a certain symbol of love and marriage, then the black dot had a completely opposite meaning. If a woman had this sign on her forehead, then this was evidence that she was in mourning. Those girls who had not yet entered into a legal marriage went without a bindi at all, but not in all cases.
According to tradition, those women who had “critical days” did not have to draw this Indian symbol. There is probably no need to explain this circumstance, because a lot can be assumed here - from insulting the feelings of believers to lengthy explanations and allusions to the symbols of blood that represented the bindi.
In ancient times, when in India there was a division of people into castes, it was the dot that made it possible to understand which category its bearer belonged to. For example, those with a red dot belonged to the Brahmin caste, and women with black bindis were representatives of the Kshatriyas. However, the castes have long since disappeared, but the symbol itself lives on to this day, and if we take into account the interest in it not only among representatives of Hinduism, then we can say with confidence that this interest will not dry up for a very long time.
What is it made from?
The dot on the forehead of Indian women had a traditional red color, or this shade could be a little darker. It is made from a special mineral - vermillion, which is mercury sulfide. But in order to make a perfectly even point, you need to have sufficient skill in this matter.
Some women are unable to do this, so they use various round objects to get the perfect outline of their bindi. Coins with a hole in the middle, disks - all this can be used as an aid. The stencil is applied to the forehead, and paint is poured inside the hole.
In addition to vermilion, women can use other materials in making this symbol on the forehead:
- Sindoor, which is lead oxide.
- Bull's blood.
- Abir is in the form of a red powder that needs to be mixed with rice flour and yogurt.
- Turmeric is a scarlet dye that is mixed with lemon juice.
- Rusk powder, which is pre-mixed with glue and honey.
- Saffron mixed with pollen from flowers.
All these options have a right to exist, so Indian women use one or another option, depending on the availability of the necessary ingredients.
How to call her correctly
The point on the forehead of Indian women is called “bindi”, derived from the Sanskrit “bindu”. It means approximately the same thing as it symbolizes, i.e. dot or drop.
Bindi is one of the varieties of tilak - a symbol in Hinduism that representatives of this religion can apply to various parts of the body, not just the forehead. This is not just decoration, but a certain semantic load that speaks of a certain status of a person.
Indian women's bindis were drawn exclusively in the form of a dot, although it could be of different sizes and also made of different materials. It is also worth noting that bindi is not the only name for this symbol. Depending on the region of India, the local dialect, and other factors, the point may be called by the following words:
- kumkum;
- tickli;
- bottu;
- sindoor etc.
How are things now?
If previously the bindi had a serious meaning, indicating a certain status and religiosity, now this symbol has become a common means of decoration for women. Now everyone draws bindis - from little girls to respectable ladies. At the same time, they can all adhere to different religions, not be married, i.e. There are no strict requirements for its carriers.
Nowadays, bindis, which are stickers with a self-adhesive structure, are very common. They can be metal, felt or made from other types of material. Of course, they cannot be called full-fledged bindis, but they are quite suitable as a disposable decorative element. In addition, some women decorate such stickers with gold plating, sparkles or precious stones - in this they are limited only by their imagination and financial capabilities.
Bindi is common throughout South Asia, as well as in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, etc. Outside these countries, the bindi is also common, but as decor or an element of some kind of stage image. Not for nothing, such famous representatives of show business as Shakira, Gwen Stefani, Madonna and many others adorned themselves with this symbol. This is understandable, because according to a survey conducted not long ago, women with bindis look much more attractive and alluring than without them.
However, one should not take this symbol too lightly, because it is part of the history of an entire continent. In India, for example, traditions regarding the application of a bindi are still strong, so it is not customary there to decorate yourself with this symbol if you do not have the right to do so. And if you come here, you should study the history and traditions of the state in advance so as not to offend the local residents with your illiteracy.
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India... An amazing country with extraordinary flavor and old traditions does not leave any travelers indifferent. Folk rituals have been strictly observed in this area for centuries, which is why it has its own unique culture, which has continuously developed for more than 4,500 years. Over this significant period of time, it changed and underwent various metamorphoses. This largely concerns the national clothing of Hindus and how the dot on the forehead of Indian women looked. Many will agree that Indian national attire has a special ethnic originality, which makes it even more attractive.
A colorful country with ancient traditions
The national image of clothing has been formed over the centuries under the influence of various factors, but it is worth noting that it has absorbed the best and can now rightfully be called elegant and comfortable. The most popular traditional women's attire today is the sari, which is invariably complemented by a dot on the Indian woman's forehead (called a bindi or tilak). This item of clothing is a piece of fabric measuring from 4 to 9 meters, which the girl ties around her waist and throws over her shoulder, covering her chest. The saree must be worn with a petticoat and a blouse, also called a ravika or choli. What is the name of the point on the forehead of Indian women and why is it an integral part of the Indian image? This and much more will be discussed further.
What does the dot on the forehead of Indian women mean?
This is not just a beautiful ethnic decoration. It has its own meaning and history. One of the traditional elements of the image is the famous dot on the forehead of Indian women. It has several varieties and meanings. One type is tilak. Applied with clay, ash or other substance. So, what does the dot on the forehead mean for Indian women? Since India is a deeply religious country, it can have quite a few meanings that are somehow related to the worship of gods. But this is not the only purpose of tilak. In fact, it can reveal a lot about one's background and caste. It all depends on the material, color and place where the dot is applied.
Varieties and traditional color
Fans of this beautiful jewelry often wonder what the point on the forehead of Indian women is called? Another variety is the bindi. Like the tilak, they vary in color. Most often in the vastness of Hindustan there is a black or red dot. It is worn by a woman who is married, that is, married. Single girls are traditionally not supposed to wear a bindi. Many people are interested in the question of why Indian women have a dot on their forehead and not between their eyebrows. The whole point again is in the religious worldview of the Hindus. They consider it the third eye that reveals wisdom. Although the tilak, unlike the bindi, can be located not only on the forehead, but also in other places, which, according to some, open the wisdom chakras.
A tradition that has become a fashion trend all over the world
Today, tilak and bindi have spread widely beyond India and are more of an ethnic accessory and decoration than a symbol of religious affiliation. Today they have become additions to the everyday and even festive look of girls in different countries. However, for the Indians themselves, it remains a traditional symbol that is important in the culture and daily life of everyone. Few people delve into history in order to find out its origin. When arriving in the country on a tourist visit, girls should be extremely careful not to accidentally
Standard recipe
The composition of a bindi is quite simple. This red powder is nothing more than, although sometimes an oil or wax base is added to it. It is noteworthy that in ancient times the bindi also included cobra venom and ash. It’s a rather strange recipe, but who, if not the Indians, would know better what this traditional element of the national image should be made from. According to ancient legends, the composition of the bindi should be such that the dot is easily and accurately applied to the forehead and does not smudge. The Indians successfully managed to create just such a combination of ingredients to make tillak as beautiful and easy to apply as possible. For Indian women, the dot on the forehead looks truly excellent to this day.
Favorite decoration of modern girls
The girls train for quite a long time to get it perfectly even. Today, the modern industry offers a huge number of artificial jewelry like bindi. Girls wear it throughout almost all of South Asia. This accessory appealed not only to married women, for whom it was originally intended, but also to simply stylish girls who want to stand out and keep up with fashion trends in the world of beauty. Initially, the bindi was traditionally red and round in shape, but over time, trends led to it changing beyond recognition and acquiring a wide variety of colors and shapes.
Part of the history of the bindi is the fact that women are traditionally not allowed to wear it during “these days.” When India had not yet gained independence, a dot on the forehead of an Indian woman indicated that she belonged to one of the castes, the same applies to the tilak that some men applied to themselves. Indeed, every country has its own inimitable customs and traditions, and the bindi and tilak are part of the great history of India, which should never be erased from memory.
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