Bindi

Traditionally, the area between the eyebrows (where the bindi is placed) is said to be the sixth chakra, ajna, the seat of "concealed wisdom." The bindi is said to retain energy and strengthen concentration. The bindi also represents the third eye. The Nasadiya Sukta of the Rig Veda, the earliest known Sanskrit text, mentions the word Bindu. The Ajna is symbolised by a sacred lotus with two petals, and corresponds to the colours violet, indigo or deep blue, though it is traditionally described as white. It is at this point that the two sides Nadi Ida (yoga) and Pingala are said to terminate and merge with the central channel Sushumna, signifying the end of duality, the characteristic of being dual (e.g. light and dark, or male and female). The seed syllable for this chakra is the syllable OM, and the presiding deity is Ardhanarishvara, who is a half male, half female Shiva/Shakti. The Shakti goddess of Ajna is called Hakini. In metaphysics, Bindu is considered the dot or point at which creation begins and may become unity. It is also described as "the sacred symbol of the cosmos in its unmanifested state". • In Hinduism, the colour red represents honour, love, and prosperity, hence bindis are worn to symbolise these qualities after marriage in particular. • In meditation, the point between the eyebrows (Bhrumadhya) is where one focuses one's sight, to help concentration. Most images of Hindu, Jain or Buddhist divinities in meditative poses with their eyes nearly closed show the gaze focused between the eyebrows (another spot being the tip of the nose—naasikagra) • Swami Muktananda writes that "auspicious Kumkuma or sandalwood paste is applied (between the eyebrows) out of respect for the inner Guru. It is the Guru's seat. There is a chakra (centre of spiritual energy within the human body) here called Ajna chakra, meaning 'Command centre'. Here is received the Guru's command to go higher in Sadhana (spiritual practice) to the 'Sahasraar' (seventh and final chakra) which leads to Self-realisation. The flame seen at the eyebrow is called 'Guru Jyoti'." • The encyclopaedic Dictionary of Yoga reports that this 'Ajna Chakra' is also called the 'Third eye'. This centre is connected with the sacred syllable 'Om' and presiding, is 'Parashiva'. On activating this centre, the aspirant overcomes 'Ahankāra' (the ego or sense of individuality), the last stop on the path of spirituality. The bindi continues to hold symbolic significance rooted in Indian mythology and is traditionally associated with Hindu culture. "wearing a bindi or mangalsutra is a sign of Hindu women. The traditional bindi still represents and preserves the symbolic significance that is integrated into Indian mythology in many parts of India." ==Traditional application method==

A traditional bindi is red or maroon in colour as it mimics sindoor or kumkum which is used as part Hindu religious ceremonies and rituals along with sandalwood, turmeric and ash. A pinch of vermilion powder is applied with a ring-finger to make a dot. A small annular disc aids application for beginners. First, a sticky wax paste is applied through the empty centre of the disc. This is then covered with kumkum or vermilion and then the disc is removed to get a round bindi. Various materials such as lac, sandal, "aguru", mica, "kasturi", kumkum (made of red turmeric) and sindoor colour the dot. Saffron ground together with "kusumba" flower can also work. Traditionally they are green in colour with a red dot in the middle. The bindi is no longer restricted in colour or shape. workers known as Lakhera. Historically, the ornamental bindi spangle consists of a small piece of lac over which is smeared vermilion, while above it a piece of mica or thin glass is fixed for ornament. Women wore large spangles set in gold with a border of jewels if they could afford it. The bindi was made and sold by lac workers known as Lakhera. In Hinduism, it's part of the Suhāg or lucky trousseau at marriages and is affixed to the girl's forehead on her wedding and thereafter always worn. In addition to the bindi, in India, a vermilion mark in the parting of the hair just above the forehead is worn by married women as a symbol of life-long commitment to their husbands. During all Hindu marriage ceremonies, the groom applies sindoor in the part in the bride's hair. Apart from their cosmetic use, bindis have found a modern medical application in India. Iodine patch bindis have often been used among women in north-west Maharashtra to battle iodine deficiency. Related customs in other Asian regions dancer with a white bindi In Southeast Asia, bindis are worn by the Balinese, Javanese, and Sundanese people of Indonesia. For example, bindis are often worn by brides and grooms in Java and other parts of Indonesia, regardless of their religious beliefs. The Indonesian practice of wearing a bindi originated from the cultural influence brought about by the Indianized Hindu kingdoms that once ruled Indonesia. Historically, other Indianized kingdoms in Southeast Asia also took part in this practice. == Teep ==

girl from Bangladesh wearing Teep on the occasion of Pohela Boishakh Teep or tip is the Bengali word for the bindi. Teep is a part of Bengali culture and worn widely by both Bengali Hindu and non-Hindu Bengali women in West Bengal, India and Bangladesh. It is a common practice for Bengali Hindu women to wear the teep or bindi regularly and especially on festivals such as Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja, while non-Hindu Bengali women adorn themselves with teeps as an ethnic practice. The adoption of the teep as an ethnic practice is rooted from the long history of Bengali Muslims living alongside Bengali Hindus and adopting their marriage, bridal, and familial customs. By the 18th century, the use of teeps had become very common. == Bindis in Pakistan ==

In Sindh, some Muslim Sindhi women apply a black dot or line by "Kajjal or Surmo (kohl)" on the forehead and chin, and sometimes three dots or lines around eyes as part of historic and ancestral Hindu traditions that have sustained post-Partition. As an amulet believed to protect against the evil-eye, these dots are called Tikro or the Hindi 'Tilak' (singular), or Tikra (plural). Like in India, in Sindh, when a child is born, black dots/marks and lines are drawn on their faces. In modern times, stick-on bindiyas of different shapes and designs have become very common in rural Sindh, and are applied by both Muslims and Hindus. However, this is in decline as it is considered to be appropriately used by Sindhi Hindus only. In the pre-modern era in Sindh, Hindu brides and even some Muslim brides were applied with many dots of "Tira" (moles) drawn upon their face and lips with needles dipped in antimony and other colouring matters. The type of forehead tattoo called Khaal or Sheen Khal was also common among Afghan and Pashtun women, although it is no longer done for religious reasons. As in Sindh, dots are made using kohl or other material. Bindis are also used by Saraiki and some Baloch tribal women of Pakistan. However, many Muhajirs and Punjabis consider the use of bindis to be un-Islamic. Due to this, the use of bindis has declined in most of Pakistan except for the Hindu majority villages and areas of Sindh such as in Nagarparkar. ==Modern use==

. Bindis are sometimes worn purely for decorative purpose or style statement without any religious or cultural affiliation. Decorative and ornamental bindis were introduced to other parts of the world by immigrants from the Indian subcontinent. International celebrities such as Gwen Stefani, Julia Roberts, Madonna, Selena Gomez and many others have been seen wearing bindis. The appropriateness of such uses has been disputed. Reacting to Gomez wearing a bindi while singing her song "Come and Get It", Hindu leader Rajan Zed said that the bindi has religious significance and should not be used as a fashion accessory, but Indian actress Priyanka Chopra praised Gomez's choice as "an embrace of Indian culture". Additionally, several rappers have adopted jewelled bindis, most notably Lil Uzi Vert, who debuted a $24 million pink diamond bindi in February 2021. They were inspired by Lil B who wore a diamond bindi in 2012. ==Alternative terms==

A bindi can also be called: • Phot or Phut (literally meaning a small pressing mark) in Assamese • Tip (literally meaning "a pressing") in Bengali • Tikuli (literally meaning "a small tika") in Madhyadeshi areas • Chandlo (literally meaning moon shape) in Gujarati • Tilaka in Hindi • Tika in Nepali • Kunkuma or Bottu or Tilaka in Kannada • Tilakaya in Sinhala • Tikli in Konkani • Kunkoo or Tikali in Marathi • Tikili in Odia • Bindi in Punjabi meaning long red mark • Pottu in Tamil and Malayalam • Bottu, Kunkuma, or Tilakam in Telugu • Tikli in Maithili • Tyok in Kashmiri • Tilkodi in Sindhi ==See also==