Priya Kapoor
In India, it is common to see people wearing a mark on their forehead, which is known as a tilaka, pundra, or bindi. The tilaka is a sign of religious affiliation, and it is worn by Hindus to indicate belonging to a specific caste or religious orientation. It is usually worn on the forehead at the point of the ajna chakra (third eye or spiritual eye) but can also be worn on other body parts such as the neck, hand, chest, or arm. The bindi, which means point, is a type of tilaka that represents the third eye and is worn by both men and women as a symbol of belief in God. It is mostly red, but it can also be black, and it is worn in the middle of the forehead.
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What You'll Learn
- The tilaka, or pundra, is a sign placed on the forehead by Hindus to indicate belonging to a caste or religious orientation
- The bindi, or bindu, is a red dot in the middle of the forehead, representing the third eye
- The Tripundra or Rudra-tilaka is worn by followers of Shiva, consisting of three horizontal bands with a single vertical band or circle in the middle
- The shape and material of the tilaka depend on the occasion and regional customs
- The bindi is worn by married Hindu women as a symbol of lifelong commitment to their husbands
The tilaka, or pundra, is a sign placed on the forehead by Hindus to indicate belonging to a caste or religious orientation
The tilaka, or pundra, is a sign placed on the forehead by Hindus, often made from sandalwood paste, ash, turmeric or clay. It is used to indicate belonging to a caste or a specific religious orientation. It is worn daily by some, as well as on holidays and special occasions. The tilaka can also be used to express honour or to welcome someone.
The tilaka has many different forms and meanings, and its significance varies across India. The most common type is the bindi or bindu, a red dot in the middle of the forehead, which represents the third eye. The bindi is mostly worn by women and girls, and is sometimes referred to as a kumkum, sindoor, teep, tikli or bottu. In the past, it was reserved for married women, but now unmarried women and girls also wear it. In certain regions, the bindi is worn with other markings, such as a smaller black dot or a white tilak underneath.
The Tripundra or Rudra-tilaka is another major variant, worn by followers of Shiva. It consists of three horizontal bands with a single vertical band or circle in the middle, and is made with sacred ash. This variant is the more ancient of the two and is said to symbolise detachment from the world.
The Shaktas, worshippers of Devi, wear a red dot in the middle of three horizontal lines or a semicircular line. Followers of Ganapatya use red sandal paste. Jains also wear the tilaka, using sandalwood paste to mark Jaina images during puja ceremonies.
The tilaka is also worn by some Muslims in Sindh, who apply a black dot or line using kohl.
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The bindi, or bindu, is a red dot in the middle of the forehead, representing the third eye
The bindi, or bindu, is a red dot worn in the middle of the forehead by Hindus and Jains. It is a prominent symbol of the Indian subcontinent and is recognised internationally. The term "bindi" comes from the Sanskrit word "bindu", meaning "drop" or "particle". The bindi represents the third eye, or the eye of the mind, allowing men to transcend. It is also known as the ajna chakra, or the "brow chakra".
The bindi is worn by women, and in the past, it was reserved for married women. However, today, unmarried women and girls also wear the bindi. It is usually red, but can also be black. Traditionally, the bindi is made from vermilion, or red lead, but nowadays, decorative fabric or stick-on bindis are also popular. In some regions, such as Maharashtra, a large crescent moon-shaped bindi is common, while in the Bengal region, a large round red bindi is worn.
The bindi is often worn as a symbol of religious affiliation, but it can also be worn for decorative purposes or as an expression of honour. It is related to the tilaka, another Hindu forehead marking, but there are some differences. The tilaka can be made from a variety of materials, including sandalwood paste, ash, turmeric, or clay, and it can take different forms, such as three horizontal bands with a single vertical band or circle in the middle.
The wearing of the bindi has sparked debates about cultural appropriation, as some Hollywood and international celebrities have been seen wearing the bindi as a fashion statement. While some individuals from traditional bindi-wearing cultures criticise this, others view it as an attempt to embrace Indian culture.
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The Tripundra or Rudra-tilaka is worn by followers of Shiva, consisting of three horizontal bands with a single vertical band or circle in the middle
The paint that Indians put on their foreheads is known as a tilaka, or pundra. It is a sign placed on the forehead by Hindus to indicate belonging to a caste or a precise religious orientation. It is worn daily by some, as well as on holidays, and can be obtained from sandalwood paste, ash, turmeric or clay, depending on the desired colour.
The most common type of tilaka is the
The Tripundra or Rudra-tilaka is worn by followers of Shiva. It consists of three horizontal bands with a single vertical band or circle in the middle. This is traditionally done with sacred ash from sacrificial fires, known as vibhuti. The use of vibhuti is symbolic of detachment from the world. This variant is the more ancient of the two and shares many common aspects with similar markings worn across the world. The three lines of the Tilaka are said to represent various triads: three sacred fires, three syllables in Om, three gunas, three worlds, three types of atman (self), three powers in oneself, the first three Vedas, and three times of extraction of the Vedic drink Soma.
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The shape and material of the tilaka depend on the occasion and regional customs
The tilaka, or pundra, is a mark worn usually on the forehead by Hindus to indicate belonging to a caste or a precise religious orientation. It is worn on special occasions and holidays, but also in daily life. The shape and material of the tilaka depend on the occasion and regional customs.
The tilaka comes in an assortment of styles, shapes, and materials. The most common type of tilaka is the bindi or bindu, a red dot in the middle of the forehead, which represents the third eye. The bindi was traditionally reserved for married women, but today unmarried women and girls also wear it. It is mostly red, but it can also be black. The bindi is related to the tilaka, but there are some differences. The bindi is generally worn for decorative purposes and has less spiritual value than the tilaka.
The Tripundra or Rudra-tilaka is the other major tilaka variant, worn by followers of Shiva. It consists of three horizontal bands across the forehead with a single vertical band or circle in the middle. This variant is the more ancient of the two and is made with sacred ash from sacrificial fires, also known as vibhuti. The three lines of the Tripundra are called Tripundra, and they represent Shiva's threefold powers of will, knowledge, and action.
The shape and material of the tilaka also depend on the specific sect of Hinduism and the God or Goddess that lineage worships. For example, Vaishnavas (devotees of Vishnu) usually apply tilak using sandalwood, clay, or a mixture of both, in two vertical lines, which connect near the bridge of the nose to form a "U" shape called urdhva pundra. Shaktas (worshippers of Devi, the feminine manifestation of the Divine) use kumkum to draw a single red vertical line or place a red dot, symbolizing her divine energy and power.
The tilaka is not only a Hindu custom, and anyone can wear it. However, it is important to understand the symbolism and meaning behind a particular tilaka before donning it in public. The material used in a tilaka often tells a story. For example, sacred ash (vibhuti) is often associated with Shaivism and symbolizes the transient nature of life and the power of spiritual purification. Red vermilion (kumkuma) is common in Vaishnava traditions and is worn by married Hindu women, signifying life force, marital status, and auspiciousness.
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The bindi is worn by married Hindu women as a symbol of lifelong commitment to their husbands
The bindi, a coloured dot or sticker, is worn by Hindus, Jains and Buddhists from the Indian subcontinent. It is placed in the centre of the forehead, between the eyebrows, and is said to represent the third eye or the "eye of the mind", allowing men to transcend. In Hinduism, the colour red symbolises honour, love and prosperity, and so a red bindi is worn by married women to symbolise these qualities in married life.
In the past, only married women wore the bindi, but now it is also worn by unmarried women and girls, purely for decorative purposes. In some communities, women may stop wearing a bindi after the death of their husbands. The bindi is also worn by some South Asian Muslim women as a fashion accessory. Bindis now come in all shapes, sizes and colours, and are largely used as beauty accessories.
The bindi is also associated with the ajna chakra, which corresponds to the colours violet, indigo or deep blue, though it is traditionally described as white. It is said to be the seat of "concealed wisdom", retaining energy and strengthening concentration.
The tilaka or pundra is another mark placed on the forehead by Hindus, to indicate belonging to a caste or a precise religious orientation. It is obtained from sandalwood paste, ash, turmeric or clay, depending on the desired colour. The most common type of tilaka is the bindi or bindu, a red dot in the middle of the forehead.
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Frequently asked questions
The paint is called a tilaka, or pundra, or bindi. It is a mark worn usually on the forehead, at the point of the ajna chakra (third eye or spiritual eye).
The tilaka may be worn daily for decorative purposes, as a symbol for religious affiliation, for rites of passage, or for special spiritual and religious occasions, depending on regional customs. It is also used as an expression of honour or to welcome someone.
Tilakas come in an assortment of styles or shapes and are adorned using various materials, such as "ash from sacrificial fire or cow dung, sandalwood paste, turmeric, clay, charcoal or red lead".
