Green dot on forehead. Red dot in the center of the forehead

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 “point”, “droplet”. And in Hindi it is “full moon”, “ full moon". It's great when your forehead is decorated with a full moon ....

Nobody knows for sure why they started to put this point. However, according to Tantrism, it is commonly believed that this place is the "Third Eye" (the eye of Shiva), symbolizing "hidden wisdom." They say that bindi saves from the "evil eye" and evil ailment.

Teak is applied between the eyebrows. Why?

It is believed that it is there that the “sixth chakra” is located, in which all life experience is concentrated. Trusting the tantric custom, we can believe that when a person thinks, all his latent (hidden) energy (“kundalini”), “making a journey” from the spine to the head, passes through this very red dot. The purpose of the bindi is to conserve energy. Also, it "participates" in activating the improvement of concentration.

AT ancient india there was such a custom: the groom had to put his blood on the forehead of his bride, since it was believed that the red dot was a symbol of blood. Now, reading about it, we even somehow become creepy. Distract yourself from the “creepiness” of your thoughts: this rite has long been in the past. And we, in fact, 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 foreheads) enter the house, fate itself “gives” them well-being and happiness. The widow does not wear a bindi. I think that in our time, at a wedding, bindi, as a decoration, should not be applied. Although…. Why not?

D girl, in " critical days, also dispense with the application of red dots.

Until the very moment of the “appearance” of Indian independence, this dot denoted belonging to some kind of caste. For example, if the dot was red, the woman was from among the Brahmins; if, on the forehead of a woman, a black dot flaunted, the woman belonged to the number of kshatriyas. Still, all this “charm” can also symbolize beauty and purity.

Indian dot on the forehead of the Indians.

Men also apply bindi (tillak), in the form of white voices from the ashes. Tillak on the forehead of a man tells which of the gods of India he worships. Do you think it might look funny? Not at all. It just takes some getting used to. Each country has its own customs, its own rituals, its own signs. And the fact that at first, it seems unusual to us, will soon become "attributes of everyday life."

Once upon a time, chandra was a sign that a woman was married. Nowadays, the 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 felt-tip pens, they are (waterproof), special tattoo pencils and henna-based paste. By the way, today there are bindis - “self-adhesives”. 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 correctly, they use a coin (hollow) or something that is round in shape to draw the bindi properly. You can also use small stencils. Bindi won't ruin it.

What else does a dot on a person's forehead mean?

If you are an observant person, then you have already noticed bindi on “starry” foreheads more than once. Remember Shakira, Madonna, Gwen Stefani? They are very fond of such bindis. And by the way, I like bindi. There is something mysterious about this piece.

Previously, the composition of the paint of this "charm" included very interesting ingredients, among which was even cobra venom. In addition to it, there were ashes 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 it. Therefore, I do not recommend that you choose it if this is your very first experiment. Generally speaking, the easiest way is to buy stickers: there will be no problems and difficulties with them.

The size of the "full moon" can also be chosen (as well as the color). No need to choose chandra very much large sizes: it will look, to put it mildly, not very nice. In principle, if you doubt my words, try it, and you yourself will understand everything. It should be noted that often, instead of dots, various precious and colored stones are “put” on the forehead. Looks great.

A dot on the forehead of Indian women. Do you want to use chandra as a cosmetic? Then you will be interested to know, - what:

1. For women with dark skin, it is better to choose orange chandra or color pink, avoiding chocolate, steel gray and red.
2. For women with a small forehead, it is better to apply an oblong dot.
3. Light - red bindi is very suitable for women with a slender figure.
4. For women who have a narrow forehead, it is better to apply or draw chandra right between the eyebrows.
5. For those who want to visually narrow the forehead, an oblong bindi is suitable.
6. Round bindi should be made by women who have a very wide forehead.

Bindiya (bindi) can also be selected to match the color of clothing. Imagine yourself, for example, in a luxurious red dress. Now draw the bindi. Well, how? Like? If not, you can redo or put on a different outfit.

If your boyfriend loves surprises, then you can surprise him with a bindi on your beautiful forehead. However, if he does not immediately notice the forehead decoration - do not be discouraged. Men are arranged 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 say to your loved one: "Don't you notice anything?" Your man, having examined you from head to toe, without hesitation, will answer: “Oh, love, you dyed your hair!”. Believe me, he will start to name a lot of options. But he “risks” not to name the true version. Hinting is useless, since men understand only what is said straightforwardly.

Tilaka or tilak(Skt. तिलक, tilaka) is a sacred sign that followers of Hinduism apply with clay, ash, sandal paste or other substance to the forehead and other parts of the body. Types of tilaka differ among followers of different directions of Hinduism and, among other things, serve identification mark, speaking of belonging to a particular religious tradition. Tilaka can be applied daily or only on special occasions.

Shaivites usually they use sacred ash - vibhuti. And they apply tilaka on the forehead in the form of three horizontal lines, which are called tripundra.

Tripundra is a symbol of Shaivism. The red dot in the middle symbolizes Shiva's third eye. The red dot under the three lines is a symbol of the connection of Shiva with Shakti (Parvati).

Vaishnavas They use clay from sacred rivers (such as the Yamuna) or holy places of pilgrimage (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 form symbolizes the feet of Vishnu. The red dash or dot inside symbolizes Lakshmi.

Followers of some branches of Vaishnavism also put tilaka on the bridge of the nose in the form of a tulsi leaf. Vaishnava 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 (Skt. गाणपत्य, gāṇapatya) is the Hindu religious tradition of Ganesha worship. Traditionally, Ganesh is depicted with a tilaka in the form of an Indian trident - trishula (Skt. त्रिशूल triṣūla "three spears"). Ganesha in Hinduism is the deity of wisdom and prosperity, the "eliminator of obstacles."

The cult of Ganesha for many Hindus complements the worship of other deities, so there are various tilakas both in the 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 drawing is applied with red paste on the forehead of Ganesha. The red dot of Parvati is the symbol of the Mother.

Many women in India wear a red dot on their foreheads. Traditionally, this meant that a woman professed Hinduism and was married, that is, the red dot was both a reflection of the woman's religious attitude 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, Indian bindi is a female (but not exclusively female!) "tilaka", a sacred symbol that the followers of Hinduism put on the forehead or other parts of the body as an ornament and a distinguishing mark.

Indian dot on forehead can be very diverse both in form and in the material used, depending on the various directions in Hinduism.

Bindi in Indian women usually represent just a dot, although these dots 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 sign, language or dialect, nationality and region.

Meaning of bindi

The tradition of using bindi in India is lost in the mists of time.

The red dot, symbolizing the rising sun, was applied to her forehead in the Rigveda by the goddess of the morning, Usha, thus greeting her husband, the sun god Surya.

There is a version that the red color of bindi is an echo of ancient bloody 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 among heroes or, on the contrary, be erased from the forehead as an indicator of ultimate despair and disappointment. Bindi considered a sign of future prosperity and gives the 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 the followers of Tantrism, this place is the exit point of the kundalini energy, and the bindi is placed there in order to preserve and increase the concentration of this energy, as well as to protect against demons or bad luck.

The Indian bride enters her husband's house, dressed in sparkling robes and jewelry, with a dazzling red bindi on her forehead. It is believed that after marriage, the main duty of a woman is to take care of her loved ones and relatives. 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 the sanctity of marriage.

girls and unmarried girls, as well as widows either did not wear bindi, 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 bindi.

What is it made of?

Traditional bindis are red or maroon. Via pinches of cinnabar(another name, vermilion is a mineral, scarlet mercury sulfide) on the tip of the finger, with proper dexterity, an Indian woman may well create a perfectly even bindi.

But this art is not available to everyone, and some losers have to resort to a variety of tricks to get a perfectly even circle.

In the course go hollow discs or coins with a hole. The disk is attached to the forehead with wax, bindi paint is applied to the hole, then the disk is removed.

In addition to cinnabar, sindur (lead oxide, otherwise known as red lead), bull's blood, red powder - abir mixed with yogurt and rice flour, turmeric red dye, made from the turmeric plant, mixed with lemon juice, powdered sugar mixed with honey and non-toxic glue, saffron with pollen ... - in general, the fantasy of women in this area is truly limitless.

From tradition to modernity

Nowadays women wear bindis throughout South and Southeast Asia(India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, etc.), from girls to venerable 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.

Highly popular self-adhesive bindi stickers, made, as a rule, 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 are the most different colors, designs, materials and sizes.

There are lovers who stickers decorated with glitter, glass beads, beads or rhinestones, gold or silver powder, and even precious stones.

Outside of South Asia, the bindi is sometimes worn by women of Indian origin. Some Western women who have converted to Hinduism such as followers of Krishnaism also wear bindi.

Sometimes tilaka is just an element of style, decor or outrageous. They were worn by such international celebrities as Gwen Stefani, Shakira, Madonna, Nina Hagen, Nelly Furtado and Shania Twain. And according to a survey conducted by the site hinduism.about.com, the vast majority of respondents - 58% - believe that women wearing bindi look much more attractive than others.

The mysterious East attracts Western people with its traditions, cultural characteristics, splendor of dresses and jewelry, beauty of women. For example, a dot on the forehead of Indian women, called bindi, is one of the secrets that attracts us, and sometimes simply haunts: why oriental women make this mark? What is it: an unusual decoration or a way to convey some important information around? Today, bindi is both a decoration that is popular not only among Indian women, but also among residents of other countries, and a traditional stain that carries a certain meaning.

What does the dot on the forehead of an Indian woman mean?

What can bindi say?

Today it is not known exactly when the tradition of drawing a colored spot on the forehead of an Indian woman appeared, but,

Definitely, it has been around for a long time. If we consider bindi from the point of view of the cultural heritage of 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 is invested by the Indians themselves in bindi.

The very word "bindi" from Hindi is translated as "drop", "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.. May be 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.

A deep meaning was originally invested in this speck on the forehead. Consider the interpretation of bindi:

• In Tantrism, they believe that applying bindi to the area of ​​the "third eye" denotes hidden wisdom, as this area of ​​the forehead is the symbol of the "eye of Shiva" .
• Another interpretation, closely intersecting with the previous one. In the center of the forehead is the sixth chakra (Ajna), which contains all human experience.. According to Tantrism, when the thinking process takes place, the latent energy (kundalini) moves from the spine to the head, passing through the sixth chakra. Bindi is drawn in order to save 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 before, and today is the prerogative of a married woman. So she demonstrates her social status, and bindi is designed to give prosperity, happiness and peace in the family. If a woman is widowed, she does not wear bindi at all, thus showing that she no longer has a husband.
• In ancient times, it was even possible to judge caste affiliation by bindi. For example, by the black dot on the woman's forehead, one could recognize her belonging to the kshatriyas, and by the red - to the brahmins.

Today applying bindi is not only a tradition, but also an original decoration . You can find points on the forehead and red, and yellow, and golden, and of blue color. Now there is no limit to fantasy.

If earlier bindi was applied with a special coloring mixture, today other options have been invented for fashionistas - colored henna with sparkles, pebbles, rhinestones, bright stickers, etc.

Features of applying sindoor

Drawing bindi on the forehead today can be done with a variety of colors and materials, but the traditional red dot is done by sindoor.

Sindur is a special powder that has a red color and stains, respectively, exactly in this color the skin.. This coloring matter is obtained from cinnabar (mercury material) or red lead and is used in Hinduism.

The presence of a sindoor on a woman's forehead is a sign of her marriage. The first sign of the red bindi is applied during the wedding ceremony. With invited guests, the groom performs sinduradana (sumangali), that is, puts sindoor on the head of his bride, and at the same time pronounces the words of blessing.

A married woman should apply sindoor not only as a bindi, but also on her parting in her hair.

Where did this tradition come from?

There is a mythological assumption. According to him, red symbolizes power and strength. Sindoor itself personifies the patronage of the goddesses Parvati and Sati. Parvati gives happiness and blessings to all women who put sindoor on their parting. 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 a protection from evil thoughts.

Indian Muslim women also wear sindur. 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.

Sacred Hindu sign tilak and its meaning

Hindus believe that in this way they not only identify themselves with some school, but also get closer to God, receive protection from him. On the forehead at the point between the eyebrows, the Lunar and Solar energies merge, therefore, by applying tilak to this area, a person clears the mind and, as it were, "tunes in to the wave" of divinity.

Tilaka can consist of red powder, abir, yogurt, rice flour. Also, the sign can be applied with clay, sandalwood paste, ashes and some other substance that dictates their religious direction. So, tilak can be of different colors.

Tilaka - both a distinctive sign and decoration. Depending on the specific religious direction of Hinduism, it can be different:

• For followers of Vaishnavism (followers of Vishnu), tilak is applied in the form of two vertical stripes connecting between the eyebrows. This is the symbol of Vishnu's foot. Sometimes a sign in the form of a tulsi leaf is superimposed on the bridge of the nose. For this clay (sometimes mixed with sandalwood paste) is used, taken from sacred places (for example, Vrindavan) or rivers (for example, Yamuna). Tilaka in Vaishnava is called urdhva-pundra.
• Rakta-chandana - tilaka, with the help of which they show the worship of the god Ganesha. Red sandalwood paste is applied.
• Tripundra - looks like three horizontal lines created with ash applied to the forehead.
• Vira tilaka and raja tilaka. A person applies the first tilak if it belongs to the winning side in a game or war. The second tilak is also used on special occasions: for example, when receiving distinguished guests or at a coronation.
• Followers of the Madhva Sampradaya apply tilaka, which looks like two vertical lines. They personify "" Krishna. If a person performs daily "yajna-kunds" (fire sacrifices), he adds between these lines a black strip of ash, obtained precisely after the act of burning. A red or yellow dot is applied under the black line, symbolizing Radha or Lakshmi.
• Shaktas demonstrate their religious school by applying tilak in the form of a red dot or a vertical line.. To do this, use the coloring matter turmeric, obtained from the root of turmeric.

For several millennia in India, there has been a tradition of applying tilak. Bindi is one of them.

No matter what religion a woman belongs to, she has the right to wear tilak as an adornment with sacred meaning.

Bindi is known far beyond India. Girls and women from Western countries are gradually adopting the tradition of decorating their foreheads with these beautiful signs.

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India has been of great interest to Europeans for many centuries, and not only because it is famous for its fabulous wealth, but also has a special culture and beautiful women, who traditionally decorate their foreheads with a spicy, spicy red dot called a bindi.

The historical roots of the origin of bindi

The exact date of the origin of the tradition of applying bindi is not known, but scientists are sure that a small red dot on the forehead of Indian women arose many millennia ago. Hinduism is based on Tantrism, a symbol of spiritual development and liberation, which occurs due to the opening of the sixth chakra, located on the forehead just between the eyebrows.
By putting a red dot on her forehead, an Indian woman, as it were, reveals her energy capabilities and at the same time gains protection from evil forces. And given the fact that for the first time bindi inflicts on a woman future husband, with their blood, this can be regarded as the imposition of family protection on the future wife and mother.

What does the dot on the forehead of Indian women mean?

Bindi has many names, it is tilaka, and kumkum, and bottu, but they all have the same meaning - this is the status of a married woman who professes Hinduism. Literally translated from Hindi, bindi or tilaka means a small dot or drop, but the main meaning of this traditional jewelry for Indian women is much wider.

Bindi is not only an ornament and a designation 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?

Bindi is applied in the form of a small red dot of the correct rounded shape. Depending on the woman's place of residence, and her belonging to a particular caste, this symbol can be applied in another form, different in color and shape.

Women belonging to the Brahmin caste mostly depict the bindi in red, and the kshatriyas in black. The forehead of a woman who has visited the temple is adorned with an orange bindi, and a venerable widow wears a brown bindi.
course in this 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 bindi as an ornament.

How is a bindi applied?

In order to apply a point between the eyebrows of the correct rounded shape, some skill is needed, which, of course, not everyone has, so many people first use a special device to apply bindi - a coin, with a neat rounded hole in the middle.

Different materials are used as paint for bindi, earlier it was cinnabar - mercury sulfide, now safer minerals and substances are used. Now turmeric mixed with honey or dye - abir with rice flour is used, as well as saffron, bull's blood and many other dyes with which you can apply bindi.

Given the trend of modernity, bindi is no longer only a symbol of an Indian woman, but also an ornament with which many, trying to emphasize their beauty, decorate their foreheads with a traditional red drop framed by shining stones.