Everyone has some idea about war paint, but few people think that there was also a coloring for love. "It is written on the forehead" - this, perhaps, is still about bindi)) In ancient times, they liked to paint not only the face, but the whole body. And not only in India. Tattoos are generally a sacred thing (literally), it's everyone ancient man considered it his duty. The drawing on the body spoke a lot about the person, his status, tribe, geographical region, marital status, and so on.

India is one of the few places in the world that is unique in its kind - where many ancient traditions have survived to this day in their unchanged "preserved" form. And since, logically, all Indo-Europeans, including both Indians and you and me, had a common ancestral home and proto-language in the past, it is India that keeps the forgotten codes to the customs and mysteries of the past of the Indo-European tribes. So, it is quite possible that our ancestors also painted bindi and mehendi. What did bindi mean?

Chandan-bindi of a Bengali bride

HISTORY AND MEANING OF BINDI

Bindi is a dot on the forehead, which is drawn by women in India and some neighboring countries) is considered a variant of tilaka - signs that are applied to the face in India. There are a lot of varieties of tilaka, their symbolism depends on religious affiliation. Most often it is one or more vertical or horizontal stripes on the forehead of men. Sometimes this is a sign of tulsi, it includes both stripes and a bindi dot, about it a little lower. It seems to me that the roots of this symbolism are in the signs denoting the male and female principles.

Vishnu and Lakshmi

The tradition of decorating the bindi body probably goes back to ancient rituals of worshiping the Moon and the Sun.Bindi is mentioned in early Sanskrit texts.A red dot, symbolizing the rising sun, was applied to her forehead by Usha, the goddess of the morning in the Rig Veda, greeting her husband, the sun god Surya.Bindi is a sign of blessing and protection from evil forces, a symbol of purification and good luck. That's why sacred symbol applied to the body after the morning bath. Not only followers of Vedic culture or priests do this. Indian women draw and draw bindi every day in everyday life.Traditionally, bindi is applied with the tip of the finger, but women can also apply it with a stencil to get a perfect circle.

Bindi is used not only in India, but also in Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka. Regional variations include a crescent shape in Maharashtra, a large red dot in Bngalia, a small red dot surrounded by white in South India, and an elongated drop shape in Rajasthan.In southern India, bindi is worn and unmarried girls. Women put on their foreheads a red sign in the form of a circle with a special powder or paste kum-kum, sindur, etc.Sometimes not only red is used, but also other colors, decorations with precious stones.

The point located between the eyebrows falls on the zone of the "third eye" - the sixth chakra Ajna (the chakra of hidden wisdom). Followers of Hinduism and Buddhism, temple attendants put a ritual sign on their forehead - which is painted with red or yellow paint, depending on the symbol of a particular deity. These signs are a blessing happy wish, protect from evil forces and failures or confirm the status of a person. For many married women in India living in various regions, bindi and dyeing the parting red is a daily ritual associated with status. married woman and old family traditions.

The red bindi has always had the most significance due to its color. It well emphasizes the festive atmosphere, the importance of the moment. Its color also has a close connection with the mystical worldviews of the ancients - power was given to the color, its strong energy was seen and almost all peoples and tribes showed respect. However, there are places in India where black is equally significant and only married women are allowed to wear a black bindi.

Bindi in some regions may have their own symbols. Reds are worn only after marriage. Black was considered especially privileged and was intended only for holidays and important matters. As well as nails, and in ancient times even teeth, black was considered a sign of special status. The toenails of the Buddha himself, according to local beliefs, were painted black - for many Indians this is not only a beautiful, but also a sacred color. At the same time, women for family life in many regions they wore only a red bindi and changed to black if they became widows.

Lakshmi from here, artist Tina Solstrand

HOLY TULSIE TREE

Bindi is put in place of the symbolic third eye and for the initiates symbolizes the mystical union of male and female principles. The tattoo on the forehead in the form of "tulsi" is often combined with bindi - a bindi is drawn on the forehead under the sign of tulsi. This is more female sign, according to legend, a loving and devoted wife turns into a tulsi tree (Indian basil) standing near her lover's house to protect him and always be there.

Since then, this unremarkable and not even flowering plant has been considered sacred. It is grown in special beautiful stands in the center of the yard. Tulsi is dedicated to rituals of worship, local legends and holidays. Previously, a young wife was required to personally look after him every morning at her husband's house. The stand was whitewashed and the sacred signs of the swastika, Om and other religious symbols were painted. For Tulsi, special prayer mantras in Sanskrit were recited. The worship of Tulsi, as a ritual, appeared during the spread of Hinduism in India.

George Harrison with Vaishnava tulsi kanthimals

In Vaishnerism, Tulasi is worshiped as the incarnation of Lakshmi, in Krishnaism - Radha, who has taken the form of a plant. Beads are carved from tulasi branches - kanthimala, an attribute of Vaishnavas and a rosary of jala-mala (in Shaivism from rudraksha). Wearing a kanthimala around the neck is a sign of humble service to Vishnu or Krishna and that he is moving along the path of self-realization. Thanks to these beads, the human soul will not fall into the hellish worlds, the servants of the god of death Yama will not be able to touch it.

BINDI AND MODERNITY

This tradition is widespread even now, and, most likely, it will be preserved for hundreds of years, especially in the wedding ceremony, but in Lately corrections began to penetrate this tradition.Color, shape, bindi material are now used in a variety of ways. They are drawn with paints, pencils, powders - drawn bindis are more traditional than glued ones. Some traditions have been lost - for example, in ancient times, the position of the bindi on the face reflected caste: the lower the bindi, the lower the caste, but now they do not pay attention to this. Bindi is losing its sacred, mystical meaning, more and more experiencing the trends of Indian fashion and has penetrated into European culture. And the skillful use of bindi allows women to adjust facial features and eye color.

HOW TO CORRECT YOUR WEIGHT WITH BINDI

Indian women, unlike all other women in the world, have in their arsenal a simple and effective way correct and give greater harmony to facial features. As you guessed, this is a bindi. For example, if the eyes are close or deep set, it is enough not to focus on the bridge of the nose - to correct the bridge of the nose, the bindi is simply raised to the middle of the forehead. With a low forehead, choose an average bindi size or draw an openwork or oval dot. The large size of the bindi will emphasize small or tired eyes. A large bindi will adorn the face of an elongated shape, with wide-spaced eyes, a high forehead and small plump lips.

A large bindi will add severity and extra age to a face that is not oval in shape with thin rumbles. In this case, a small or patterned bindi, light and elegant, is more suitable. A small bindi does not harmonize well with wide eyebrows; in this case, you can adjust the width of the eyebrows, at least from the bottom. Also use bindi with rhinestones or in the form of a drop. The moon is placed with the horns up, and not in the way it is seen in the northern countries. A circle, rhombus or drop is often placed above the moon. Bindi can take many different forms. Modern bindi is perceived as a design element - bindicombined with the color of clothing, facial features and other decorations. Earrings, beads or other necklace, hair clips, makeup - everything should be in harmony.

TRADITIONS AND PROGRESS: WHEN TRADITIONS GO

In tradition, sometimes there are downsides. The world is developing, and in India there is still a caste system Hindus who travel and study in different countries of the world are, in most cases, brahmins. The rest, generation after generation, for thousands of years cannot go beyond the limits in which their ancestors were. The children of an Indian washerwoman are doomed to wash clothes generation after generation and have no chance of changing their lives. Our serfdom is mere flowers in comparison with these castes. Indira Gandhi tried to abolish at least a small part of the caste laws, but as a result she was killed by Sikhs on October 31, 1984. In our country, this is All Saints' Day, and in many countries Halloween is celebrated on this day.

While the Indians themselves in a foreign land often stop wearing bindi - in many countries there has been a trend when many Europeans, on the contrary, begin to wear bindi all the time) Among famous women - Gwen Stefani, Shakira, Madonna and others

Tilak (tika) and bindi- ritual drawings, which in their original meaning symbolized belonging to Hinduism. Therefore, those who belong to Islam, Christina, do not wear either one or the other.

Bindi

means "dot, drop" - this is feminine, which is applied to the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe 3rd eye.
Bindi was traditionally worn only by married people, this, along with a parting with a red stripe, served as an identification mark.
Bindi was drawn with red turmeric (kumkuma), usually in the form of a drop.

For widows, bindi was forbidden, however, like other jewelry.

Bindi is red, just like tilak, they are sometimes even called tika, but despite the external similarity - a red dot between the eyebrows - the difference is huge - the first is a simple decoration, the second is a ritual mark.

Bindi wearing traditions have now changed and differ from state to state. For example, in northern India, unmarried girls also wear bindi, but black, married ladies - from scarlet to burgundy.

Bindi is no longer always painted with paint, they began to be sold in the form of red or black velvet in the form of a circle, pasted on the forehead. However, the color of the bindi began to be matched to the color of the toilet, so you can find both green and blue.
Shops sell plastic bindi with glitter, pebbles, which are glued to the forehead even for little girls.
In jewelry stores, I also saw bindi - with precious stones on a piece of silver or gold.

In southern India I have also seen bindi in the form of a black dot painted with antimony on the foreheads of very young children of both sexes. Parents said that such a bindi acts as a talisman for the baby.

Tilak, more precisely tilaka

This is a drawing applied by the Hindu on the forehead, sometimes the chest and arms, also called tika for short.
The most common tilak (abbreviated as tika) is a red dot between the eyebrows, the same as bindi, but tika (tilak) is placed after performing a puja or visiting a temple.
The image and color of the tilak varies depending on the religious tradition.

Shaivites, that is, worshipers of Shiva, and shaktas, worshipers wear tripundra- 3 horizontal stripes drawn with ash.

The stripes are applied with the sacred vibhuti ash, which is formed after the burning of offerings in the process of agnihotra (homa), yajna (yajna), and others. In the process of fire rituals, the Deities are presented with a mixture, the components of which can be cow dung, rice, sandalwood paste, milk, ghee, sweets, and.

Wanderers, as well as some sedentary gardeners, also use the ashes from their personal fire - dhuni (duni).

Tripundra ash is sold in many South Indian temples as an offering to a deity and returned as prasadam. In North Indian temples, a box of turmeric is given out as prasadam for tilak.
I saw that, due to the absence of ashes, tripundra is sometimes applied with paint and even red turmeric.
The application of tripundra also varies in different places, so you can see 3 even thin stripes in the center of the forehead or stripes the width of a finger from temple to temple.

Sometimes Shaivites, as well as Shaktas (including Aghori) add to tripundra a large red dot in the middle of the forehead or in place of the third eye, symbolizing Shakti, energy and blood, perhaps this is an echo of ancient times when red tilaks were placed with the blood of sacrificial animals.
Shaktas often put a few bindus or draw a red line across the forehead to between the eyebrows.

It is believed that Aghori take (may take) tripundra ashes from cremation fires.

Vaishnavas, that is, cult followers draw vertical stripes on their foreheads with white ash or paint, yellow turmeric or sandalwood paste with red red turmeric, or depending on the sect.

The Vaishnava tilak may look like a U or V on the forehead, straight or longer. complicated stripes they connect at the interbrow and pass to the bridge of the nose, or it is a yellow vertical stripe on the forehead, similar to a leaf.

What does the dot on the forehead of Indian women symbolize? There are black, green, red.

Issue resolved and closed.

Is she married or just engaged. so that others don't get carried away.

it is called bindi in women, tika in men. This third eye is considered to be, well, something for good luck. Men definitely. And for women, it is connected with marriage. If this dot is dark, burgundy or brown, then this means that she is married. Orange - was recently in the temple. And other colors, just for good luck or success. men only for success, of course :)

Maybe a defective monitor. Maybe the video card is dying.
It depends on what they are ... these points. What they look like when they appear.

CHAAAAAY

red - stop
green - you can go or cross the road
blue - sky
yellow - lemon
white - ceiling
black - night
purple - plums
orange - tangerines


one of your avatars is also green-red)

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 ....

No one knows exactly why they began 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." It is said 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.

In Christianity, it means the temptation of the flesh (sweet singing and black plumage). In the temptations of Saint Benedict, the devil appears in the form of a blackbird.
In general, here is the link: http://www.symbolist.ru/animals.html


Yes, they also think so, it has gone from ancient times ..

The black flag was also used by pirates, known for their love of freedom and defiance. And the skull is a symbol of death! The uniform black color of this flag symbolizes the rejection of all oppressive structures. A simple black flag is almost an anti-flag (states tend to use colorful flags). In addition, the white flag is traditionally a sign of surrender to the mercy of the conqueror, and thus the black flag can be seen as the polar opposite of surrender. It is also assumed that the black color of the flag symbolizes grief for those who died as a result of the struggle for a just cause.

The meaning of the red dot on the forehead of Indian women? In India, most of the inhabitants can be seen on the bridge of the nose with multi-colored signs. Especially striking is the dot on the forehead of Indian women. What does this dot mean? Does it have a meaning or is it just decoration?

To date, researchers disagree on the interpretation of the red dot on the forehead of Indian women. They converge only in the name and method of application. The point on the forehead is called the bindi. You can wear bindi different ways. The easiest is to buy a special sticker. Various patterns, rhinestones or simply circles of fabric or fleecy paper of various colors are applied to the reusable adhesive base.

But since India is a country of spices, bindi was traditionally applied with a paste of turmeric or saffron. To give a red color to the powder of these spices, slaked lime was added. Draw a point with ring finger or with the help of special devices that allow you to make a round point. Depending on personal preferences, bindi can be of various 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, bindi gives a sign for men: "Attention! No traffic! The woman is married!" Otherwise, bindis are now more of an ornament, and are matched to the color of the sari or type of face, but do not carry a special semantic load.

In addition to being placed on the bridge of the nose, adhesive-based bindi can be applied along the line of the eyebrows, about a centimeter above them and rounding around the eyes, gradually reaching to the cheekbones. This application is called gopi-dots. Gopi dots are a reflection of the stories described in scriptures Hindus, and personify the pattern on the face of the gopis. With which they adorned 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 gopi dots is still bindi. He does not cancel, but, as it were, complements it.

It is important to know that before applying the adhesive-based bindi, the skin in the application area must be degreased, and it is better to do a light peeling in this place. This is necessary in order to remove excess sebum and keratinized 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 the dot on the bridge of the nose, in the region of the third eye, represents the fact 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 point applied to the forehead protects its owner, brings him prosperity and happiness, including in marriage, as well as good luck and blessings. higher powers. The point originally drawn on the bridge of the nose had a practical application.

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 the chakra, the stronger the manifestation of the character traits with which it is associated. Therefore, to develop these qualities, the chakra was subjected to stimulation. including the physical one.

And often, after active stimulation, a trace remained on the skin. It was this trace that was covered with a dot drawn in this place. Therefore, bindi was also a sign of spiritual quest, a sign that a person has a high spiritual development, and is interested in subtle matters.

Interestingly, wearing marks on the forehead is practiced not only in India. In China, bindi has been known for over a thousand years. The dot on the forehead can be seen in the images and statues of the 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 Indians. And it is usually applied in two cases. The first of them, when it is applied by the followers of one of the religious branches - sahajiya. Men who follow this religious trend put on women's clothes, saris, jewelry and apply appropriate auspicious signs commonly used by women. Including bindi. This is due to the fact that they are trying to live on Earth in the role that they consider their own in the spiritual world.

It is believed that this will help them not to forget their original position. In the second case, a point on the forehead is applied with ashes, more precisely with a special paste made from the crushed coals of the sacrificial fire and melted butter, which was poured into the fire as a sacrifice. Such a point is put to all participants of the yajna and, of course, it is black. During the yagya, its 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 god of fire, Agni, who is called into the fire with the help of special mantras. Simply put, offerings are burned in ritual fire. And along with the offerings, the low aspirations of the participants in the yajna are burned, and, in part, the consequences of their sinful deeds. As a result, they become spiritualized, and also move to a higher stage of development.

Therefore, a point applied with a paste of coals from 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 the 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 smeared upwards. A bright red dot applied to the forehead of an Indian personifies the 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 also carries a subtle sacred meaning and the function of informing, and also has powerful protective and protective properties. The hippie movement brought the tradition of bindi face decoration to the West. And now you can buy bindi in any esoteric store. This exquisite jewelry will not only emphasize the beauty of the face and the expressiveness of the eyes, but also highlight its owner as an extraordinary person.

Surely many of us have seen Indian women at least in famous films that were once popular before. Most of them had a red dot on their foreheads, which was a symbol that a 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 attitude.

Symbol meaning

Drawing a bindi on the forehead is very ancient tradition going back into the depths of 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 gods of the sun.

Also, this symbol is found in many legends and stories about various heroes. So, bindi could become fiery in valiant people, or disappear from the forehead if a person experiences an extreme degree of 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 being, hidden from other people. According to Tantrism, the area between the eyebrows is considered to be the point through which the kundalini energy exits. That is why, in order to preserve this energy in oneself, a bindi is drawn, which also protects a person from various troubles and misfortunes.

The bindi is also the symbol of marriage in India. Every married Indian woman becomes the guardian of the hearth, and her main duty is to take care of the family where she came. This symbol speaks of the luck of this woman, and also reminds her of the 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. The same girls who have not yet entered into a legal marriage, bypassed without a bindi at all, but not in all cases.

According to tradition, those women who had " critical days". It is probably not necessary to explain this circumstance, because much can be assumed here - from insulting the feelings of believers and ending with lengthy explanations and allusions to the symbols of blood, which were bindi.

In ancient times, when there was a division of people into castes in India, it was the point that made it possible to understand which category its bearer belongs to. For example, the owners of the red dot belonged to the Brahmin caste, and women with black bindi were representatives of the Kshatriyas. However, the castes have long disappeared, but the symbol itself lives to this day, and if we take into account the interest in it not only of representatives of Hinduism, then we can say with confidence that this interest will not dry out for a very long time.

What is it made of

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 - vermilion, which is mercury sulfide. But to make a perfectly even point, you must have sufficient skill in this matter.

Some women fail at this, so they use various round objects to get the perfect contours of the bindi. Coins with a hole in the middle, discs - all this can be used as an aid. The stencil is applied to the forehead, and paint is poured into the hole.

In addition to vermilion, women can use other materials in the manufacture of this symbol on the forehead:

• Sindur is an oxide of lead.
• Bull blood.
• Abir is in the form of a red powder to be mixed with rice flour and yogurt.
• Turmeric is a scarlet dye that is mixed with lemon juice.
• Sugar 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.

What is the correct way to call her

The point on the forehead of Indian women is called "bindi", derived from the Sanskrit "bindu". It means about the same as it symbolizes, i.e. dot or drop.

Bindi is one of the varieties of tilak - a symbol in Hinduism, which can be applied by representatives of this religion on various parts of the body, not only on the forehead. This is not just an ornament, but a certain semantic load that speaks of a certain status of a person.

Bindi among Indian women were drawn exclusively in the form of a dot, although it could be of different sizes, as well as 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, as well as other factors, the point can be called the following words:

• kumkum;
• tickles;
• bottom;
• sindoor, etc.

How are things now

If earlier bindi had a serious semantic load, speaking of a certain status and religiosity, now this symbol has become a common means of decoration for women. Now everyone draws bindi - from little girls to respectable ladies. At the same time, all of them can adhere to different religions, not be married, i.e. there are no strict requirements for its bearers.

Now very common bindi, which are stickers with a self-adhesive structure. They can be metal, felt and 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 distributed throughout South Asia, as well as in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, etc. Outside of these states, bindi is also common, but already as a decoration or 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 so 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 the same India, traditions regarding the application of bindi are still strong, so it is not customary to decorate yourself with this symbol if you do not have the right to do so. And if you come here, then you should study the history and traditions of the state in advance so as not to offend the locals with your illiteracy.

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