#IndianCustoms - (Part -1 of 3) The Importance of Bindi or Tilak in Indian Customs - TravellerG

[TravellerG]

Photo -1; Caption: Cover Photo - A Kerala bride showing her Bindi (during the marriage rituals) in an Aranmula Kannadi (Here)

Hello dear friends,

This topic is explained in three parts & this is the first one.

The word “Bindi” is derived from the Sanskrit word “Bindu” (which means “point, drop or dot”). Usually, it is a coloured round dot applied or worn on the forehead’s centre or between the two eyebrows. In today’s world, Bindi comes in different colours, shapes and sizes which are worn as a part of a lady’s makeup, irrespective of religion.

Kumkum, Roli, Pottu, Kury, Sindoor, Tika, Tilak, Tilakam, Teep, Tikli, Bottu, etc. are similar words to Bindi, though each one of them may have its own relevance also. Kumkum can be considered the Indian name for “vermilion”.

Photo -2; Caption: The different Bindis worn by a married Kerala Lady; this picture was captured on a Puja day. (Sandal paste is worn by many males & females in Kerala)

A Bindi or Tilaka is usually applied or worn for religious or spiritual reasons (including marriage) or to honour a victory, personage or even an event. Both males & females wear Tilak, though many Indian females wear Bindi as a part of their daily ritual.

According to our ancient folklore, the Sindur put on by the husband during wedding rituals (between the hair partition**)** validates a woman as married; and the Sindur applied every day assures her husband’s presence in her life (unfortunately, if the husband passes away, the wife stops wearing Sindur).

Photo -3; Caption: A male statue (12th century) showing the Tilak/Bindi. (notice the extensive/intricate stonework - Location: Belur-Halebidu, Karnataka, India).

Indian sages believed that the area between the eyebrows is the seat of latent (undiscovered) wisdom; in other words, this is the ‘Third Eye’ through which mankind opens spiritually to the Divine - the most critical spot for receptivity enhancement.

The Bindis are widely worn by women (and a few men) from different religious and cultural communities, including Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists and some Catholics in India - indeed you will find exemptions in all the religions too.

Note: If any of you have more information on this or would like to know more, kindly mention it in the response, so that I add them to this main post.

Continued in Part -2. (Here)

@renata1 @PattyBlack @TusharSuradkar @RosyKohli @Gurukrishnapriya @Ewaade_3A @AnshukMitra @AjitThite @CAAG1959 @SanjayBDLG

[P_LAVARDA]

Grazie caro amico mio @TravellerG . Post interessantissimo che mi ha appassionato! Tu sai quanto io sia amante della meditazione e come apprezzi questo tuo articolo, veramente esaustivo utile ad approfondire le mie conoscenze su questa materia. Immaginavo che il punto disegnato tra gli occhi avesse il significato di rappresentare il terzo occhio e tu ora me lo confermi. Immagino quanto possa essere ben diverso il modo di meditare di voi indiani rispetto a quello di noi occidentali, anche se il mio maestro ha vissuto 5 anni in India e si è laureato all’università di Benares in religioni orientali e poi ha trascorso anche 4 anni in Thailandia con i buddisti. E’ un prete cattolico che ha vissuto a stretto contatto con Madre Teresa di Calcutta e celebrava la Messa per lei e per le piccole sorelle. Certo che aver conosciuto una Santa cattolica non capita tutti i giorni! Prima del Covid ogni settimana era a casa mia per condurre il nostro gruppo di meditazione per 13 anni di fila, grande esperienza di vita, con più di 300 persone che hanno frequentato la mia casa in tutti questi anni (non tutti in una volta, max 25 persone e non ti dico che confusione in una casa così piccola come la mia, ma il silenzio regnava) !!! Cosa ne dite @PattyBlack @Stephanie_OWL ?

Un forte abbraccio!!

Paolo

PS: scusa scrivo in italiano, spero Google traduttore faccia un buon lavoro!

[TusharSuradkar]

A very impressive post @TravellerG highlighting the importance of the Bindi/Kumkum/Tilak in the Indian culture.

I am very highly in favor of applying the Bindi both for married and unmarried women including those in my family.

Personally, I like Indian women wearing the Bindi.

Indian women are very much fond of shopping for a Bindi packet whenever they are in the market, and I love the ones that are multi-color to match the clothes

As you have highlighted, my further understanding is also that the point of Bindi on the forehead have few veins and nerves passing underneath that stimulate health, well-being, memory in the brain. Hence, I think applying gentle pressure at this point is a good practice.

I especially liked the photo that shows the various color and places of the Bindi on the forehead and its significance in the Hindu culture.

Your article and its idea are greatly appreciated.

[CAAG1959]

Hola @TravellerG es súper interesante e ilustrativa interesante esta publicación sobre El Tercer Ojo o Bindi o Biluk. ¿Desde cuándo se utiliza?

Saludos desde Uruguay.

Pd. Por si no lo hice mi más gran admiración por tu reconocimiento como Estrella Guía, de ti aprendo mucho, gracias.

[TravellerG]

Firstly, yes, the Google Translator did a very good job - great.

Extremely happy to read that you enjoyed the post, my very dear @plavarda .

“… I imagined that the dot drawn between the eyes had the meaning of representing the third eye and now you confirm it for me…”

Yes, you are absolutely right…(more details in Part - 2).

Wow…

Even 25 people is a very good figure for meditation - that too 13 years… That too every week! Thrilling…

Another wow to your master who was with Mother Teresa…who found time to support every week.

“… what a mess in such a small house like mine,…”

In such situations, the size has NO VALUE AT ALL…

The mind is important & the Master is important - that is all.

I’m sure, your ‘sacrifice’ was & still is very divine.

Still you continue meditation?

I have a mixed combination of Meditation and Yoga (and some treadmill too), at least 5 days a week.

Yoga photo: Me in Halasana posture.

I hope our friends @Stephanie_OWL @renata1 and @PattyBlack will like this…

I shall post my Sheershasan (standing on head) pose some time later.

Regards to each one of you.

[TravellerG]

So kind of you for responding in detail - thank you very much, my dear @TusharSuradkar .

Very happy to hear that you liked the post.

I, my daughter & my wife (in the above photo), we like our customs, traditions and rituals - some may call us orthodox… Not exactly, we do go out with nonveg friends for dinner - they will enjoy their food and we will enjoy our vegetarian.

“… few veins and nerves passing underneath that stimulate health, well-being, memory in the brain…”

Yes, you are absolutely right… Pressing this point is a good practice.

Thank you once again and request you to give feedback for the 2nd & 3rd Parts.

Happy that you liked the photo…

Greetings with best regards.

[Gurukrishnapriya]

A very informative post about our traditional customs @TravellerG Sir. These traditions must be passed on to next generations.

I am really very much missing my Sindhur, which I wore everyday.

[Radhikasingla1]

Wow @TravellerG sir…what an amazing and unique post,it’s a small thing but through your post you have explained the importance of BINDI.

What I personally feel is one thing that photograph must contain, the humanity of the moment.

“A Great Photographer is one that fully expresses,what one feels, in the deepest sense,about what is being photographed”

[Stephanie_OWL]

@TravellerG

WOW!!! Wie wunderbar du dies alles erklärt und anhand von Fotos noch verdeutlicht hast!!!

Ein wertvoller Beitrag der mir Bindis erläutert hat! Ich fand sie schon immer sehr schön, dachte jedoch, sie hätten einen rein religiösen Hintergrund.

Dabei sind sie so komplex!

Ich danke dir für die Einbindung deines Beitrages zu meiner Fragestellung!!! Herzlichst!

[TravellerG]

Hello, my dear friends,

@Mukul_Anand @Soumendra @CreativeCreature @AZ_2021 @SholaIB @DENIT33 @Tejal @HassanZaib @MariaNgo

Could you please spare a few minutes to give your feedback?

Thanks in advance.

[Stephanie_OWL]

Ja du hast Recht @plavarda , dieser Beitrag ist genau die qualitative Erweiterung meines Wissens die ich immer suche!

Danke, dass du mich markiert hast!

Ich habe derzeit gesundheitlich so viele Baustellen, aber wenn ich damit durch bin, werde ich versuchen mehr zur Ruhe zu kommen.

Meditation ist da ganz sicherlich eine sehr erfolgreiche Möglichkeit ins Gleichgewicht zu kommen.

Meine Ruhe finde ich bei der Gartenarbeit, derzeit haben wir -10 Grad und alles ist zum Stillstand gekommen. Aber mit Erwachen des Frühlings bin ich kaum zu halten. Dann muss ich raus. Ich habe früher immer mit der Zeit gekämpft und musste schnell sein, alles immer ganz schnell. Heute mache ich es tatsächlich eher meditativ. Nicht das erfüllen der Aufgabe, sondern der Weg ist das Ziel.

Es bringt mir eine tiefe Zufriedenheit und auch tatsächlich eine Gelassenheit, die ich zuvor nie gekannt habe.

Und ich teile mit @PattyBlack die Freude an Handwerkskunst, basteln, werkeln und backen. Auch dies mit Freude an der Tätigkeit selbst, nicht mit dem Antrieb möglichst schnell mein Ziel zu erreichen. Ich glaube, ich bin schon auf dem richtigen Weg… nicht sehr weit darauf, aber die Richtung stimmt bereits. Und jeder Weg beginnt mit dem ersten Schritt!

[Mukul_Anand]

Such an astounding information @TravellerG . I really love these kinds of posts which shows the history of India .

Amazing post .

[TravellerG]

Sorry, I never thought of your sentimental situation while I tagged you, dear @Gurukrishnapriya … I understand the pain of missing such values in life.

“… These traditions must be passed on to next generations…”

All such traditions and customs should be passed on to our next generations.

Thanks for responding…

[TravellerG]

Your inspiring words are very valuable to me, my dear friend @Radhikasingla1 .

I fully understand what you have in your mind regarding the photographer… I appreciate that.

I too surely try for the same… But, some times… We may not be 100% happy.

Thanks for your supports…

[TravellerG]

“… It brings me a deep satisfaction and actually a serenity that I have never known before…”

Yes, friend, @Stephanie_OWL … It is magical…

When I’m in difficulties, I remember the sentence:

“THIS TOO WILL PASS”

Suitable for any difficult situations…

Thanks for your continued companionship.

[Ewaade_3A]

I admire the Bindis worn by these favorite people of mine; @Shrut19 @Gurukrishnapriya @Tejal @RosyKohli @PriyankaU

I have seen that each one of them wears it in a unique way

like @TusharSuradkar has said; I love the colorful ones, Shreeya @Shreeya_99 has a lot of them! If I had her permission, I would have shared the pictures with you, sometimes, she shares videos of her dancing and applying the bindi, I like how she respects this tradition and applies it when she is on cultural attire. Tushar, please write, I miss your writing. You have the ability of sharing information in a clear and concise way

I love how in some indian movies, the drama with which the guy will apply his own blood as sindoor to the part of the lady’s head.

Thanks for this post, I am blushing uncontrollably… @TravellerG

P.S. Like I always say; your wife is very beautiful and this cover photo you have shared is stunning.

[TravellerG]

Hello my dear friend, @Stephanie_OWL

I have to thank you for inspiring me to write these 3 posts.

I’m happy that you liked it, too.

The part 2, I shall explain more of the ancient Indian philosophies.

Hope to see your support.

Regards…

[TravellerG]

Hi, my dear @Mukul_Anand

I’m very happy that you enjoyed the post.

Of course, part 2, I shall write about our ancient Indian philosophies.

Expect your continued support…

All the best…

[TravellerG]

Firstly, I thank you for remembering many of our team members in your post.

Yes, off late, our @TusharSuradkar is publishing lesser number of posts… I too am waiting for his contributions.

Hey, dear Ewaade…

“… the guy will apply his own blood as sindoor…”

How do you cover these many things, remember contextually and present it interesting style - I admire your talent, efforts and magical TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS…

By the way, where do you see our @Shreeya_99 's dancers; I know she is a good dancer… Unfortunately I am missing her (kindly send a link, if possible).

And…

“… your wife is very beautiful and this cover photo you have shared is stunning…”

So kind of you…

I shall pass on your regards to Latha.

The bride shot is from a wedding shoot, I did in Kerala - thanks for your compliments.

‌.

My loving regards to you, @Ewaade_3A

[Ewaade_3A]

The shot of the bride is beautiful but my comment is for the picture that has all different kinds of Bindi, that is your wife only, I recognize her

Her photo is so beautiful, I thought it was the cover photo, after your comment, I had to check again to see, it is the second photo only.

Oh, I am in touch with Shreeya.

Thanks for the compliments, all good gifts are from God only. Your ability to recognize I can do these things is in itself a gift, so, thank you.

@TravellerG