Relationship to bindi Bindi is a dot worn mainly by married Hindu women on the forehead and generally red in color, symbolizing good fortune. Today, it can be found in an assortment of colors, shapes, materials and mainly worn for decorative purposes.
“Tika, made from red powder mixed with water and rice it is applied on the forehead during religious, cultural activities, at the beginning of new work, birthday, and so on in the Nepali Hindu tradition. It is also a symbol of good luck and an escort.
Applying Tilak on the forehead gives inner peace and stability. There is a belief that applying Tilak also allows a person to increase their concentration levels and the person's mind becomes calmer. Through this, the person can get relief from mental stress and his voice is also said to become melodious.
The bindi is traditionally worn by women for religious purposes or to indicate that they're married. But today the bindi has also become popular among women of all ages, as a beauty mark. And it comes in all colors, shapes and sizes.
The bindi can be reused and worn multiple times or until it loses its 'stickiness'. Want to keep wearing your bindi but it's not 'sticky' anymore? Bring it back to life by adding a tiny drop of eyelash glue on the back. It may not stick on as great as the first time, but it'll still look beautiful!
The tilaka may be worn daily for decorative purposes, as a symbol for sectarian 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 upon arrival. A Nepali woman with a tilak on her forehead.
4) Tilak can be worn by anyone
Like most practices within the faith, anyone and everyone is welcome to participate. Engaging in such a practice, however, should not be done trivially. It's important to remember that tilak is not only sacred, but when you wear it, you're representing an entire spiritual lineage.
The tilak is of great spiritual consequence to Hindus. Applied on the forehead between the brows, it is a point of immense power and piety. The spot where the bindi is applied is where the body's most important chakra rests — the Ajna chakra. Our body has seven key chakras, energy centres.
One of the most visible external symbols of Hindu identity is the mark that many of us wear on our forehead. This is called tilak, pottu or bindi. The dot is called 'Kumkum' or 'Bindi', and when worn by men it is called 'Tilak' (mark).
Applying Tika on the Forehead
Tika is believed to prevent the loss of “energy”, the red 'tika' between the eyebrows is said to retain energy in the human body and control the various levels of concentration. While applying Tika the points on the mid-brow region and Adnya-chakra are automatically pressed.
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 tradition of wearing tilak is an ancient ritual. The tilak on the forehead is the visible identified mark or symbol of Hindu people. Historically the tilak was worn to identify the caste, 'Varna' system. Like Brahmin wore a paste of sandalwood which symbolises purity and harmony.
Overwhelming majorities of Hindu (84%) and Buddhist (78%) women say they wear a bindi, a forehead marking, and at least some Muslim (18%), Christian (22%) and Sikh (29%) women also say they do this, even though the practice is not typically considered part of these religious groups' traditions.
Saffron Tilak - Applying saffron tilak gives good news. Sandalwood Tilak - Sandalwood tilak gives coolness to our brain. It is applied for long life, wealth, healthy life and happiness. Bhasma Tilak - By applying tilak of Bhasma, our thoughts get purity.
Aside from the beautiful saris and gold jewelry that characterize much of the Indian subcontinent's culture, one of the most internationally-known body adornments worn by Hindu and Jain women is the bindi, a red dot applied between the eyebrows on the forehead.
In conclusion, wearing a tilak on the forehead has many benefits, both spiritual and practical. It can help to promote good health, protect against negative energy, improve concentration and focus, and create a sense of community and belonging.
British Dictionary definitions for tilak (1 of 2)
tilak. / (ˈtɪlək) / nounplural -ak or -aks. a coloured spot or mark worn by Hindus, esp on the forehead, often indicating membership of a religious sect, caste, etc, or (in the case of a woman) marital status.
Tilak is applied on the space between the eyebrows, which is referred to as Ajna Chakra. The Hindu symbol Tilak stands for victory, success and good fortune. The tradition of applying Tilaka is being practiced since ages.
“The maang tikka is worn to protect the bride from the evil eye and negative energy. But most essentially, it signifies the union between the bride and the groom,” explains Abhishek Raniwala, co-founder of heritage jewellery brand Raniwala 1881.
Who Wears a Maang Tikka? A maang tikka is a traditional piece of head jewelry that is worn by South Asian women on their wedding day or for other significant cultural events. Although typically worn by brides it can be worn by married and unmarried women.
The Shudra people applied a black bhasma (ash), kasturi or charcoal mark that represented the services they offered to all the above mentioned three castes. Even the shapes of tilak help you to identify the deity one worships.
The bindi maintains its associations with religious practices, some women wearing a bindi specifically during the performance of auspicious rituals. Indeed, it remains a common practice for Hindu priests to mark the foreheads of both men and women with red powder as they enter a temple.
Meanwhile, recognising the broader cultural significance of the bindi, Reclaim the Bindi suggests that all South Asians, including those who do not have Hindu heritage, may wear the bindi at their own discretion.
Can a married woman keep a black bindi? Bindis are not compulsory for Indian women. Even many married women do not wear bindi at all. Yet in many cultures, black bindi is considered un-auspicious for married women.
A red bindi is worn in order to make people understand that they are married. In India, the widows do not wear a bindi, however, there is a tradition of wearing a black bindi among widows. For widows, black bindis signify a loss. The young girls can wear bindi of any colour and shape.